The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-17
EILLED HIS CHILDREN FOR LOVE
Before Attempting Suicide. GrIeEsirlcke u
GiuseppI Petann Did Murder.


RosroN Nov. 1s.-This noon groans were
heard issuing from room ate Thatcher court.
and the neighbors burst open the door and
found Giuseppi Petana. an Italian. dying on
tho bed and the bodies OF his two children. one
aged and the other 1. Tho man had MUIR
dered his children and cut his own throat. He
left n letter written in Italian saying that he
was determined to kill his children. He was
taken to the hospital. His wife died some six
! weeks ago and his loss is supposed to have
made him insane.
Tho Older child was named Iteen. the
younger Eena. and tho latter was cripple.
Shortly before Mrs. Fctnna's death tho couple
received some money from an uncle in Italy.
Since tho death OF his wife Pctana has been
heard to say that when tho money was gone
he would kill the hlldren and himself. His
brotner-in-iaw. liosario Indellamo. told Pctnna
that he meant to notify the police. and Petana
ceased to speak of suicide. convincing his
friends that he had given up all thought Of it.
Is aGHnt 90 YEARS od Hs ina made
his pocket were found a receipted bill for his
wiie's funeral dated June q, 1892 aud a GER
terry Mt East Maiden. Two letters were also
diseo y; N n one of them he said under
- have decided to finish it. now that my
sickness, has become chronic and will not
give me long life. and also on account of my
comfort and tho comfort OF my fnmiy. The
maternal and fraternal passion toward our
children requires mo not to leave them on the
street without attendance and without care OF
their PARENTS. TO the tomb they may come:
SO now they will ENJOY moro felicity That
oar souls may rest In peace."
In the other letter he .nid: Until to-day
delayed to kill my children. Now ! can do so
no more. il is now. five months and thirty
days since my wife died. who was my peace
dren and her husband remained maddencd.
anu had not til" courage to leave the house
or to leave my children. whom 500 lost from
day to day, and | soc that my poor chill
drcn will be lett on the street. without
comfort or father or mother. crying day and
night Great God. I'D rather died n thousand
times and save the honor Of my family. Ny
children were born with all tho comforts OF
life and are OF good family and are not used to
living on the streets like those born in m isery
mat my courage may remnin in all its
strength and not loavs me living still in mis-
CRY. and that may die within six months of
the time OF my wiin's death. pray. / pray to
the authorities to take the quickest way pos
siolc ~ transport TO tho burying ground and
mat the bodies be respected and not NAL
| treated" ~
patana has evidently been through some
very tough experiences. His body is royrrni
with scars. There are two sears ON his
| stomach. one six inches long and the other
two inches long. He has another Bic soar
near lie base Of the spine. These scars cor
firm the suspicious which his neighhors have
long held concerning him. Ito has been ihe
superior OF his companions in this city md
the suggestion that he comes Of u well.to.d
Italian fnmly and is in exile from home finds
ready belief. He cannot recover.