Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-05
MURDER ENDS A RACE WAR.
Henry Rice Dying From a Cut In
flicted by James Gormley.
POLICE HUNTING THE ASSAILANT.
Mike Talley Arrested for Seriously Cutting
Henry Thomas.
THE CRIMES OF INDEPENDENCE DAY

Frank Helmstetter was stabbed to death
by two Italians, Joseph Zapp and his
brother. Helmstetter lived in a frame
house with family named Blake in an
alley in the rear of Yew street,
near Matilda street. The murder was
committed about s o'clock. The Italians
caught hold of him by either arm and then
simultaneously plunged their knives into
their victims sides. After they stabbed
him they drew their knives up. cutting
gashes from six to eight inches long.
The little German clock on the man.
tel in Helmstetter's room is silent.
The hands were stopped at 1890.
According to the German custom
it was stopped when he died. The mur-
dered man was a handsome, black haired
fellow, 26 years of age. He was a cooper
and worked for Litsege, on Center
avenue.
Mrs Helmtetter is fne-iooking young
woman, and apparently well educated.
She has only been married three years.
When seen at her home this morning
sha told the following story of the crime:
Story of the Victims Wife.
We had intended to have very pleasant
holiday. Some of Franks relatives were
here spending the day. Next door to us
lives William Reardon, an Irishman, with
his wife, two grown Up daughters and a
number of small children. His
daughters, Mary and Kate are married,
to italian laborers. One is Joseph Zapp
and L am not certain of the name of the
other They had been drinking over there
all day and had been gambling among
themselves They are always yelling at US
. and calling us Dutch
Between and o'clock Frank and his
cousin were playing cat and dog in the yard
when L saw one of the Reardon
girls throw mud at him. did not say any,
thing, and little later her black-haired
sister again threw some mud. told her to
quit. She said something, and then they
began quarreling among themselves.
"a little bit later one of the Italians be-
gan walking up and down beside where
my husband was. told him
to be careful or he would get hurt but he
kept on playing. just then Mrs. Reardon
came running out and said had accused
her of throwing mud. said had not but
that had seen her daughter throw some.
She then said called her Dutch. said 1
didn't, but called her Irish.
-
N'Then the two daughters come running
up and wanted to fight. Frank ordered
them out and said he would take care of his
wife. Joseph Zopp came out then and said
we we're calling his wife names We paid
no attention to them, but soon after saw
the txo italians walking up to Frank. 1
Saw them reaching for something in their
pockets and called to him that they were
going to shoot.
"Just then they caught him, one by each
wrist / saw them stab him and he fell.
The next minute they were on me, and hit
me on the head and on the arm. 1 don't
know what happened then until they
brought me up to where nv husband was
dying. The only thing he said to me was,
I didn't expect to leave you widow so
soon.'"
Helmstetter, when he was stabbed, was
also struck by a third person on the head
with beer glass. When he fell William
Oxby picked him up. He asked for his
wife and did not seem to mind the gaping
wounds ip his body. Oxby ran for DR..
Kirk, but an artery had been cut and there
was no way to save him.
Arrested the Whole Household.
Officer Shultz was at once notified, and,
after summoning assistance, he placed the
Italians were Just preparing to leave as he
got there. He also picked up a butcher
knife and the beer glass that had been used
on the murdered man.
The persons arrested are William Rear
don, his wife, the two married daughters
and six children, Joseph zapp, Joseph
Spode, Joseph Mulland and William Clark.
Those were the names they gave. but it is
believed Mulland is Zapp's brother. Mrs
Helmstetter says she can identify the men
who killed her husband On Joseph Zapp
was found a bloody razor, and his clothes
were covered with blood. The prisoners re-
fused to talk after they were taken to the
station house.
A number of the neighbors were seen, and
they all bore out the statements of Mrs.
Helmstetter, and both she and her husband
have very good reputation. They all de-
clare it was race war, and that the Rear
dons were always quarreling with their
neighbors because they were Germans. Cor
oner's Clerk Grant Miller investigated the
case last night, and an inquest will be held
.o-day