The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-04-12
Woman Unnerved
in House of
Horror.
REvISlTS THE SCENE
Declares She Did
Not See Blood
Before.
HOLDING SUSPECTS
HOLDING SUSPECTS

because the DaDy needed a clean
dress Mrs. Rosa Torturici asked per-
mission yesterday to visit the Green
street house, where Biaggio Vilardo
was hacked to pieces-in her presence.
say the detectives. For the little ones
sake she once more entered the place
to which the unfortunate Sicilian,
blinded by her charms. was led to
slaughter.
1t was thought that when she en-
tered the house a confession might be
eXtorted from her. District Attorney
Byington and Assistant District Attor-
ney Louis Ferrari accompanied the
party, ready to make immediate use of
any information that might be gained
from her If she yielded to supersritious
fear.
But the little woman gave them no
chance. She only wanted clothing for
the baby, she said. They took her
through the hallway to her bedroom
and she packed up Z few of the tiny
dresses she had made with her own
hands for the baby and some of her
own clothing, for she is a clearly little
body.
The ostensible purpose of the visit
was that she might replenish the child's
wardrobe But in the house she was
subjected to another ordeal. Through
Ferrari, District Attorney Byington
piled her with questions.
When she saw that another stern in
QUESTION was in progress the woman's
scowl of defiance deepened Almost
word for word she told the District At
torney the same story she had told
Captain Burnett.
My husband came through here
she said, pointing dramatically to the
door between the room where ViIardo
was hacked to pieces and the bedroom.
The look upon his face was terrible
Il said. Where is Vilardo? What has
happened?'
He said. Never mind, woman, you
talk too much. Mind your own busi-
ness.''
The woman denied stoutly that she
knew what had taken place in the ad-
joining room.
The blood stains on the sink were
called to her attention, and all she said
was, Here is where found them.'
SHE ENTERS SLAUGHTER PEN.
At signal from District Attorney
Byington, Detective Taylor thrust open
the door that led to where Vilardo was
butchered. The woman started in ter
ror and seizing the baby, that had been
gleefully kicking up its heels upon the
bed, pressed the little one convulsively
to her breast.
''Por Dio-for Gods sake" she NUT
tered through her dry. trembling lips.
But she walked in, head erect and
wearing that defiant scowl Of hers.
Look at this" said the District At
torney, pointing to the horrible dark
stains on the uncarpeted floor Did
you ever see them before?''
NO" she said sharply, but her face
was pale as death. and she pressed the
infant so tightly that 1t complained.
Did you ever enter this room since
Wednesday night =
NO" she replied. and the defiant
scowl grew deeper.
Relentlessly, as though she were
criminal in the dock. District ATTORNEY
Byington questioned the woman.
Though she had been ill in the morn
ing and had asked for medical attend
ance, she was composed enough as she
stood in that desecrated room.
With her small feet almost touch
ing the outlines of that dark spot on
the floor she answered tersely all
questions put to her and with the same
air of sullen defiance.
DO you think that your husband
has left town." was asked.
II do not know where he is,' she
answered, but / am certain that he
is not far away. l think that he is
somewhere in the city,
The police are of the same opinion
not that they place any reliance i'm her
statement-but they have information
to that effect Detectives Ed Gibson,
Bunner and Policeman j. Evatt. who
know more about the Latin quarter
than anybody else on the force, are
now securing the district.
Detectives Tom Gibson, Wren and
Bunner went on false scent to San
Jose Yesterday. Word was received by
Chief iDinan that an Italian answer
ing Torturici's description had been
seen near San JOSE
DETECTIVES GO TO SAN JOSE.
The three detectives went to that
city and, with the assistance of Chief
of Police Carroll, visited every house
in the Latin quarter Particular at
tention was paid to place where a
Sicilian secret society had been ac-
customed to meet, but it was deserted.
The detectives returned empty handed.
The place where the brush that was
used to smear plaster of paris over
the blood-stained wall was bought