The record-union., 1894-02-01
TIE KILLING OF RAFBLLO LAR0CCA.
Testimony Taken at the Coroner's
inquest Last Night.
1t Shows the Murder by Arcangelo
Lucci to Have Been Brutal
and Unprovoked.

Coroner Clark held an inquest last
night on the body of Rafello Larocca,
who was murdered on Monday night by
Arcangelo Lucci.
Peter Rossi testified that he knew La
rocca, who was 53 years old, and lived IN
the alley between NJ and N Fifth and
Sixth streets, with another man. The
shooting took place between and 10
O'Clock, and witness, Pasquale Lucci
Passilo, Peter Rossi and Arcangelo Luccl
were present. Lucci came in and told
Larocca that he had promised to pay him
some money that night. Larocca said he
had none, but gave Lucci his note for the
amount, $40.
Lucci put the note on the table, when
Larocca took it and tore it up. Lucci
pulled out his pistol and shot Larocca.
Lucci wanted witness to sign the note, so
that if he (Lucci) went to Italy he would
be able to collect it on Larocca's property
there.
A bout five minutes after Lucci came in
the shooting occurred. Larocca was sit
ting in a chair, and Lucci was standing
up, about four or five feet away. The
candle fell on the floor at the last shot
and was extinguished. Lucci walked
around witness in order TO shoot Larocca,
and stood on one side of him. Larocca
made no threatening motions OF any
kind; he simply SAID he would not pay
Lucci.
Pasquale Lucci Pasillo testified that
himself, Rossi and the deceased were sit
ting around table when Lucci came in
and asked LarOcCa for some money, and
when the latter said he had none Luccl
said he would take his note. Larocca
agreed to this, and Lucci went after pen
and ink for him TO sign the note. While
he was gone LarocCa tore up the note.
When Lucci saw the torn note he passed
around behind the witness ana Rossl,
and standing on the right OF Larocca fired
twice in quick succession. AT the first
shot deceased bent forward, and at the
second shot he fell forward on the floor,
eXclaiming II am dead ~
The note was identified by witness, and
bears date last October and was signed by
Larocca.
Larocca borrowed the $40 from Lucci
in Colorado 10 come here, and they came
together. The note was made here ana
they went to San Francisco, where La
| rocca claimed Lucci robbed him OF $40
Witness had known both the parties
since they were boys. The murderer
escaped in the dark, without saying q
word.
Dr.. w. II. Baldwin, who attended the
deceased, said he found him excited and
expectorating blood. The DOCTORS de-
scription of the wound and the points of
entrance and exits of the bullets are sim
liar to the descriptions already published
| in the RECORD-U UNION.
| Officer Ahern and Special Officer Greer
testified to having gone to the place
where the deceased fell, and helped place
| him in the patrol wagon. The deceased
was able to walk to the wagon.
B. c. Brier testified to having taken the
| deceased's dying statement.
Witness Rossi was recalled and testi
! fed that none Of the occupants of the
room were drunk.
The acknowledgment of debt the muir
dered man tore up, after he refused to
resign it, read as follows:
SACRAMENTO, October, 1898.
I, the undersigned, declare that | have re-
ceived from MIR. ATcangelo Lucci the sum of
! S45. RAFFAELA LARoCCA.
Witnessed by Pasquale Lucci.
After all the testimony was heard the
jury deliberated a few moments and re-
turned a verdict that deceased came to his
| death at the hands of Arcangelo Lucci.
The jury in the inquest was composed
of the following: w. r.. Dean, c. W. Mel
son, Frank Counts, w. II. Hummel, Chas
Tomlin, j. /. brennan, S. Smith, Charles
Crocker, A. e. Bennett, Thomas Davis,
]. B. Patterson and Thomas kirkpatrick.