Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-09
NOTION GOOD TERMS,
An Old-Country Vendetta Between
EeapelitSns and CaIabrianS the
Cause of q Tragedy.
THE STOOPS FERRY MURDER TRIAL
Develops a Significant Fact that May Take
ALI Thought of Manslaughter Ont
of the Case.
HHNANBROWARSkr'SI SILL-TINEDBREAK
a Large Humber Of speak-Easy Cases Turned Down
by the Grand Jury.

The Italians from Shousetown, accused of
the murder Of Antoine Rufsa, at Stoops'
Ferry, March 16 last, were placed on trial
before Judge Slagle yesterday. Their names
are Peter Carmonia, as principal, and
Joseph Natal, francesca Ateno and Louis
Greco as accessories. All the testimony
was given through an interpreter. Captain
T. Y. Breck assisted District Attorney
Johnston in the prosecution, and W. d.
Moore and Major E. A. Montooth are at
torneys for the defendants.
The first witness was Antonio Di PAUL.,
or Bell. He testified that on March 16 last
q large number of Italians were at work on
the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad, ,shear
Stops Ferry. A part of them had been
getting the water they used for driHking
and cooking from a well in the yard of
house in which lived Michael Di Paul., or
Bell, and his family. The occupants of the
house were Neapolitans, while the track
lsborers were Calabrians, and the two were
not on good terms. The Calabrians got into
the habit of climbing over the fence to reach
the we'll, and about o'clock Sunday after
noon, March 16, Bartholemeo Reffsa told
q party of them to come to the we'll by
way of the road, and not to climb
the fence and break it down any more. This
started fight, which lasted but a few min
utes, and then the Calabrians went away.
They secured reinforcemenIs and returned
and attacked Bells honse. They used
sticks, stones and knives as weapons. In
the fight that followed Michael Bell was
knocked down and stabbed and Antonio
Ruffsa had his skull crushed by large
stone thrown bv one of the besiegers Both
the wounded men afterward died, but the
inquest on Bell showed that Inflammation OF
the bowels had been the immediate cause of
his death. Ruffsa lived until April 2
when he died at the Homeopathic Hospital.
After Rufsa's death the witness Antonio Bell,
made an information against the men on trial.
and went to Stops Ferry and pointed them
out to Detective D. II. Gilkenson and H. Grant
Miller, Coroner's clerk, who arrested them.
D. Bell identified Peter Carmonia as the man
who threw the stone that killed Rutfsa, and the
Others as being with the party attacking the
house.
Detective Gilkenson testified to holding the
inquest on Ruffsa, which resulted in the YER
dict of death from the wound in his head, and
also to arresring the defendants.
Coroners Clerk, H. Grant Miller corrobo-
rated Detective Gilkenson's testimony.
Joseph Ruello corroborated the first witness.
and pointed out Carmonia and Natali as being
struck, but saw him Immediately after he was
wounded.
FRANCISCO Di PAUL., or Frank Bell, brother
OF the 1rst witness. corroporated his brothers
testimoh& He did not see Ruffsa struck, but
pointed out Carmonia and Natali as being
among the beseigers of the house. Carmonia
and Natali had kinner in their hands during
part of the fight, and when they went away
they had clubs.
The testimony of Philipena Derasa, wife of
Antonio Di Paul., was not important. She
pointed out Carmonia and Natali as being in
the crowd at the time Ruffsa was hurt.
Mike Neall saw the crowd of Calabrians
Knock Rutfsa down and beat him. He did not
know who were in the crowd.
g. At this point the Commonwealth rested and
after some consultation between council. 1t
was agreed that there was not sufficient evil
deDce to convict Citeno and Greco. They were
not discharged. however, as District Attorney
Johnston thought more evidence might be
brought out against them. The friends of the
Italian principals would not submit to a com
promise verdict and. as the attorneys for the
defense had not been able to consult with tn cir
witnesses, court adjourned until this morning
to give them an opportunity to do So The case
VIII be continued this morning.