The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-22
sHor HER IN JEALOUS RAGE.
A Murder Committed Nest Door TO Police
Headquarters

~
Pietro Romano shot and killed his wife Annie
at 4 o'clock yesterday morning, in their home in
the s~ix-story tenement at 200 Mott street, which
adjoins Police Headquarters. Romano was in
sanely Jealous OF his wife and believed her 20 be
the recipient Of attentions from some one, but
whom he did not know. The murderer Is q street
sweeper, and his work keeps him out late at
night. He and his wife lived In three small front
rooms on the fourth floor of the tenement. He
Is 30 years old, and was married TO his wife
eight years ago, when she was Annie Spoletto, a
girl but 10 years old.
At first they lived in a dingy tenement In
Crosby street, but about a year ago they moved
into the Mott street house. where the shooting
occurred. They seemed to live happily together.
and the only known reason for the crime Is
Romano's jealousy. He worked late the night
before the shooting and upon leaving the house
next morning he instructed her, as he had done
many times. to go 10 the home Of his cousin.
Pietro Baritone. at 26sPrince street in case he
should not return at his usual hour. Then
Romano went out to work on the streets in the
neighborhood OF Washington and Canal streets.
The night wore on and he did not return. The
wife became anxious. She knew that he had
recently qurrelled with another Italian. whom
he had struck on the head with a club, and Mrs.
Romano constantly dreaded a renewal of the
fight. She remained up until about 1890 o'clock,
and then. mindful OF her husbands advice. went
TO Bartone's. on Prince street. Bartone's wife
opened the door when Mrs. Romano knocked,
and found her barefooted and with a shawl
wrapped about her head. She told Mrs. Baritone
that Pietro had not come back and that she was
afraid to remain home alone. She said she had
left her two babies asleep in the care Of Pietro's
13-ycar-old nephew. Nicolo Caperim. who ex-
pected soon to start for Italy to see his father.
A. - ~ -
ing Pietro to be a bad mar when in his cups,
thought his cousin might have gotten drunk and
been hurt In a brawl. He determined TO go to
sweepers live, and make inauiries, but Mrs.
Romano said>she thought her husband might be
at home by the time they got there. 80 she and
Baritone started at once for the Mott street tene-
msnt.
pounded on the door. but Nicolo, the nephew,
was too sound asleep to hear them and let them
in. In an adjoining room lived one Marguerite
Muro. who was awakened by the noise, and Mrs.
Romano went through the woman's room to the
fire escape, by means of which she could climb
ihe door door and NJ Ieip RRartone oome in For some
reason Baritone locked the door after him. They
looked through the rooms, but there was no one
there except Nicolo add the babies, all fast
asleep. Mrs. Romano and Baritone had not been
in the rooms more than a minute before Romano
door and found it locked. and raped loudly.
Mrs. Romano went TO unlock Il, but the husband
was impatient. He pounded louder. called out
something, and threw himself against the door.
lie had long been suspicious of his wife, and the
locked door seemed to madden him.
When Mrs. Romano unlocked the door the
now infuriated husband rushed in. He saw
Baritone. but ignored him and STRIDE quickly to-
ward his wife. whom he grasptd roughly by the
arm. drawing n revolver from his pocket at the
same time. Mrs. Romano saw the pistol and
turned away with a cry of terror, Romano held
her fast and. pressing the muzzle of his revolver
struck his wife under the left shoulder blade,
and with = feeble cry she sank to the floor. Bar
tone had witnessed the murder, aud not know
ing what else might happen fled from .he room
to his home. Nicolo Caperini and the two
babies were awakened by the shot. and the
youngsters began crying. Romano apparently
did not hear or sec them, as he thrust the re-
vOlvcr back into his pocket and went out OF the
m All the tenants had heard the re-
port OF the pistol. and many OF them went to
their doors and saw Romano as he assembled the
msno's rooms and crowded about the body Of
the dying woman.
Romano walked carelessly along Mott street
To- Houston, when he turned westward toward
Broad way. At tn. corner Of Mulberry street
stood Policeman Muller OF the Mulberry street
station. He and Romano knew each other. and
the latter called out cheerily, Hello. john
The policeman returned the greeting. and Ro-
manO went on his way. A few minutes later
Muller went TO the Mott street corner, and then
heard about the shooting. Muller ran TO the
tenement and found ROmano's wife dying in
the doorway between the bedrooms. An ambu-
lance was summoned from 81. Vincent's Hos
pitAl, and there Mrs. Romano was taken. She
died shortly before Z o'clock.
The police of the Mulberry street station are
still hunting for Romano.