The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14
THE STORY OF A CRIME.
A BROrHER'S VENGEANCE ENDS
TWO HAPPY LIVES.
Four Lives Will Pay for the Betrayal Of
an Innocent Girl I'm Italy Many
Years Ago.
Aitkin, Mimi, July 10th.

| not flow as quickly through their veins
as does that Of the fiery Souherner and
| that of the children OF the warm ooun-
| tries across the sea, the vendetta Is
something practically unknown. and for
! that reason the trial Of Michael and Arch
anglo Christelli, brothers, the murderers
of Ben and Marie Jennetti, at McGregor,
| a little town. a few miles from here, last
| March. will be particularly interesting
! jnasinuch as 1t was the ending OF
fcud begun many years ago in the city
Of Naples, Italy.
The case will come on at the Sep
| TENDER term OF the District Court, to be
| held here and there is scarcely doubt
but that the brothers will be found gull
ty and sentenced to death IL they are
not. and should ever regain their lib
ertv, they will find an avenger upon
their tail In the person of a nlne-year-
| old boy, for. in dying, Mr.. and Mrs. Jen-
netti left behind, among other children,
! a boy who has sworn to Kill the broth
ers II they are ever set free. This boy
has constituted himself a guard outside
Of the jail and may be seen almost at
any time pacing to and fro near the
dingy old building in which the murder
| ers are confined.
1HE MURDER OF THE JTNNETrIs.
The crime for which the Christelli
brothers are now awaiting trial and
almost certain execution was committed
March 18th last, and was absolutely cold
blcoded and without proyocation. Ben
and Marie Jennetti came from Italy sew
eral years ago and took up a claim at
McCiregor, while the Christelli brothers
were more recent arrivals, and made no
secret OF the fact that they had followed
Ben Jennctt from their native country.
The Jennettis were thrifty, and owned
a store in the little numbering town, and
1t was near this store they we're murder
ed.
For some days prior to the murder the
Christelli brothers had been trying 10
engage the Jennettis in quarrel. but
the latter were afraid of their swarthy
enemies, and kept strictly away from
them. on March 18th, the brothers had
been sauntering around the Jennetu
place for several hours, and just be-
fcre noon saw Ben Jennetu leave the
store and 90 TO pile of wood in tho
vicinity. In a second they were upon
him, their shotguns leveled straight
at his head.
Before the victim could say word he
was launched into eternity, both men
having fired point blank at his face,
blowing his head almost 70 pieces. Mrs.
Jonnetti, looking from the door of the
store, saw the murder committed, and
with a scream Of horror ran TO where the
tcdy OF her husband lay and threw her
self upon the mangled corpse, screaming
and rocking 10 and fro In her anguish.
As she lay there, the Christelli brothers
raised their guns again and fired. the
charges of heavy shot tearing terri
bic hole IN the head and neck of he
woman, who fell dead and bleeding
acrcee the bodv of her husband.
Little Francoli Jennetu, who had run
from the house at the sound OF the first
shot, saw his mother shot down, and
with a cry for mercy rushed back into
TIE building. barring the door behind
him, for fear that the murderers would
try TO dispose of the whole family, con-
sisting Of himself, a baby in arms, and
a boy Of three years. in the same man.
ner. But the ChristellIs made no such
move After looking for a moment at
the bodies Of their victims. they struck
out for the woods, in which they were
soon lost TO view.
The alarm was at once given by Fran
coll and in ten minutes a posse Of the
dead peoples friends was in pursuit Of
the murderers Sheriff Mausten and the
Coroner were teegraphed for. and on
their arrival the brothers came In and
surrendered TO them, being afraid OF
at a lynching bee If they remained I'm
the woods longer, for they were sur
rounded. and the line Of hunters was
steadily closing in upon them. The
bodies Of che dead man and dead woman
were brought to this city on the even
ing train in the baggage car. and In the
same car rode the two murderers, under
a heavy guard.
TALK OF LYScHING.
Even after the prisoners had been
placed in the Aitkin county jail at this
place lynching talk was strong and
party Of lumbermen gathered and looked
about for a leader, with the intention
of storming the Jail and taking the muir
dcrers out ard hanging them. The par
~ was met by the Sheriff and his depu-
ties. who informed the men that the
first one who made a hostile move
would be killed. AS the officials were
well armed, the preparations for the
lvnching were declared off. Since the
incarceraf.f n Of the brothers they have
taken life easily and are model pris-
onors. Michael, the elder of the two.
has fair education, but Archanglo is
ignorant and almost half-witted. He
does not seem 10 appreciate the gravi-
ty Of his offence, and only smiles when
questioned about the tragedy
Michael was willing to talk OF the
killing when visited by the writer two
days ago. and admitted that he had fol-
lowed Mr.. Jernetd clear from Italy,
where the trouble began. The prisoner
| talked quite brokenly. but told his story
in a graphic manner and through 1t
ran vein of pathcs which made the
tale intensely interesting.
STORY OF REVENGE.
"Many years ago." he said. Ben
| Jennetu lived near us IN Naples, where
we were happy in our little homes. Ny
only sister was a pretty girl OF seven
teen, and Ben was a frequent caller at
] the house. We welcomed him gladly,
for he was well educated, had some
money. and was entertaining. and, more
than that we understood that he was
gaRg TO marry Celestine, my sister,
Things ran on In this way for some time,
| and then Ben stopped coming to our
| place. Next Celestine went away, and
we did not see her again until we found
her dead body In the sea.
I'VE understood then. She had been
| betrayed by Ben, and had not dared TO
| face the disgrace which would follow II
| she remained at home. The day poor
| CelCstine was found Ben went away with
! Marie Cafarell. whom he married On
| reaching this country. For a long time
we heard nothing from them, and then,
| one day. word came that they were iiv-
/ ing at McGregor in Minnesota. Archan-
| glo and | came here, intending TO kill
| Ben for having betrayed our sister. but
| when we found him so happy with his
| wife and children. we decided 10 let him
live. and only give him a terrible whip
| ping.