Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-29
MURDERERs RECEIVING THEIR DEATH SENTENCES

sentences They were Joe and Angelo
Kappa, who murdered Frank Helmstett last
independence Day, and George Strausser,
who took the life of Joseph Brandt q month
later. The two Italians as soon as taken
back to Jail tried to bunt their brains out
against the cell doors.
The Criminal Court room was crowded
yesterday morning to hear the sentences
pronounced. 1t was an unusual sentence
day. 1t is rare that three murderers are
sentenced in one day, but besides this Gar
win was to learn his future. The friends of
each man were there, and many others from
curiosity were present The Zappas were
brought in first. Judge Kennedy
was on the bench. Attorneys Nc
Garvey and Braddocks at once arose
and made strong appeal in support of
their motion for arrest ofjudgment Judge
Kennedy overruled it, and through the in
terpreter asked Angelo Kappa if he had
anything to say. The man showed a scar
on his head and the cuts in his hat, but said
nothing. When Joe was asked if he had
anything to offer, he replied that he was
innocent of the murder
Pronouncing the Sentence of Death.
Then Judge Kennedy said: SIT is i'm
possible for the Court to conceive how you
could be ignorant of the crime or how from
the evidence you did not participate in it.
Have you anything further to say?"
There was pause and an awful stiffness
Then the Judge continued: "Some time
will be afforded you before the sentence of
the law is put into execution. The Court
can only say that you should use that time
in preparation to meet your Almighty
God"
When these words had passed Judge Ken
nedy's lips he rose and all the people in the
court room with him. For moment there
was the stiffness of death. then the Court in
calm, clear tones pronounced these solemn
words: 'The sentence of the Court is that
you be taken to the Allegheny county Jail,
from whence you came, and there be kept
until q time be fixed by the Governor of
this Commonwealth, and then to be taken
to the place of execution and there be
hanged by the neck until you are dead; and
may God in His infinite goodness have
mercy on your souls"
As Judge Kennedy ceased speaking a
wild shrek pierced the stiffness of the
room. 1t was Joseph Zappa's wife. The
words of Judge Kennedy had struck deep
into her heart, and she could no longer keep
her composure. Forgetting she was in the
halls of justice, she cried like child, each
sob ending in a moan of the deepest dis
tress The tipstaffs had to remove her, but
her weeping had set many others to she'd
ding tears
Trying to Anticipate Their Fate.
The Italians did not seem to realize their
fate until they had crossed the "Bridge of
Signs" and were again in their narrow cells
Both men became as maniaes and tried to
bunt their brains out against the iron bars.
Guards at once ran to them snd neither sue
ceeded in their suicidal attempts. Angeles
cell is on the second tier, and as the range
man opened the door TO pacify him, the
Italian ran out and jumped over the rail-
ing to the stone floor below, trying to kill
himself, but failed. A priest was sent for,
who succeeded in quieting their delirious
minds Guards are being kept at the cells
of both men.
The crime which these men were SEN
fenced to be hanged for was the murder of
Frank Helmstett, last 4th of July. Mrs.
Helmstett and the Zappa women uuarreled.
the men took it up and murder was the re-
suit. William Reardon and Joseph NULL
mari are still in Jail charged with being &C.
cessorles. Angelo swore that he had
stabbed Helmstett and Joe had nothing to
do with it On the strength of this the
attorneys hope to yet free Joe
Wept on Hearing His Sentence.
George Strausser, a nice looking German
Of about 25, followed the Zappas in receiv-
ing death sentence. His attorneys, Hud-
son and Friedman, asked for a new trial,
but Judge Kennedy overruled the motion.
Strausser had nothing to say in his own
behalf The Judge, addressing the pris-
oner, said: "Prepare to meet your Godl
You will be given more time for that pre-
paration than you gave your victim" He
was then sentenced. Strausser took his
fate very sadly and cried the whole way
back to the Jail
The killing of Joseph Brandt was in
self-defense. On August 8, Brandt Is said |
to have attacked Strausser's mother and the |
young man resented 1t. Strausser stabbed |
Brandt The parties lived on the Scuthside. |
Strausser's case will be taken to the Su- |
preme Court .r--.
Frank Garyin stood up before Judge Nc. |