The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-03
GUILTY OF MURDER.
The Diabolical Tacoma Italian
Who Slew His Friend.
FIRE AT cGuR p'ALENE CITY.
Governor Ferry to Attend Port Town
send Centennial-Drunken 0regonian
Killed by . Train.

TACOMA, May Especial. l-Moreci Pc
cant. the murder of Conchilii Salvatore.
held q picture of the Virgin and infant
and PRAYER printed in Italian at his breast
during his trial. The case went to the
fury tonight. The verdict was brought IN
at midnight It was guilty OF murder IN
the first degree. Pecani was stohd,
wretched and brutal-iooking fellow as seen
in the dock. His counsel will ask for
new trial. IL new trial is not granted
his counsel will appeal. There is little
prospect of new trial being granted.
ron Wednesday evening. March 2, 1892, an
Italian complained TO an ofiieer that neigapof
of his rooning in a cabin, corner OF South Nine
tcenth and D streets in Tacoma, had not been
seen that day, and the door OF the
house was fastened, he thought some
thing was wrong. Tho officer accompanied him
10 The cabin and forced the door. hight was
procured and its rays revealed horrible scene.
On a rude bed In the corner lay the oody OF
Conchiila Salvatore, an italian fruit dealer
His brains had been beaten out and three stu
etto stab wounds were directly over the heat.
The left arm was also punotured by still
etto In several places He had been oead
since Tuesday night Brains were spattereo
over the head OF the bed. and his undershirt ana
drawers, in which he was attired, were sathr-
ated with blood. He had evidently been buscn-
d,
Q struggle, aside from the ragged stilstto
wounds In the left arm, which indicate mo-
mentary swaying of the body. Inc
stiletto wounds over the heart were an
inch long aud quarter OF an inch VIDE,
and all three were within raaius OF
an inch. Ratchet was used in beating out
salvadores brains, and it is evident the assas-
Sin struck him in the head before driving the
stiletto INTO his heart mans cienched
fist could be placed in the hole IN
the head, and repeated blows with
the hatchet had slit the LETT ear ana
ripped into ribbons a red and blue Dandana
worn as a nightcap about the head. sharp
slivers of shattered skull stuck through the
scalp and head cloth, and with the ugly stiletto
wounds in the breast and the clotted blood and
brains besmeared over the head, face
and shoulder indicated the horrible
sicilian manner Of assassination. salvacore's
eyes were closed, his mouth open, with the thin
lips drawn in a deathly smile The right hand
was raised TO the chin. the LETT hand resting on
the side. The coroners assistant estimated that
thirty-two blows must have been struck him
with the sttletto and Ratchet to have inflicted
the horrible wounds. The murdered man was
aged 81 years. Moreci Pecani, the murderer, Is
aged %, and il vicious, coarse-bearded,
low-browed, brutal looking man. few years
ago he was arrested for trying to rape little
girl in Old Tacoma, and after long
period Of imprisonment, regained bis
liberty because the evidence against him was
not forthcoming. He has also for a long time
been afflicted with a loathsome disease
and at one time tried to secure
free treatment from the health officer.
The reason for the crime is supposed to have
been due to the desire OF Peeani to wipe
out a debt to Salvatore, and then to
return to Sicily on the proceeds of the
sale OF his fruit stand, In the purchase of which
he had incurred the debt Pecani's left hand
and the sleeve OF bis undershirt were spotted
with dried blood at the time of his arrestl