The San Francisco call., 1906-06-14
TAKE HUSBAND
INTO CUSTODY
Officers Hold Sanfillippo
for the Murder of
His Wife.
Think They Will Be
Able to Show That
He Fired Shot.
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.

SAN JOSE. June 13.-After forty
hours OF investigation Salvatore San
hllippo was taken in custody this aft
ernoon for the murder of his wife.
From the moment of the Sheriffs ar
rival on the scene OF the crime. which
occurred at 10 o'clock on Monday
night at the Sanfllppo home, fronting
Lincoln avenue, two miles south OF
this city. suspicion has centered on
the husband. He was the only person
present at the commission OF the muir
der on his own testimony. with the
exception OF a probable mythical mur-
derer. While the finger Of guilt points
almost unhesitatlngly at Sanfllippo
there is much room for doubt. His
story. unsupported as IL is. is so far
not dlsproved in any important par
ticular He has deviated in minor de-
tails which may, however become
most important at the trial for mur-
der that Will follow. The motive for
the crime is alleged TO be the ac-
quirement OF $4,000 life insurance
money. Two policies on the life Of his
wife Sanillippo admitted were due at
her death. These policies We're taken
out but a few months ago. There was
a mortgage on Sanfllippos orchard
and IT, Is said he is in need OF money.
The CorOner's jury following the
close OF the inquest today brought in
a verdict substantially as follows: We.
the jury, find that Rosa Sanhllippo
came 10 her death by a gunshot wound.
The bullet was fred by some one un-
known. We strongly recommend Sal
vatore sanhllippo be detained by the
authorities for further investigation"
However, an hour before the verdict
was rendered Sanhllippo was in Gus
tody. He waited in the courtroom,
though, until the jury rendered It's find
ings. The Grand jury, which was reg
ularly impaneled yesterday with
Colonel Hersey as foreman, will i'm
mediately take up the case with a view
to indictment for murder in the first
degree il the evidence should warrant
such action. Quick action may be nee
essary on the part of the jury 10 fore
stall any attempt that may be made
by Sanfllippos attorney TO commence
habeas corpus proceedings.
An important discovery that may or
may not tend TO incriminate the ac-
cused man was made yesterday by
Sheriff Hoss. II is the severed limb OF
fruit tree undoubtedly cut by a bull
let. This bullet certainly was the
piece OF metal that pierced the body
OF the murdered woman. The discovery
proves beyond doubt that the woman
was not killed by charge from a shot
gun. This is also the autopsy sur
geon's theory He is positive that the
woman was shot by a soft lead bull
let. This is shown by the nature of
the wound.
In two important particulars there is
evidence to disprove Sanfillippo's g
story of the killing. One concerns the
time his wife lived after receiving the
fatal charge: the other has TO do with
the direction OF the bullet. Sanfillippo
positively stated TO the Coroner's jury
that his wife spoke 10 him after being
shot. saying, Don't be afraid. ! am not
badly hurt" He says she also spoke
after he had carried her into the house
and placed her on a rude couch. using
almost the same words above quoted
Both autopsy physicians, Drs. Reese
and Mcmahon. positively deny that IL
was possible for Mrs. Sanfllippo to
utter an ineligible sound after being
shot, for her body was instantly para
lyzed. making articulation impossible
The blood which Immediately left her
brain through the severlng of the main
artery caused death In a few moments,
not longer than twenty or thirty sec
onds