The San Francisco call., 1897-09-03
A Challenge Given the MartellOs
Is Promptly Accepted
and Executed.
SILTESTRI And KIBELLI CHiLLENGERS
Martello and His Son Arm Themselves
With Sword and Ak and Place
Their Foes Hors de Combat.

There was a hot time on a ranch on the
Nilsson road near the Six-mile House
Wednesday night.
Fillippo Marteilo prides himself on the
beauty of the violets that grow on his
ranch, and his bCastfulness reused the ire
of Joseph Silvestri and Joseph Mibelli,
who own an adjoining ranch, and also
pride themselves on the beauty of their
vioets.
Marteilo has son Joe, IS years of age
and a pretty daughter a year younger.
Both Silvestri and Mibei were smitten
with her charms, but she gave neither the
slightest encouragement. This added to
the bitter feeling existing between the
ranchers, and when they met words far
from complimentary were exchanged.
Wedne sday afternoon Silvestri and Mi
belIi met Joe Martello and hot words
passed. Finally Silvestri and Mi oeln told
Joe to gather ali the Martellos. in the dis
trict and they would meet them in open
com bat and exterminate them.
Joe when he got home told his father,
and the old mans blood boiled as he
poudered over the indienity of such a
challenge. He comes of a fighting stock
and he and Joe decided to go themselves
that night TO Silvestrl and Mibelli's ranch
and Iaye it out.
They got Louis Nessier, boy 16 years
of age; 10 accompany them as referee.
They waited until midnight and then
sailed forth in the darkness to do battle
for the honor of the name of Martello.
Old Martello armed himself with a
sword which his father wore while fight
ing side by side with Garibaldi in sunny
Italy and Joe took possession OF the ak
used for chopping wood. Young Nessier,
to be prepared for an emergency, armed
himself with piece of lead pipe.
When they reached the cabin of their
foes old Martello struck the door a re-
sounding whack with the hilt of his faith
er's sword, and dared them to deadly
combat,
There was no answer, and again the
hilt OF the sword struck against the door.
MaEtello was getting angry, and used Ian
guage that men with any pluck would
quickly resent.
" ''You cowardsp' he yelled. >"You are
afraid to come out. There's only Joe
with me, and we'll fight you till there's
not a drop of blood left in u.s.
While the old man was pummeling on
the door and calling Silvestri and Mibelli
all kinds OF bad names they suddenly ap-
peared out OF the gloom. They had been
visiting another rancher, and were re-
turning home. Hearing old Martello's 8
words OF vituperation, they hurried on,
eager for the conflict, although they were
.unarmed not having expected such an
early reply to their challenge.
= Silvestri rushed at old Martello and
NJ ibelli made for Joe. The old man
swung his fathers trusty blade round his
head and made a slash at Silvestri. The
keen edge of the blade swished across Sill
vestris forehead and cut piece out of his
head, but fortunately did not penetrate
the skull. Silvestri, noGhing daunted,
made for the old man again, when Nes-
sier, getting excited, struck him on the
head with a piece OF lead pipe, knocking
him down. Martello placed his foot upon
his fallen foes chest and raised the sword
aloft as if to strike, but Silvestri yelled
for mercy. Spurning him with his foot
the old man turned TO see how Joe was
getting on with Mibelli.
=. Mi ibelli was on the ground with the edge
of the ak i'm bedded in his skull. Joe had
struck him after a few passes and knocked
him out
The Martellos and Nesser returned to
the formers rancn in triumph and cele-
brated the event in copious draughts of
wine.
Some one telephoned to the Seven
teenth-street police station that murder
had been committed on ranch near the
Six-mile House, and Captain Gillen Sc nj
and Policemen Graham, Stanton and
Griffin with the patrol wagon to the scene.
They founo Shvestri and Mibelli bleeding
from their wounds, and MibeIi with the
az in his skull. The patrol wagon was
: sent with them to DR.. Baumeister, Twen-
ty-nintn and Dolores streets, who at
tended to their injuries, and they were
taken home again. The wounds are not
considered dan Serous.
The posse went to the Martello ranch
and found that the occupants of the house
had retired and were sound asleep. Ser
geant Campbell knocked on the door sew
eral times before it was opened by Joe.
You have been having a picnic around
fere to-night?" said the sergeant.
"Yes, said Joe, there's been a hot
time on the old ranch tonight"
The old man appeared and he and Joe
told the sergeant about the challenge and
the COM bat and their triumph.
The sergeant placed father and son and
Nessler under arrest. and they were taken
10 the Seventeenth-street station. A
. charge of assault to murder was booked
against the Martellos and Nessier was
char ed with battery.
Judge Low will hear the case next
Wednesday, as SiIvestri and Mibelli will
not be able to appear in court till then,