New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-28
A MOOSE ABOUT HIS NECK.
ITALIANS ATTEMPT TO LYNCH A MUIR
DEROUs COMPANION
HE HAD LURED A FELLOW WORKMAN TO A
FOREST. DEMANDED HIS MONEY
AND CUT HIS THROAT-SAvED

FOREST. DEMANDED HIS MONEY
AND CUT HIS THRoAT-sAvED
BY A CONTRACTOR.
| Since the Long Island Railroad Company sent
gang of Italians to Port jefferson to work on
the extension OF the road which the company
is building between that place and Wading
River, the residents have been somewhat un-
easy. Quarres have been the regular order OF
things in the huts erected by the Italians at
what is known Rocky Point a mile east of
Port jefferson. and the villagers have been fear
full OF the result. In the early hours OF yesterday
morning, the fears OF the people came near 10
being realized One OF the Italians cut the throat
OF a companion The others rushed from their
bunks and with rope started 10 wreak ven
geance on the man who used the knife.
Dusee Liberet. according 10 the other men
employed a the works, has been a disturbing ee
ment since he Joined the party. He has been
mixed up In several fights. and the men say he
has more than one occasion been a violator
Of the unwrtten law Of honesty which governs
these camps Of rough workmen. Rocco Strazza,
another cmploye of the contractor. the other
hand. popular and appears to have been
quiet and harmless. The were much to-
gether. Sunday night they were away some
place until late at night. II was midnight when
they returned to the camp and both were APP
parently sober at the time.
AN INVITATION TO PICK APPLES.
Their hunks opposite each other in one of
the cabins and while they were preparing to
retire Libereti proposed they make raid on an
apple orchard about half mile from the camp.
He spoke as though they had seen the orchard
in the daytime and had planned to have feast
OF the fruit.
Strazza at first objected to going 10 the
orchard but finally consented. He had urged
that II late and that he tired and that
the apples would be there III the morning There
about 300 laborcrs in the camp. and dozen
OF them the two men start Nothing was
thought OF the matter when the two disappeared
into a woods some distance away. Five minutes
later those who were awake were startled TO hear
cries coming from the woods and recognized
Stra7za's voice calling FOR help. They thought
the men had been caught stealing the apples, and
one both captured by the farmer. The cries
awakened those who were asleep. and the camp
In a hustle In few seconds. Those who
were awake started on for the woods
whence the cries came and were followed by the
others as soon as they could turn out.
The leaders had not gone far before they met
Strazza staggering toward them. His clothing
was covered with blood. which pouring from
n wound In his neck I.'bereti was not in sight.
Strazza said he and Llbercti were walking along
in silence when Libercti suddenly stopped and
facing Strazza asked how much money he had
about him. Strazza thinking his companion con-
tenplaicd some new venture. quietly replied he
had between four and five dollars. Libereti then
commanded him - hand II over. Strazza says
he sprang back step or two In surprise. As ne
did 20. Libcrcti drew n stilletto from his pocket
and exclaimed
ADVICE OF A woULD-BE ASSASSIN.
when any one asks you for your money do
like this to him"
At the same moment he sprans forward and
plunged tho knife into Strazzas neck. The blow
was aimed rather low. and struck The collar-bone.
sending the knife 10 side and inficting
long though not serious wound.
While Strazza telling his story Bbercu
calmly walked into the crowd which surrounded
the wounded man He said nothing until Sirazza
had finished and then he laughed. The other
Italians were greatly excited. They appeared to
think the wound was a serious one, and II looked
80 from the size Of the surface cut by the knife.
a half dozen OF the men grabbed Libereti and
threw him down. There cries to kill him.
and a rope about thirty feet long was procured
from the tool house short distance away. one
end %. this thrown over n tree ana snp
moose ftted about Libcreti's neck az he still lay
on the ground. being held down by a number 't
the other men.
The excited men were In such haste. and so
many men wanted to help In the lynching. that
they DELAYED themselves. and thus saved the hie
Of their intended victim. Some OF the men re-
covered their senses and tried to dssuale their
companions from their purpose. The head OF the
gang and the foreman had been aroused by the
noise and rushed into the crowd. By Tree use
u their tongues, and by placing themselves about
L.beret who was standing with the rope about
his neck they succeeded In keeping the men
from drawing him up. They took the rope from
his neck and used II TO bind his hands ana
feet Thus bound he was taken TO one or the
tool houses and placed on the floor. Three OF the
fOrefnen, who are also ltanans, Pudru'u tHc iHaH
until yesterday morning.
TAKEN BEFORE THE JUSTICE.
When daylight came he lifted from the
0oor and without being unbound. was taken TO
Port Jefferson In a covered wagon. In that con-
dtion he was brought before Justice Wheeler
The Italians would not loosen him until they had
been relieved OF the custody OF the prisoner pS
Officer Brown. - ~,
StraZza was In court. as were about 100 or the
men from the camp. Strazza told mis- story
through an Interpreter. Lbereti shortened the
nroceedings by announcing in good English. that
The facts were as StraZZa had told them. JUSTICE
Wheeler then committed libereti to the River
head jail to await the action OF the Grand jury.
Nico,liO Manzett Of the leaders OF the
men at the camp said yesterday afternoon. while
telling the story OF the attempted murder ana
lynchng that-if the bosses had not interfered
Iiberetrs body would have been swung In the
air.
StraZza's wounds were dressed yesterday and
he was able TO return to the camp but not to
work He promised to appear against his as
sailant although this Is doubted, and ne may De
locked up Il witness To-Day.
DRAGGED OCT BY 4 LITTLE GIRL