Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-04
A SUSPICIOUS CASE.
Mysterious Death of Antonio Basso--wni
He Murdered

mysterious Death oil Antonio BHsso--WaR
| He Murdered =?
Antonio Basso. an Italian who lived at
No. SOB Orange street, died at the Delaware
Hospital at noon Friday. 1t is suspected
that injuries received in fight in Mcmahon
d. Conner's saloon, at No. 227 Tatnall
street,on Monday evening, November 18th,
caused his death.
The barkeeper at the saloon stated Fri
day that on the evening mentioned three
Italians came into the saloon and called
for drinks, which were served. The one
who had invited the others to drink de-
clined to pay for the drinks. The bar
keeper could not say whether he was Basso
or not. There were three other men at the
bar at the time and the Italian who de-
clined to pay for the drinks asked them
also to drink. They did so, and again he
declined to pay.
The barkeeper and the Italians came to
words. Afterwards the Italians and the
other three men came to blows, and one
of the Italians was pitched out of the back
door, In this the barkeeper assisted
This man, who was probably Basso, was
taken home and the following Sunday at
tended by Dr. Blocksom, who thought he
had mania potu. Later DIR. Wales was
called, and he had the man sent to the
Delaware Hospital. There DIR. Shortlidge
attended him and on yesterday week noti-
fled the authorities that he was in critical
condition. He died as has been stated at
noon Friday. There are no marks on his
body, except q discolored eye, and post
mortem examination will be necessary to
learn the cause of death.
Coroner Sparks had not been notified of
Basso's death at 2oclock and had taken no
action.
Coroner Sparks summoned a Jury on
Saturday afternoon to hold an inquest on
the body, of Antonio Basso, the Italian
who died at the Delaware Hospital on
Friday, from suspected injuries received in
McAIahon's saloon on Tatnall street on
the night of November 18th.
Michael Golden, the bartender at the
saloon, appeared to know very little about
the fight He testified that three Italians
came in and got drinks for which they re-
fused. to pay. The Italians got into
trouble with three others who were in. the
Italians ont of the door. file saw no blows
struck, although he was behind the bar all
the time.
William Parker heard of the fight and
one Of the men who was in the saloon
told him that an Italian was beaten. He
was told that William Bullen, James Cary
and schooner" Long were in the fight
Other witnesses corroborated this testi-
lnony
Dr. ]. G. Fahey testified that he made
the post-mortem examination. He found
the eyes blackened and a discoloration
behind the right ear as from a blow
Further examination showed that death
resulted from inflammation of the brain
This could have been caused by blow, but
often resulted from natural causes.
The coroner's jury met again Monday
night, at city hall and heard additional
testimony.
Drs John P. Wales, Il. G. Shortlidge,
t. b. Bradford, Henry Patterson and j.
I. " Blocllson testified. DIR. Blocksom
was called to attend Basso on November
23d. Believed then that he was rallying
from debauch of beer that the chemi-
cal ingredients of the same had affected
him. DIR. Blocksom did not attend him
again. DIR. Wales attended him and had
him sent to the Delaware Hospital.
There was evidence of brain trouble.
Basso was unconscious when DR. Short
lidge saw him at the hospital, and ap-
peared to be suffering from some brain
trouble. There were discolorations back
of both ears which probably were the
result Of violence. Both eyes were
blackened.
Drs. Bradford and Patterson assisted
at the post-mortem examination. They
found the brain inflamed and an abcess
with pus in the front part of the brain.
Both eyes were blackened, and there
We're bruises back Of both ears. The
condition of the brain might have been
caused by blows, considering that the
man was intoxicated. 1t looked as if he |
had suffered violence.
Michael Greco testified through Inter- |
prefer Louis Porter. He was with Basso
and Donate Salado in McMahon's sa-
loon at No. 1927 Tatnall street on No |
yember Nth. They called for beer and |
while they were drinking some one
struck Donate Salado. Witness was
struck also. He left the money on the
counter for the beer and ran out in the
yard with his friend Donate. The bar
tender was looking at the other men
beating Basso. Did not see the bar
tender strike any one. Heard Basso say,
sob God, let me go" Salado and
witness were drunk. Basso was not
Donate Salado was with Basso and
Greco. They took glass of beer each.
Greco paved for it, giving quarter or
. half dollar, but not waiting for his
change on account of the fight. Basso
and Greco were talking at one end of
The bar, when some one struck witness
IN the face. He ran out of the back
loor, not being able to get out of the
front door. Basso was laborer in the
employ of the w. d N. railroad. He
was not quarrelsome. Had no words
with the three men in the saloon. Wit
less saw Basso later in the evening at
No. 410 Orange street. He complained
If having been hit in the face and on
he back of his head.
Louis Porter testified that he called at
saloon with Sergeant Peter
on, while investigating the case, and
he bartender said, among other things,
hat he prevented man from hitting
3asso with beer glass.
Charles Tracesi saw Basso at No. 410
orange street after the fight He was
of having been beaten, and
lis face was swollen. Went to the
'olice station the next morning for q
but not being able to give a
Iame could not obtain one. The wit
less spoke Of the different doctors call {
ng to see Basso, of his being sent to the
ospital and of his death. AT the sug-
estion of DIR. Shortlidge he reported the
ase at the police station. {
William Sparks, who was in the
aloon during the fracas, gave the most
irect testimony. He said that the r
hree Italians came in, between and 10
clock, and called for beer, which they /
efused to pay for. The two little {
Italians We're pretty drunk, but Basso
ias comparatively sober The three !
len who committed the assault, Bullen, !
ar and Long, came in, and the Italians !
sked them to drink and then refused to !
ay That started the trouble. The {
ar.tender asked for the money for the !
Kinks and one of the Italians said, "Me t,
o pay for drinks" The two little