The record-union., 1897-11-23
ACTED LIKE A CRAZY MAN.
ANTOINE MATTUCCI ARRESTED
AT CoURTLAND.
Drew q Pistol ON G. Badella, and
Threatened to Murder.
Him.

Antoine Mattucci occupies cell at the
County Jail with a charge of assault
with deadly weapon hanging over his
head, the complainant being G. Badella.
Mattuci was brought to the city from
near Courtland late on Sunday night
by Deputy Sheriff Schwilk, who was
sent down there in response to tele-
phone message to Sheriff Johnson in
forming him that Mattucci had threat
eneds to kill Badella.
Badella came to the city yesterday
TO swear to a complaint against Mat
tucci, and to a Record Union" report
er he related the facts of the assault
made upon him by Mattucci. He lives
about a mile from Courtland. where he
farms piece of land under lease from
o. r. Runyon. Mattucci, he said, had
worked for him last summer, and since
then for other residents of that neigh
borhood
"On Friday night last" he said. Mat
tucci came to my house and said he
wanted to purchase an interest with
me in my farming business l told him
/ didn't want to sell. He insisted that
should sell him a share in it, and said
If didn't he would kill me.
Il told I didn't want any trouble
with him, and tried to induce him to
so away, but he wouldn't He said if
/ didn't sell to him he would go to Sac
ramento, get a pistol and come back
and kill me.
Il didn't know what to make of him,
but after while I got him to go away,
and thought that was the last of it.
But on Saturday evening he came back,
hQ fhraa toned IN do CoiI
tone, what do you want, drink?' He
said he did, and we went into the house.
Il went to a barrel of wine and drew
him a glass, and as / was about to give
it to him he showed a pistol in my face
and declared he would kill me if /
did not give him a share in my farm
ing. l demonstrated with him, but to
no purpose. He kept the pistol pointed
at me and said he would shoot if I
didn't do as he said.
While talking with him I dashed
the glass to the floor and seized the
pistol, which I twisted from his hand
and put it in my pocket He insisted
on my giving it back to him, but ] re-
fused to do so. I said to him, Tony,
you're crazy!
After while he quieted down and
w Ae1u SdPpCl. ne Acpl repeating HIS
threat to kill me, however, if I did not
take him into partnership. He also
declared ne would burn me and ny
family alive.
Finally he went away, but the next
day, Sunday, he came back carrying
a shotgun He demanded his pistol
but I would not give ii to him. | told
him, however that I would give it to
l,f.1 l. VII
him, and he again left the place
Late in the Afternoon I saw him COM
ing up the road. He turned in tow
ard the house, and / saw he had some
thing in his hand I do not know
if it was stick or a pistol, but he must
have hid it, for when he came into the
house he had nothing in his hand. Well.
he repeated his demand for share of
the ranch. and when I again refused 1t
he said. Well. I going to kill you!'
''As soon as I got rid Of him 1 went
over to Mr. Runyon's for assistance
and he telephoned to the Sheriff A
Deputy came down that night and ar
rested Mattucci."
On being asked if he did not think
the man was crazy, Badella said he
did think so at first. but then he was
III uoupt ABOUT IL. IN everything eX-
cept the strange character of his de-
mand. Badella said the man appeared
TO be sane enough.
1t is not unlikely. however, that the
prisoner will be examined as to his
mental condition. for his actions do
not appear to be those Of a person in
his right mind. Or his mental abber-
alton may be only the temporary re-
suit of too prolonged and free use Of
foot-wine