CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1905-11-16

fought and struggled desperately for
half an hour in the hallway and on the
stairs leading to the lower floor, first
one gaining the advantage, then the
other.
King secured grip on Merletto's
coat, but it was quickly torn into
shreds, the same fate Detailing his vest
and shirt. The Italians superior
strength was beginning to tell and he
gradually made his way toward the
front door, although King resisted with
all his power every step in that direc-
tion. An opportunity offering, Merlet-
to dealt the officer terrific blow in
the face and dashed through the door
into the darkness.
King was dazed by the blow, but al
most instantly recovered and ran out
into the street after the fugitive, only
to be knocked down again. He got up
as quickly as possible, but Martello had
taken to his heels and was going up
Third street at gait that would have
done credit to professional sprinter.
occurrence and with bloodhounds
started on the trail of the fleeing man,
but was unable to locate him, although
it was believed that he was hiding in
the hills which skirt the western
boundary of the city.
In the first attempt at suicide Thurs
day night Martello tied the end of a
towel around his neck and then fast
ened the other end to bar in the cell
door. Having completed his prepara-
tions he threw himself downward on
the iron floor, hoping the jar would
break his neck. 1t failed to result as
he expected. but not to be baked he
allowed himself to hang at the end of
the towel for several minutes. He
made gurgling noise similar to one
who is strangling. and the other pris.
oners in the Jail were awakened.
An alarm was given and Sheriff Esser
and Under Sheriff Chetelat were called
by telephone. Reaching the jail few
minutes afterwards they had Merletto
transferred to the woman's S de epartment
and King was stationed to watch him,
but was unable TO control him, as the
sequel proved. Before being put in the
woman's department Merletto made
second attempt to end his life, and it
also was marked by failure.
In some unknown manner he had Sc
cured possession nf an old spoon and
having broken off the handle sharpened
it on the bars of his cell and tried to
stab himself with it. 1t was not sharp
enough, however. for the purpose in
tended, and he slashed himself on each
side of the neck and on the forehead,
but without serious consequences
This was the fourth time that Merletto
had tried to kill himself since his in
carceration. The first time, right after
his arrest, he attempted to kill himself
in the calaboose at Florence by tying a
handkerchief around his neck, and the
night following he butted his head
against the iron bedstead until it was a
mass Of sores and bruises.
There is but little doubt that Mer-
letto is insane and that he is maniacal
in his madness. Ever since his arrest
for the crime of week ago last Satur-
day he has been in deadly fear of an at
tack upon the jail by a mob of his
countrymen, whom he believed were
gathering at the coal camps with the
avowed intention of wreaking yenge-
ance upon him for his misdeeds at Coal
Greek. To escape this threatened mob
violence is believed to have been the
cause OF his attempts at self-destruction
and his determined effort to escape.