New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20
NAY "a STILETTO'S WORK
DEAD ITALIAN LUGGED HOME ON HIS
BROTHERS SHOULDER.
POLICEMAN WHO FOUND THEM MAKES
NO REPoRT-A RELATIVE sUs-
PECTED OF MURDER.

PECTED OF MURDER
The sudden death of Antonio Tapo. fifty years
old OF No. 81 Varick-st., was reported to the
police OF the Leonard-st station yesterday after
neon. According to the report the police re-
ceived. Tapo while on his way home at 3 a. M.
fell in yarick-st Canal-st. and was killed.
The matter was reported to the police by Frank
Tapo his son, who tells peculiar story.
Friday night his father and his father s
brother Alphonso, who lives at No. p Grand
st. were drinking in a saloon together at No.
d Thompson-st. until / m, when they went
out and separated each starting for home.
Frank says that according his uncle his
father went TO Broome-st. and then turned into
Suivan-st Between Sullivan and Thompson
SITS. there is & covered byway known as the
arch. Alphonsc said that he went through this
arch 10 intercept his brother, and that just as
he was coming into Sullivan-st. he saw his
brother fall He rushed over toward him and
found he was dead. Alphonso said that he then
went and got his wife and took the dead man
home
Frank further says that when Alphonse came
home with the dead he had his fathers
watch and chain. Frank said he demanded the
watch and chain. and Alphonse gave them TO
him. He said a relative of the dead man two
years ago had attempted to kill him with a
stiletto. His father had saved his life by slam
ming the door, but the steel blade penetrated
the panel The relative at that time vowed
future vengeance Frank said this relative was
in the Thompson-st- saloon drinking when his
father was there, and had mysteriously disap-
peared just before the people in the saloon were
ordered out as Ii was the hour to close. He said
st was strange, too, that this relative had not
paid the usual visit TO the corpse
The son said DR.. Weston, of the Coroner's
Office In his superficial examination, discovered
no evidence Of foul plav
But q stiletto don't make q big hole he
said, with shrug Of his shoulders, and to-
morrow Dr. Weston will cut the body open and
learn for sure"
did you not make an examination yourself?"
he was asked.
What, me?" ne asked in surprise. Surely
not Some Of my neighbors did; did
TO. But they had to go to work before could
talk with them, and now they are asleep and
cannot be walked up
The son told of another feature. When AL
phonse the uncle, found his brother was dead.
he dropped beside the body the walk and be-
gan to caress it in maudlin way, for he was
drunk A policeman from the Leonard-st. sta
ton came along and asked if he would send for
ambulance. Alphonse said it was not worth
while. the man dead. Asked how he would
get the body home, the uncle said he would
carry it. The policeman helped him to put the
body of his brother on his shoulder and then
left him. The says his uncle came trudglng
up the stairs OF the tenement house and dropped
the dead body on the floor, much like sack or
flour. The son reported the case to the ponce
at once, but the policeman who had been on the
post made report of il.
Two policemen from the Leonard-st. police
station out to investigate the sons
suspicious. but had not up to a late hour last
night made any report The dead man leaves
a widow and seven children. He was prominent
in Italian circles and a member Of hVe
Italian and one American society. His home
was crowded last night with friends. The dead
mans regalia and uniforms were spread out on
the heavy black casket in which his body re-
posed Two bands have been hired and third
is being negotiated with for the funeral
In the mean time the police are working on the
case.