Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-03-30
KILLED A BANDI'i'.
HEAVY PRICE WAS ON THE
VICTIMS HEAD.
Soteros Fcrrantos Lured to HIS Death
by Ono of the Men Upon Whom lie
Had Levied Trlbuto--A Plot That nc-
gan In tho Old Country.

Michael Falino Fernando, said by
the Greeks of New York city to be the
notorious Greek brlgand, Soteros ID.
Farrantos, on whose head the Greek
government had placed reward OF
5000 francs. was murdered in the rear
tenement-house at 113 West Efficiently
street the other day. According to the
stories told the police, the murder was
the result OF conspiracy which had
long been planned to take his life.
Fernando fled to this country n year
ago. after career In Greece in which
he killed several men, and. IL Is said,
with his brother, DemetrI, attempted
10 assassinate King George by shoot
Ing at him while he was riding in
carriage. The news OF his crimes had
preceded him. and the Greek colony
here knew OF the price that The gov
ernment had placed on his head. Fer
rando exercised the same terror over
his countrymen in New York that lie
had over their brothers at home. By
threats he made them keep silent as
10 his whereabouts, and before long
lie had several OF the Greek flower ped
oilers contributing to his support. His
demands finally became so frequent
and exorbitant that the peddlcrs de-
cided to stop them. They had him ar
rested last December. Their evidence
was not considered sufficient by the
magistrate, however. and Fernando was
discharged. John Zeguara, flower
peddler living in the tenement house.
volunteered to do the work of assas-
sination. He had contributed heavily
to Ferrando's support. and was only too
glad of an opportunity to get even.
He sent Fernando letter telling him
that he had been selected as media
tor TO smooth matters out between
him and the Greeks. II Fernando would
call on him Saturday. he said, all would
be well In the future. Suspecting
nothing, Fernando and friend went
to the tenement-house at II, O'Clock
Saturday. They went into Zeguara's
rooms on the ground floor AS they
entered and were met by Zeguara,
stranger to both, who invited them in,
seated them at dirty table and
brought out plates OF broth. Sitting on
II bench. the two men were left alone
and began to eat.
We are HuN III II nest Vi Souh1SA-
feIters." so Varney declares Fernando
said. Il am going to Philadelphia to-
night to find the house where the
money is made. and there will be 81 500
In 1t for me-" At that moment ZeSuara
re-entered, passed Fernando. turned
and fired big revolver. holding it
close to his head Fernando fell over
without word. whereupon Zeguara
stopped above him, fired the remain
ing five shots into his head and body
and fled. Zeguara and two other
Greeks were arrested. Zeguara admit
ted the killing and pleaded self-de-
fense. Emil Devant, young French
man. who was with Fernando when he
was shot. declares that the act was
deliberate. Coroner Hart said that
from the Greeks he had learned that
Fernando was Greek bandit, and had
been holding Zeguara. whom he accused
OF being a counterfeiter. Capt. Price
and the detectives, learning OF the
Counterfeiting part of the tragedy,
went to the spot where the man was
murdered and searched the house.
They found an old trunk in the dark
room. They broke it open and discov-
cred two copper pots and an instrument
queerly shaped that looks like con-
trivance for lifting coin from dies.
These were taken to the station-ho
Under the name of Micaelo Chrlsofere,
Fernando was arraigned in the York
VILE police court Dec. 81, 1898, on COM
plant of Nicholas Soutzoblo, a Greek
sailor, Who said that Fernando had
come to his room and demanded
money at the point of revolver.
When he refused to give the money,
Fernando, he said beat him over the
head with the revolver. Zeguara in
court identified the prisoner as Fer