New-York tribune., 1904-08-25
ITALIAN BOY MURDERED.
DEATH WARNING GIVEN.
Sicilidn ~Crook," 1t Is alleged, Shot
Him IN ReCenge.

Salvatore Ecssotto, eighteen years old, COOK
in his fathers italian restaurant at No 101
Paril-st. was killed with a single shot there
yesterday by Carlo Rossatti. twenty-eight years
old said to be a Sicilian crook and all
around bad man."
The shot struck Bossotto in the right temple
and he died instantly. Rossatti, the police say,
admits the shooting but says II IN self
defence. He was caught after a chase and
fight Before he reached the Eliza beth-st. sta
ton where he was locked up, Detectives Cur
ran and Trainor and Patrolman Miller who
first caught him. had TO club him severely, and
at last had TO call the reserves. for the crowd
around him, enraged at Bossotto's murder.
wanted TO take vengeance on Rossatti, and
after throwing all sorts Of missiles at him tried
10 get him away from the officers. Covered
with blood and bruises, he finally reached the
station.
The police believe that Rossatti was angry
with Bossotto because he had caused the for
.ner's arrest with other Sicilians, several weeks
ago The victims father is Frank Bossotto,
end his restaurant is said to be thor
oughiy respectable place, while over it is a
lodging house of the same type The Bossottos
are Calabrians, while Rossatd is a Sicilian.
There is enmity between the natives of these
two provinces.
Rossatti had been away from New-York for
several weeks, and returned here from Toronto,
Canada. on Monday night. His arrest was
made some time ago, q previous visit here
This was on the occasion of the presence in me
city and Italian colony OF party of Italian
miners returning from Western Pennsylvania to
their homes in the old country. on the day
they arrived here they went 10 the Bossottos'
restaurant While there, according to ;he cider
Bossotto Rossatti and several other Sicilians.
known TO the police. entered and tried TO fleece
the miners by means Of e crooked gambling
game. Rossatti and this gang were arrested
and held FOR forty-eight hours as suspicious
persons When they were released their ex-
pected prey had sailed for Italy.
Last Sunday when father and son went 20
open their restaurant, they found on the window
in the front door the sign of "the bridge of
DEATH which always means. in the sign Ian
glage of the italians, that a sudden death is to
follow. 1t consists of a perpendicular line
crossed at regular intervals by three horizontal
ones while in the Two spaces at the right hand
are small crosses. The Bossottos told the police
nothing about this sign. 1t is the habit Of
Sicians and Calabrians to settle their quarrsls
without calling the authorities.
Shortly after ! a NJ. yesterday, when the elder
BossOtto cleaning the restaurant aud the
son was doing the same work in the kitchen. Ros-
satti entered alone and sat at a table Asked
what ne wanted, he said he wanted only to sit
there. Bossot:o told him he was about to close
tie place, and ordered him out. When Ros-
satti did not move Bossotto tried to put him
out, but could not. salvatore Bossotto, hearing
his fathers strug gle. dropped his work and ran
TO aid him. Then, according to the father, Ros-
satti wrenched himself free and fired.
Rcssatu ran out on the sidewalk followed by
the elder Bossotto. He ran into Mott-st. and up
as far Bayard. where Miller, Curran and
Trainor caught him.
Young Bossotto was we'll known and popular
in the CaIabrian colony, being accomplished
musician, and when the news of his murder
spread among his countrymen they were deep
ly enrased. They surrounded Rossatti, in the
grasp Of the policemen, several hundred strong
and but for the appearance of the reserves they
probably would have taken the prisoners pun
ishI.lent into their own hands.