Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-03-21
ITALIANS MURDERED
"A col ORADO MOB KILLS TWO
or HlxON'S SlAYERS.
the italian Charge d'Affairs Calls the At
tention Of the State Department to the
matter-May Cause Lots Of Trouble
Protests Made ii washington.
Initiating New Orleans.

0C00 0VNASS SAS 80 SeS ~
the coroner Of Huerano county as the
result Of the vengeance wreaked last
night on the Italians who were charged
with the killing Of Al Hixon In a most
brutal manner last Sunday by beating
him owe the head with q club, and
two more Italians have unquestionably
been riddled with bullets by friends
OF the popular saloonkeeper. A few
hours will most certainly bring the
discovery Of the orpses Every man
on whom there was the slightest sus-
picion OF completely in the killing of
Hixon has met with summary and
frightful punishment. Three Of the
four bodies are those Of Hixon's al
legged a~ssailants. The fourth il that Of
Joe Welsby. who was driving four of
the Italians to jail in a wagon when
he met his death. The dead are, the
first -four being in the hands OF the
ooroner:
Antonio Lorenzo. declared by the cor
oners jury to have struck the blow
which crushed Hixon's skull and
caused his death. "a years of age, un-
1ldFIleUs HI Italian c1t1ZeN.
Stannalau Fittcra, 30 years old, mar
ried. wife and three children in Italy:
antended to become an American citi-
gen.
Francisco Ronchetto, q years old,
unmarried; intention Of becoming an
American citizen declared.
Joe Welsby. % years old, unmarried.
Pietro Gianecibino. "a years old,
young son living here; said to have
taken out first papers.
Antonio Teippo, "a years old, mar
ried. wife and three children in Italy;
FIRST papers taken out.
though h mob commenced its work
ast evening, 1t was not until this
morning that they completed their
work OF revenge, after having killed
three OF the suspected homicides and
brought death to the young wagon
driver who had nothing to do with the
killing Of Hixon. When the three Ital-
ans captured from the wagon at Bear
ereek bridge. where We1sby was killed,
had been made way with, the small, but
determined, mob waited for the excite
nent to subside and then came to the
bounty Jail here, and a few minutes be-
ore ! o'clock this morning completed
he work of revenge which they had
begun six hours before. Ronchetto.
VINO had been wounded In the breast
t the Bear creek trouble, was found
esleep In the calaboose with Lorenzo.
The guards placed at the Jail, VIM.
Smith n Henry Farr. We're playing
cards, when a rap came to the outer
Door. They asked who was there. and
were told Sheriff O'Malley. Without a
moments hesitation they unbarred the
entrance, and instead Of seeing O'Mal-
Fey they looked down the barrels Of two
revolvers in the hands Of masked men.
EThe experiences OF others earlier In the
hight taught them to obey the COM
rnand to throw down their pistols and
o throw up their hands. While the
rst two men covered Farr and Smith
nth their pistols another pair with
heir faces hidden by handkerchiefs
nd carrying big guns in their hands
talked in.
One OF the last arrivals picked up
ON the table the keys to the cell in
jail. n going back into
e building. unlocked the door, where
y the now trembling Italians, who
Ut sure there time had come. and in
eeir broken English begged ~piteously
r mercy. but the avengers had no
leroy. In the cell with them was
rank ok. who is charged with a
futal rape. He was gruffly told to
and aside and skunk into a corner Of
e cell. The masked men then turned
aeir pistols loose on the Italians, who
erieked In agony as bullet after bull
was sent tearing into their defense
ID bodies. One Of the first shots must
I'VE brought relief to Lorenzo. whom
e men seemed to regard with especial
Atred as the officially declared MUIR
brer, for their leaden balls were sent
to his brain. Ronchetto was not SO
krtunate; n bullet passed through
p head and two tore great holes In
10 thoraic cavity, but instant death
~ not to be his good fortune. for he
rithed and groaned in intense agony
v as much as twenty minutes.
When the vigilants felt their work
As surely done they turned away,
aving the victims writhing in their
vn and one another's blood. while the
Awerling brute who had seen 1t all
ID too terrified to utter a sound.
hen the last bullet had been fired
nat was thought necessary to avenge
be death with six the men who had
pne the latest piece OF killing walked
ut from the jail into h dark night.
"A moment or two later the keeper
the two guards backed out through
he door and closed It behind them.
karr and Smith now picked up their
Ewn r%evolvers and fired nve shots
reating men. summoning up cour-
&c they peered out themselves in a
ew seconds. and seeing six or seven
nen making of on FOO across the rail-
load tracks, they shot at them until
heir pistols were empty, but without
kffect. They gave the alarm, but be-
lore sufficient men for q pursuit had
kathered the men who had committed
he latest deed were safely away and
rarr and Smith could give nc descrip-
Zion in detail.
The work 30 vigorously begun early
n the evening was now complete and
Everyone was sure that the Italians
saptured at the bridge had met death.
me FIRST step Of the avengers was not
10 horrible, but they Knew what they
vere about. At 6 o'clock Ronchetto,
aiabicino, Vittani and Capiti were
paded into q wagon at Rouse six miles
rom W~alsenburg, where they had been
the Hixon inquest, and were
tartcd for the Jail here.
4 the Bear creek bridge the party was
kopped by a gang Of masked men. The
hen in charge Of the prisoners were or
cred to leave the place, and as they
tArted the mob began firing recklessly
br the purpose Of frightening them.
he horses started to run and Driver
Hellsby was dragged within range OF
be bullets and instantly killed. Rom
hetto was wounded and left by the
lob, who took the other prisoners to q
eighboring field. Sheriff O'Malley
nd several officers started from here
j soon as the men from whom the pris-
ners had been taken arrived n re-