The age-herald., 1901-02-23
Prominent Italian Assassinated
 on Streets of Chicago
IS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Ills Was an Enemy to Secret Soc ie- ties, and it is Supposed This is the Reason
 He Was Killed

Chicago, February PA murder be- lieved to have been the result of a ven- detta was committed near Grand and Mill wankee avenues this city. late last nighA Salvatore Giovanni was found shot through the heart, with Carlo Battista, who recently arrived from New York. standing over him. Battista says he and the murdered man were warm friends and that while on the way to Giovannis home they were attacked by three men.
 Iattista was not injured. but carried a revolver which had not been fred
 In the dead mans coat pocket, how ever, was a revolver from which three shots had been fired. This mystifies the police since Giovanni's wound would have prevented him from restoring the weap- on to place of concealment. In his pockets also were many counterfeit coins Giovanni was one of the most prominent Italians in Chicago and came here from New York seven years ago.
 The police are of the belief that he was the victim of the dreaded Mafia, and hold that he was murdered with the weapon found on him. Battista is being held pen ding investigation.
 Italians Arrested.
 Within five hours after the murder the police raided a house at Al Milton ave- nue and arrested nine Italians, said to be sympathizers of the Chicago branch of the Mafia society.
 The persons arrested are: Dominic Cat alan, Nofel Philip, Rafael Litta., Capaina Nallr Erpa Iahn Rnnfp Simon Rafael, Tony Spargno, Joseph Mariso.
 One of the men arrested in Milton ave- nuc, Joheph Mariso, was suffering from a severe bullet wound in the mouth, and he was taken to the county hospital. It is believed by the police that Giovanni was lured from his home to the place of ambush.
 When the raid was made on the house in Milton avenue the nine men were found huddled in small room. In the room were found numerous dirks, sti- lettos and revolvers.
 It is believed by the police that the murder may have been prompted by re- venge on account of some old feud. A matter that they are puzzled over Is the deposition in divorce case that was found in the possession of the dead man. This is the case of Dr. Ralph Gundove against Colivnda Gundove, 700 South Fourth street, St. Louis. It is believed that Giovanni was acting as agent for some attorney, and this may have had something to do with the plot to end his life.
 Giovanni and Battista were friends In Italy. For three years Giovanni was labor contractor in New York and Bos- ton. Three years ago he came to Chi cago and conducted cigar store in Polk street.
 Members of the Mafia.
 Joseph Moril Irony" Sparacino and Au- gust Lascalo were identified tonight by Carlo Battista as three of the four Sicil- ians and supposed members of the Mafia who followed Di Giovanni out of the sa- loon in Grand avenue, where they had been drinking and shot him to death. So far the police have been unable to locate the fourth of the quartette who is known as .the president" of the club, with his headquarters in the back room of Mo ricis saloon Morici, who was shot In the mouth by Giovanni during the struggle, was identified as the man who fired the shot that killed Giovanni.
 by a Sicilian named Paiundo. In the fight that followed Paundo was stabbed to death. This affair together with the fact that Giovanni was an enemy of secret societies is advanced by the authorities as the origin of last nights tragedy.
 EDICT SIGNED.