The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-20
a RACE FOR LIFE.
An Angry Pursuer With a Sword
Cane Shot Dead by the Pursued.

n burutlug IhReuY. was enacted sunday
morning In the French fish market. 4
wealthy Italian was shot and instantly
killed by the man whose home he had
desscrated and whose name he had scam
dalized throughout the Second district. The
dead man is Aristide Balestracci, and his
slayer is L. Z. Boulst, a young Frenchman.
The tragedy took place at 9 80 o'clock and
the alteration which led up 20 the killing
occurred near the lower end Of the frsh
market on Ursulines street.
The men had known each other for up
ward of three years. For nearly year the
domestic life OF Boulet has been made un-
happy by the attentions which the Italian
paid to his wife, aud in this lies the cause for
the homicide. Balestracci was not content
with alternating the affections of the wife
from her husband. but made bold to boast
Of his conquest and openly intimated that
he had
sUPPLANTED THE HUSBAND
in the heart of bis pretty young wife. His
boast was repeated to young Boulet, and
when the facts in the unhappy domestic
life of the couple became notorious the hus-
band determined to leave his wife. This he
did last July. Balestracci became more
and more offensive in his remarks about
his personal courage, and finally brought
matters to an issue by giving to one of Bou-
let's employees scurrilous message for his
employer, experimenting it by threat that
he intended to kill the young man.
This message was delivered TO Bouet on
Friday evening, and yesterday morning the
men met face to face in the French mar
ket. Balestracci was in conversation with
friend when Boulet came up and accosted
him.
BoULET Asked THE ITALIAN
whether be did not think he had sufficiently
injured him in the eyes of the world with
out trying to do him further injury by
bringing him into disrepute and then max
ing known his intention of killing him.
BalestrAcci answered with muttered i'm
precation to the effect that be was master
of his own mind and would do as he saw fit
He caught Bouet by the arm and asked
him to go out to the levee and settle their
differences in fight. Boulet replied that
he didn't want to go with him anywhere
and as be made the remark Bnlestracci
raised heavy cane which be held and
made motion as if 20 strike the French
man. Boulet saw the blow coming and
with his left arm showed Belestracci from
him. His right arm was thrown across his
head to ward off the blow, but the cane did
not descend. Baestracci arrested his
hand and by a, sudden movement stepped
back and
DREW FROM THE CANE A SWORD.
He poised the glittering blade in the air
and made lunge with the keen weapon
direct for Boulet's cheat. The Frenchman
for an instant did not sea the weapon In the
half light of the market, but when his eye
caught the CLINT Of the smooth steel he gave
q startled cry of surprise aud terror and
turning suddenly, fed incontinently through
the market. The enreged italian missed
his mark, and the impetus which he gave
to the blow caused him to lose the chance
to pierce his frightened antagonist through
the back.
He recovered himself in an instant, and
was hot in pursuit OF
THE FLYING FREECHMAN.
Then began a RAGS for life. Balestracci was
blind with rage and fury, and ran swifty
after his intended victim, poising his weapon
meantime in the cir prepared to strike a
fatal blow. On fed young Boulet with
faltering steps and trembling limbs, intent
only on escaping from the murderous man
at his heels Through the fish market
dashed pursued and pursuer. Boulet glanced
back with frightened face to see how near
the Italian was to him. As he did SO his
side came in collision with the end Of a
stand of the market, and he was arrested in
his fight for the fractional part of a second.
The hundreds of people who were in the
market at the time watched the flying steps
OF the men and when the Freuchman was
momentarily retarded the hearts Of the spec
tntors were in their throsts as they expected
to see Balestraccl press his cruel sword
through his back. but the race was des-
tined to end in another manner. Half
way of the market had been traversed,
occupying less than half a minute, when
Bouet, desperate and fearful Of his personal
safety, seeing no other escape, turned ia his
tracks, and drawing pistol from his breast
FIRED AT BALEsTHACCL.
The bullet was true. 1t struck the Italian
in the chest, and for an instant mis- D irsuit
was arrested. Boulet turned after firing
and continued his flight. Balestrsccis pause
was but brief, and clutching mis- sword cane
more firmly, he pressed On after hisvictim.
The race was continued to the upper end of
the market. The terribly realistic scene
which was being enacted in the market
chilled the blood of every one, of the many
eye-witnesses to the tragedy and flight for
life and pursuit for vengeance. No one
could raise hand to arrest the race Of
either man. and it was in the power OF none
to prevent that which too soon happenett
When the upper limit OF the market was
reached, Boulet. badly winded by his race
and half dead with the picture of being
stabbed to death, which was uppermost in
his mind, turned second time and again
took aim at his pursuer. The Italian dashed
on -unmindful OF the weapon of death which
WAS pointed at him, and when within
twenty 1oet OF b u'et, Jnere rang out
sharp report, ana Balessracci was seen to
leap into the air ana drop IN heap to the
ground. The upper portion of his body
struck a basket of crabs at one of the stands
aud his face
FELL FORWARD AMONG THE LIVING CRUs-
TACEANS
whose open claws were raised in the air aud
fastened on the mans face. A tiny stream
of blood trickled from the neck of the
Italian and dyed his collar and shirt front a
crimson hue. His body lay in that position
but a short time when willing hands raised
him aud stretched him on the ground. His
sword cane lay where it had fallen from
the nerveles5 hand, near the edge OF the
gutter, and bis slayer stood within ten feet
of the dying man.
YOUNG BoULET,
after shooting his man, placed his weapon
in his pocket and returned to the side of the
dying Italian. He paused there but mo-
ment, aud picked up the sword cane with
which he hurried from the scene He went
to Mr.. Piri, a friend, and 10 him related the
fact that he had killed Balestracci and In
tended to surrender, asking him to accom-
pany him 10 the station. The men walked
to the Third precinct station house and
Boulet gave himself up to Corporal Jago.
and was placed in a cell. Within a few
hours he was taken before Recorder Moulin
and was sent to the parish prison without
the benefit Of bail.
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