Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-07
PEACENAKER GETS BULLET
Sebastian OOrnslis AoOidsntally Shot BY
Joe salsrne, His Best Friend.
CARTRIDGE IS INTENDED FOR ANOTHER
Sebastian Circo, who Abuses His
= wife, Sister of sslermO, IL
Man Latter wanted
90 shoot.

Grsat excitement prevailed Thursday
morning about $3.50 in the vicinity Of Tenth
and Howard streets. when Joe Salerno.
who keeps a grocery store at sos South
Tenth street, and Is also the banker for
the italian denisens Of the neighborhood
shot and seriously wounded Sebastian
Cornelia, his best friend. 1t was another
case OF where the peacemaker inevitably
gets the worst of IL. Cornelia's recovery
is doubtful. t..-:r,
Salerno's sister married Sebastian Circo
about year ago and they have been in
hot water ever since. Tuesday afternoon
Circo beat his wife three or four times, and
her brother. sslerno. was so incensed that
he had Circo arrested on the charge Of
assault and battery. circo gave bail in
the sum OF $50 and Thursday morning re-
newed the quarrel with his wife, threaten
ing TO kill her IL she did not produce 500
which he believed was in her possession.
Mrs Circo called on her brother for pro-
lection and he responded by going Inn
mediately to the home of the Circos, 40
South Tenth street, where they own a
small shoe store. Salerno carried his re-
volver and opened fire on Circo, who was
In the store, shooting at him three times
but failed to hit him. Cornella, who is a
brother-in-law Of Circo and also Salerno's
intimate friend. interfered at this juncture
in order to prevent the murder OF Circo,
grabbing sslerno around the body. but not
before the latter fired one more shot, which
took effect in Cornelis's abdomen on the
left side, causing a wound from which
the hospital authorities say he probably
will not recover.
snIerno Nearly Escapes.
Cornelia snatched the revolver from
| SalernO'a hand hefOpo falling M Sail
Immediately started on a run down Tenth
street. with every prospect Of escaping.
Samuel Davis of Syracuse, N. Y, who was
strolling around while waiting for a train
| to Lincoln, met Salerno running toward
him with the hue and cry at his heels
| and felled him with a blow in the mouth.
Detective Shepard was only a few yards in
the rear and fell on Salerno. who had to
be dubbed to prevent his resisting arrest
Detective Lesch then arrived on the scene
and calling a wagon took Salerno and his
victim TO the police station Later Cor
nelia was taken to the Omaha General hos
pital, where he now lies at the point Of
death. although the bullet has been re-
moved from his body.
Salerno wept bitterly at the station when
he realized that he had probably killed
one of his best friends. He Is one OF the
leading members of the italian settlement
on Tenth s<Seet and owns his own home at
Eighth and Pierce streets, where he re-
sides with his wife and three children.
He also has two brothers in business in the
city.
Circo was brought to this country from
! Italy by Salerno who helped establish him
I'm business, but there has been constant
friction between them on account OF the
treatment accorded by Circo to his wife.
over the Waters but Few Months.
Cornelias the victim OF the tragedy. has
| been in the United States but a few
months. He is a large, powerful man.
about 81 years of age.
| 1t is reported by members OF the italian
| colony that both Circo and VCornelia be-
| long to the celebrated Malta society and
that the father of Circo was Imprisoned In
Italy for a crime committed while acting
at the instgation of that society.
Immediately after he had escaped from
the shots of Salerno Circo departed for
parts unknown and forfeited his bail in
police court Thursday morning, when he
was to appear to answer TO the charge of
assault and battery upon the person of his
wife. The police force are diligently
searching for him, he will no doubt be
the star witness when Salerno is tried for
his