New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-03
A AMOBATTACKS SAMURDERER
DESPERATE STRUGGLE OF POLICEMAN,
HANDcUFFED TO HIS PRISONER, HE FACES
SAVAGE ITALIANS AND BEATS THEM
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ARRIVE
JUST IN TIME.


at No. 443 East One-hundred-and- -thirteenth-st.,
shot and killed Alphonse Sylvestro, an Italian
shoemaker. Of No. lab Sullivan-st in the street
in front of No. 177 Thompson-st yesterday
afternoon. Sylvestro drunk. He had been
drinking beer with Frank Fogelli, of No. $50
South-st: Michael Pietrotinto. of No 339 East
Eleventh-st, and Michael Voetto, in a liquor
store at No. 175 Thompson-st., kept by Nicolo
Gerardo, nearly all day. and when the party
broke up at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon they
were all more or less intoxicated. Sylvestro was
boisterous, and when he went out Of the place
with his godfather whose name the police have
not been able to learn. he began singing an
Italian song at the top Of his voice. Several
Italians Joined in the chorus, and danced furiolsly
from one side of the street to the other. Some
one shouted Police, and the disorder stopped.
Sylvestro said that he was going home and started
toward Bleecker-st He had only taken few steps
steps when he met Collucio. who had turned into
Thompson-st. from Bleeckerst.
Collucio was walking at a fast pace and Syl-
vestro caught him by the arm as he was passing
and asked him where he going. The men
were strangers, and Collueio in answer to the
question told Sylvestro to go to the devil and find
out. Sylvestro not satisfied and thonghs
that he would amuse his friends by having
little fun with the stranger. Sylvestro pulled
his hat over his eyes, drew an imaginary sabre
from scabbard at his side, declared that he
was the son of a bandit king and ordered Col
lucio to deliver over all the loose change thai
he had in his pockets. Collucio backed away
and Sylvestro closed in upon him, caught him by
the collar and struck him several times on tho
head with the imaginary sword. Collucios face
turned black with rage and he pushed Sylvestro
violently against the wheel of a truck. The loud
laughter of Sylvestro's friends added to the fury
of Collucio and when Sylvestro started away, Col
lucio followed and called him coward. Collucio
was furiously enraged, and when Sylvestro tried
to quiet him by explaining that it was all a joke,
Collucio would not listen to II, and challenged
Sylvestro TO go with him to a room and hghe
it out with knives by themselves.
"You will not fight" growled Collucio. You
are coward and dog and you must die" As
he uttered these words he drew a 3S-calibre re-
volver from his hip-pocket, jumped in front OF
Sylvestro and fired the weapon within few inches
of Syvestro's face. The ball entered Sylves-
tros brain through the right eye, and he threw
up his hands and fell to the sidewalk with
groan. He died in five minutes.
After the shooting Collucio threw the pistol
at Sylvestro and ran TO Houston-st., followed by
a crowd. Policeman McNally heard the shot and
saw Collucio disappear under stoop in
Houston-st The officer followed, caught the
murderer in coal vault, and dragged him up
to the street The officer started with the prisoner
to the Prince-st. station, but had only gone
short distance when he heard wild shout be-
hind him. and in a second he was in a fierce
conflict with Sylvestros friend, who had heard
of the murder, and had determined to have I'M
mediate revenge and kill ColluciO The officer
snapped a handcuf on his left wrist, and put
the mate to it on the right arm of Colluclo, So
that he could not be taken away from HIM, and
then defended himself as best he could with his
club. Several Italians tried to stab Collucio, and
he received many blows from sticks and stones.
He fought for his life like a demon. and If it
had not been for the able assistance that he gave
to the officer they would probably both have
been killed. The officer used his club and feet
with great skill, and every time the Italian lifted
his hobnaled shoe some one went down.
Kill him. kill him!" shouted the crowd.
Colucio defed them all. He dashed at an Italian
who had struck him in the mouth with stone
with such force that both Collucio and the officer
were thrown down The crowd jumped on them,
and the officer pulled his revolver, and by
fourshing it at them and threatening to shoot
cleared a space large enough TO stand up. Affairs
looked dark for the officer and his prisoner as
the crowd increasing and was becoming
desperate. 90,
Beecker-st, ran to the Princest. station and told
Sergeant AlbertsOn that Policeman McNally was
likely to be killed in HOustOn-st. If he did NOT
soon receive help The sergeant ordered all ,nS
dozen lusty fellows, with a yearning for Italian
skulls started on a run. They came up Just IN
time One of the Italians had got pistol and
was banging away at McNally. The policemen
dashed into the mob with their night sticks, and
the large amount of sticking plaster that was sold
at the drugstOres in the neighborhood afterward
testified how valianty they had defended then
brother officer.
The prisoner was taken TO the Prince-st sta
tion under the police escort. The crowd fol.
lowed at a respectful distance. The prisoner was
bleeding erom the mouth and several small
wounds Most of the clothing had been torn
from his body He said TO Sergeant Abertson
that the dead man had assaulted him lie de.
MED having a pistol and said that he did not
fire the shot that killed Sylvestro and. in fact, did
not hear any shot fired Several Italian wit
nesscs who saw the entire affair, said they were
looking the other way when the pistol was dis
charged and did not know where the shot came
from Clarence Parker. of No. l76 Thompsop
ST.. saw the fight from his window and identified
Collucio at the police station as the man who
did the shooting. Collucio said that he thought
that Svlvestro was bandit and higbwayman:
when he demanded money from him: but said
no would not shoot man for such . little thing
as that The prisoner will he taken TO the
jefferson Market Court this morning