Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-07

GRAVE ALLEGATION
ITALIAN ACCUSED OF CRIME
AGAINST CHILDREN.
School Teacher Procured Warrants and
Undertook to Take the Man
Into Custody.
Special Dispatch to Tie Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
LORTON, Fairfax County, Va, April T.
One man dead, one dying, another slightly
wounded and fourth man with bullet
holes through his clothing is the unusual
record made here within the past twenty
four hours. The dead man was Joseph La
Tano, an Italian, and the dying man is
George Malcolm teacher in the county
school here In addition to having charge
of the school. Malcolm is constable. He
is in the Emergency Hospital in Washing
ton with thirteen perforations in his intes-
tines, and. it is thought s. cannot recover.
The trouble started yesterday when the
Italian went to the vicinity of the school,
and. it is alleged. made an attempt to as
sault two small girls Mr.. Malcolm UNDER
took to see justice done, but the Italian was
too much for him. The affair caused great
excitement, and the teacher found it nee
essary to dismiss school earlier than usual.
Seeing that the children were able to get to
their homes without being further molested,
the teacher went to the office of Magistrate
Hall and procured warrants for the Italian
workman. He found the man a little after
o'clock and attempted to arrest him.
AS the men met on the highway each
drew a revolver. and the Italian was first
to shoot. The bulIeta from his weapon
struck the stock of Malc olas revolver and
| knocked the weapon from his hanQ, IN ad-
dition to wounding his finger. Being dis
armed Malcolm was at the mercy of the
Italian and was unable to offer further re-
sistance. Several shots were fired, and one
of them entered Malcoms abdomen and
caused him to fall. People who were near
| the scene of the encounter became fright
ened and ran.
When the Italian had left the scene of
the shooting the wounded man was picked
up and cared for until he was put aboard
a train and taken to Washington.
People Aroused.
The people living in this section were
thoroughly aroused and somewhat fright
ened over the affair They telegraphed to
the sheriff to come Immediately, but he sent
deputy instead The latter reached here
this morning after the people had spent
a night in terror. : In their excited state
they feared the Italian would attempt to
seek vengeance, That he had full sway
all night there could be no doubt, and the
people were told of threats he had made
after shooting down an estimable resident
and being permitted to return to his home
unmolested. Some believed he would resort
to incendiarisn and others feared there
might be an uprising which would result
in a wholesale slaughter. Early this morn
ing everybody was anXiously inquring what
had happened during the night, but nobody
was found willing to undertake the task
of arrestng La Tano. It finally came to a
point where the deputy sheriff had to take
action, and he announced that he must have
assistance. La Tano had armed himself
with two reVOlVerS since yesterday after
noon, 1t was said, and had been seen flour
iShing the weapons.
italian Made Threats.
In broken English he told of what he
would do if an attempt was made to ar
rest him. He was greatly excited over the
affair of yesterday, and some of his fell
10 w c,,cn cd nf ma King
preparations to assist him. Before going
in search of La Tano the deputy sheriff
formed posse, and the start was made.
La Tano was awaiting their arrival, and.
upon seeing the men approaching, drew
his two revolvers and started in upon the
work of eXterminating the deputy sheriff
and his assistants, Before he was seized
two bullets from his revoivers had inflicted
slight injuries and damaged clothing. In
i short time the deputy and his force had
hold of the man who had set himself up
to defy the authorities.
La Tano, it is said had been told that
summary vengeance might be meted out
to him in the event of his arrest and he
was afraid he. would be overtaken on the
road if he attempted to get away. 1t was
for this reason that he made no effort to
leave here.
La Tano Fatally Wounded.
1t was not until after the smoke had
cleared away from this mornings encounter
that the result of the meeting became
known. Then 1t was found that the Italian
had received fatal wound. The wound
was in his abdomen, about the same place
he had wounded Mr.. Malcolm yesterday.
Before his body could be lifted from where
it had fallen 1t was found that life was
extinct. His death had put an dend to the
case so far the particular Italian was
concerned, but it is feared that there may
be further trouble over The affair tonight.
Arrangements We're made for the holding
of an inquest over the body. 1t is gener-
ally believed that La Tano. seeing that fur