The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-20
FATAL BULLET
ANSWERS FRIENDS
TAP UNDER CHIN
Joseph Bavero, Confessing Cold.
Blooded Crime, Says He
Was intoxicated.
Policeman John Matte.


Confessing his crime and declaring
that he was drunk when it was COM
mitted, Joseph Bavero, q years old, of
81 Church street, South Orange, is held
today in the county Jail to answer for
the Staying of his boyhood friend and
neighbor, Michael Selitto, whom he shot
to death yesterday afternoon.
seIitto was killed because he chucked
Bavero under the chin I'm a playful
manner
During the two years which Bavero
has spent in America he has been
goaded almost to desperation by the
1eers and taunts Of his countrymen.
They teased him incessantly. the neigh
bors say, about his inability to speak
English, his mannerisms and a thou
sand and one other things. Bavero took
he eers to heart and carried a revolver
with lin
Selitto.lived directly across the street.
at so Church street, with the wife he
had mar-t.d two ear ago, and their
year-old daughter. He went out IN the
yard yesterday, and was leaning over
the fence when Bavero came along
Bayero stopped as If to talk, and Selit-
to. apparently renewing the teasing
with which he had plagued his friend,
gently chucked him under the chin.
Two Bullets Fired.
AS o1ick as a flash, Bavero drew q
revolver and fired two shots at his
friend. The latter fell, while the slayer
darted across the street to his ROOM
revolver In hand, half a hundred coun-
trynen following him.
seIitto,s widow Joined in the pursuit,
after a glance at the PROSTATE form OF
her husband at her door
A hundred yards away, Policeman
John Matte was sending in a call to
headquarters when he heard the SHOTS
He came up Church street on the run,
saw Bayero dart into the house, caught
a glimmer of the revolver and heard
the cries Of the pursuing mob. He
rushed into the house. UP the stairs,
and confronted Bavero at the landing
The pursued man tried to slip past. but
a quick movement from the policeman
headed him off and he surrendered.
Taking his prisoner into the room,
Matte made a search and found the
weapon in a suit case under the bed.
When Bavero looked at the revolver he
pointed to himself and said that he had
shot Selitto.
Dies in Ambulance.
Bavero was hustled off to a cell in
the South Orange Police Station. Selit-
to, unconscious, but still breathing, was
placed in an ambulance and a race
against death was On, the Orange Me-
mortal Hospital being the goal. The
man expired MS the building
came into view. His widow. who had
tainted, is thought to be in a critical
condition. She had recovered somewhat
today.
Prosecutor Wilbur Mott was notified
by telephone, n Chief Frederick
Weimer of the staff of detectives was
on the scene three-quarters of an hour
after the shooting. He took charge of
the prisoner.
Five witnesses to the crime were held
in $500 bail each. Bavero was held
without bail. He admitted again, to
the prosecutor, that he had shot Selitto,
but pleaded that he was intoxicated
and didn't realize what he was doing.
County Physician Elliott performed an
autopsy, and said only n bullet en-
tered the body, penetrating the liver
and lodging in the base of h spine.
-Selitto and Bavero were childhood
friends in Italy. The former came to
America several years ago, the latter
following him.. The dead man was q
years old.