Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1896-12-24
J0RI0 ON THE
WAR PATH.
HE CREATES "A DISTURB
ANCE SUNDAY.
Wanted to Kill Jail Warden
Watkins.
SHERIFF CHEESMAN SHOOTS,
An Exciting Fight for Control Of
the Murderer.
Before He is Finally Secured He is Shot
and Pretty Severely Beaten-The MUIR
derer is Desperate Character
In Manacles Now.
SHERIFF CHEESMAN SHOOTS,

Antonio Jorio, the Vineland murderer,
showed how ugly and desperate is his
nature Sunday, when in passionate
rage he endeavord to kill Jail Warden
Watkins, and was himself shot and Sc
verely dubbed.
The whole fracas caused the greatest
excitement over at the temporary Jail in
the Court House, and that Jorio is not
this morning dead in his cell is due en-
tirely to the GOODNESS of Sheriff Reuben
Cheesman, and the courage and pluck of
the Jail officials.
Since last Wednesday the Jorio family
have been in jail, awaiting the action of
the January term Grand Jury. The old
lady is confined in the woman,s room,
while Liegi and Chestro, the younger
brothers, are confined in the big room
with the other prisoners. Tony, the MUIR
derer, and the principal in yesterdays
attempted tragedy, has been confined in
another room, having as his companion
Antoine Pitcavish, who is one of the sus-
pected murderers of Andrew Wolski.
Tony has been in an angry mood since
he has been confined, and last Friday
warned Jail Warden Watkins that he
would not remain in custody longer than
he felt disposed. Little attention was
paid to the threat, as the prisoners are
closely watched night and day.
Sunday morning about half past
nine, when the church people were get
ing ready for services, Tony came up to
the wooden bar door which separates his
room from the corridor, and called for
Jail Warden Watkins. The latter re-
sponded and Tony asked that his broth
ers and mother might be allowed to come
IN his room for religious services. Of
course this was impossible and Watkins
said so. The denial of the request made
Jorio wild with rage, and he grasped the
Stats of the door and with all his mighty
strength shook it with the evident deter
mlnat1on to break it down.
The Jail Warden commanded him to
desist, but this made Tony all the more
angry and he redoubled his efforts. Then
Watkins drew his club and raped the
prisoners knuckles.
All the burning rage of the desperate
Italian then asserted itself. His face was
Ivld and he trembled violently. With a
believing roar, more like an animal than
a human being, he sprang from the door
and came up against it with all his force.
The door did not yield and Jail Warden
Watkins and Watchman Lewis Marks
stood outside awaiting results.
In the room were two board cots. They
are simply three boards fastened together
with cleats and set upon small trestles.
These furnished weapons for the infuri-
ated demon, and catching up the trestles
he began beating at the wooden door.
Watkins and Marks were ready to strike
the murderer down if he came close to
the door, and he then stood off some dis
tance and with all his strength hurled the
trestles at the door. The spring of the
SAes'S POAAAAeoONA CAiO llllSSlCS W I0UOuuu
and this gave him an opportunity to
gather them up again for another attack.
Things were getting very serious. The
whole Jail was in an uproar. The women
were screaming hysterically, while the
men were hoarsely shouting. Louder
and above all other voices rang out the
infuriated shrieks of the wicked pris-
oner.
Sheriff Cheesman hurried over from
the house and took in the situation at a
glance. His commands had no OBJECT
upon the prisoner and he returned to the
house, securing shackles and big 3S
calibre revolver. When he returned the
situation was becoming alarming. The
fellow had succeeded in battering the
door partially down and was throwing
the pieces of lumber at tho officials.
One piece was thrown at Watkins, and
but for the timely warning of Marks and
a sudden pull by Andrew Wells, the Jail
Warden would probably have been in
stantly killed. AS it was, the club grazed
his head, and made big indenture in
the wall.
In attempting to gather up the wood as