The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-28
HE WAS KILLED BY MISTAKE
THOMAS II. .FITZGERALD UNDOUBT-
EDLY TAKEN FOR z. M KEENAN,.

SHO"h-h' "a II - ~ y
EDLY TAKEN FOR z. M. KEENAN,.
Latter Had 0uarreled With an Italian
Few Minutes Before and Was Dressed
picion Points to Antonio Sparano-He is
Changed with Murder.
Thomas H. Fitzgerald, aged forty
five, was stabbed to death on Meadow
street at 1920 Saturday night. He was
undoubtedly the victim of mistaken
identity The crime occurred in front
of DR.. Mailhouse's Office, but a few
yards from Whiting street. Antonio
Sparano of "A Hill street, James Mara
no of Is Union street and Guisseppi
Moswitzo of A Hill street, were arrest
ed on suspicion of being implicated in
the crime, Thomas M. Keenan, of SO
Oak street and Hugh Brown, brake
man, are held as witnesses
That Fitzgerald had been murdered
was not discovered until the body was
carried from the patrol wagon and
stretched upon the floor at police
headquarters. He was found by Patrol
man James G. Heenan PROSTATE on the
sidewalk in front of DR.. Mailhouse's Of
flee. He did not speak and it was be-
lieved he was merely drunk. No blood
was seen, and Fitzgerald, when arous-
ed stood feebly on his feet and climbed
h. ot,.ol, .,
assistance.
He could not sit up, however, and
was placed on the bottom Two other
men were picked up for drunkenness
before Fitzgerald was reached, and
Signal Officer Bradley had all he could
do to watch them. AS the wagon near
ed the station Driver Edward Wall
sounded the gong twice for assistance.
The two drunken men climbed out first.
and then Fitzgerald was carried in.
Sergeant Mcbride noticed the mans
eyes were set, and remarked 'That man
is dead
The heart beat was quickly listened
for, but not heard. The man had died
on the way to the station. He was
turned over, and then for the first time
II Was IeVedleu 10 LIE pOllCG lIletI lle
had been murdered. Evidence of this
was discovered by Sergeant Cook, who
saw a blood stain on the thick chinchil-
la overcoat worn by the victim. In the
center of the stain was an inch and
half slit. 1t was made by a knife
which passed through the overcoat,
coat, vest, shirt, and undershirt .and
into the left lung, almost reaching the
heart
A general alarm was given and in
less than half an hour all the detectives
We're at work on the case In the
meantime Medical Examiner White and
Coroner Mix arrived, and Fitzgerald's
body was identified by letters taken
from the pockets. AT Lewis & May
cocks morgue at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning Dr. White made an autopsy
which showed where the knife pene-
trated An hour after the murder the
weapon was found near where Fitz-
gerald was picked up 1t is an ugly
thing with blade nine inches long. 1t
is similar to those used in a butcher
shop and was plunged into the body
to the handle.
While everyone conjectured at the
cause leading to the crime the police
were doing smart work. They had
only one clue, but they worked at it
like beavers, and in less than five hours
had facts that bear out the belief that
Fitzgerald was mistaken for another
man. What was the clue? Five min
utes before midnight Saturday Patrol
man Murphy heard the words: "Cheese
Ia DE
no gooder. no gooder." The words
came from one of three Italians stand
ing near the corner of Fair and Union
streets The patrolman was across the
way. He stepped over and told the
men he wanted no trouble with them,
and to go home, or he would arrest
them. They were in nasty mood, but
finally moved on over the Fair street
bridge toward State street. At the cor
ner they fell in with three railroad
brakemen Near John H. Minahan's
saloon at 1863 State street, it is alleged
that high words passed, and the six
men commenced to fight. Brown and
keenan, were two of the brakemen.
The third has not yet been apprehend-
ed. and the authorities will not divulge
his name
AS the result of the fracas Brown
was stabbed in the right side just be-
low the shoulder. 1t was not serious,
although it bled profusely. Keenan,
was slashed across the left side of the
neck. The brakemen were unarmed
and beat hasty retreat. AS nearly as
can be calculated this took place at
1910 O'Clock The Italians, it is further
alleged, were not satisfied with their
work and started down, Whiting street
in pursuit of the other men, One led
his fellow countrymen by several yards
and turning into Meadow street saw
FITZGERALD The latter was dressed
like keenan,, was about the same height
and build and resembled him in other
points.
Maddened with rage, no time was
taken to note the difference in features.
knife was sunk in the unsuspecting
and innocent mans back. Who did it?
Coroner Mix says that the guilty man
is one of the three Italians that at
tackled the brakemen. Three Italians
are under arrest The authorities be-