The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-07
KILLED HIS COUSIN.
Fatal Rabbit Hunt of Party of
Greeks Casts Gloom over Colony.

Fatal Rabbit Hunt of Party of
Greeks Casts Gloom Over Colony.
By the accidental discharge of gun.
Nick Papanasta killed his cousin and
boon companion, Vasilio Papadea, on
the Reid plantation, west of the city,
yesterday. The men came to Savan-
nah from Greece together a month ago
and were celebrating their arrival in
the land of freedom with a rabbit hunt.
The other members Of the hunting
party were A. Pappadea, P. Kustsures,
p. Mavrikis and N. Zavies. The
Greeks had run a rabbit into a thicket
and had surrounded ii, when the fatal
shot was fired. The sport was a de-
cided novelty to the recent arrivals,
and they were greatly excited. They
were on opposite sides of the thicket,
fairly wild with excitement, when Papa
nasta thought he saw the rabbit move
in the bushes.
Anxious to secure the credit of hav-
ing killed the first rabbit. Papanasta
pulled the trigger before he had got
ten his gun in position. The explosion
was followed by a cry of pain from his
cousin on the opposite side of the
thicket. and Pappadea fell to the
ground. The entire load of small shot
had entered his right groin and severed
an artery. Papanasta stood dazed
with the smoking piece in his hands.
His cousin and best friend was writh-
ing in pain on the ground.
Badly handicapped by the fact that
they were foreigners and could speak
but little English. the men found much
difficulty in getting a conveyance to
bring the wounded man to the city.
They finally secured cab, but before
the wood yard of ]. c. Puder, on the
Louisville road, had been reached, Pap
padea had bled to death Police head
quarters had been notified Of the
shooting and Detective Frank Wall &C.
companied the ambulance to the wood
yard. on the canal bank. The detec-
tive made the discovery that the
wounded man was dead and placed
Papanasta under arrest The half
crazed Greek did not know that his
cousin was dead. but wept bitterly as
he was led away to the police station
house.
Coroner Keller was notified of the
homicide, but after an investigation,
determined that the shot was fired ac-
cidentally. The men were the best of
friends, and had come to this country
together to make their fortunes. After
learning these facts and hearing the
statements of those who made uD the
party, the coroner ordered the release
of the prisoner Papanasta was kept
at the police station house for some lit
tie while. however. His friends and
relatives feared that he would commit
suicide when he learned that his cous-
In was dead. Later in the afternoon
several of his countrymen took him in
charge and expressed a determination
to watch him closely for several days.
Papanasta is beside himself with
grief. and the homicide cast a gloom
over the Greek colony, although the
dead man was not very we'll known
His brother George, who has a place at
No. 21S Bryan street, west, is well
thought of by his fellow countrymen,
and they offered him their coincidence.
The body Of the dead Greek was taken
to the undertaking establishment of
Fox & Weeks and was prepared for
burial. 1t was then turned over to his
brother, and will be inferred in Laurel
Grove Cemetery. Pappadea was SO
years old, and fine looking fellow.