Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-02-29
KILLED FOR HIS MONEY
An Italian Laborer Murdered and
Thrown Into the River
HIS FACE WAS CRUSHED IN
Police Industriously Striving TO Dis
cover the Perpetrators Cf
the Awful Crime
Spokane. Wash. February %.


Domenico Perri was murdered and
robbed in Spokane Saturday night and
thrown into Iansman creek. His body
was found yesterday by John Honey
just above the high bridge leading to
Queen Anne addition. in the southwest
ern part Of the city. 1t was taken TO
Gilman's undertaking establishment.
where an autopsy and inquest Will be
held today.
Perri was an Italian Ia borer, about
so years old, who lived with a brother
in one Of Mrs. Keliogg's houses on
Ferry street. He was a sober and in
dustrious man OF powerful physique
and was said by those who knew him to
be always peacefully inclined. He
came down town Saturday night, haV-
ing in his possession $3.50, Of which $l1o
belonged to his brother. He visited the
New York dance hall as a spectator
and in company with a friend, who left
him there at about o'clock. That was
the last seen Of him by his acquaint-
ances, SO far as the police have been
able to ascertain.
AS he did not return home Saturday
night or Sunday, his brother became
suspicious that he had been foulIy
dealt with. Anxious inquiry failing to
elicit any information regarding him
after he had been seen at the dance
hall, his brother notified the police The
entire force was set at work on the
case and before the discovery Of The
body several plausible clues had been
developed, tending to the supposition
of murder for money. None of these
We're sufficiently definite however. to
justify action, and at a late hour last
night the mystery seemed as far from
solution as at the beginning of the
search
In crossing Hangman creek on the
high bridge Nj. Honey, who resides in
Queen Anne addition, saw a strange
looking object in the water and upon
closer inspection found it to be the body
of a man, held near the shore by the
feet having become entangled in the
willow brush. News Of the discovery
vas telephoned to police headquarters.
Officers Nckernan and Nelson, with
Undertaken Gilman, took the body to
the undertaker's, where Coroner Dut-
ton made a superficial examination, es-
tablishing the fact beyond the posi-
blllty Of doubt that the man had been
murdered. He had on all his clothes,
except that his pantaioOns had been
pulled down and one leg was stripped.
This bears out the theory Of robbery in
connection with the murder, as il is
known that PERI carried the bulk Of
his money in a belt or garter around
his leg, just below the knee. That was
missing, but in an inside vest pocket
was a small purse containing $10.10
The robbers had doubtless known Of
his peculiar way Of carrying his money
and having secured the belt and its
contents searched nC further
Perri had been struck with a club or
some other heavy blunt instrument
across the face, just below the eyes
The bridge Of his nose was crushed to
a pulp The same blow had closed the
left eye and inflicted a deep cash over
the point of the left cheek bone. Death
must have been almost instantane
Gus.
The theory of the police is that PERI
was murdered up town and the body
hauled to the creek and thrown in, but
why fiangnan creek should have been
selected in preference to the Spokane
river is beyond conjecture. 1t is plain
that the murder was committed by par
ties who knew that he had money and
were acquainted with his habit Of car
rying it in the manner described. This
leads to the conclusion that the muir
derers were countrymen Of his, Yet the
Italians generally dispute this, some
saying PERI was fond Of displaying his
money and by this means any person
might have found out where he kept
it. 81
Coroner Dutton expresses a deternjn-
alton to investigate the murder 50 far
as his authority will permit, and it is
possible by means Of his efforts, COM
bined with those Of the police the per
petrators Of the 1iendish deed may be
found ont