Gilpin observer., 1909-12-02
SHOOTING AT PER|G0
Pete Donati Takes a
Shot at Sisto Branz.
Wounds Him.

Perigo was the scene of an excit-
ing time early Tuesday morning. Pete
Donati shot and wounded Sisto Branz
The trouble occurred at the boarding
house of Mrs. Gross at o'clock in
the morning. Donati and Branz in the
early part of the evening had gone
from Donatis cabin to Pritchard's
saloon where they both indulged a
little in drink, Donati, however, get
ting more than a gentlemans share.
At two O'Clock they left Pritchard's
and went down to the boarding house
Arthur Zadra, one of the boarders
upon hearing them knock got up and
opened the door, 1t was dark in the
hallway and difficult for him to see.
He asked for match and Donati,
who seemed intent upon shooting
someone, said, II will give you a
match, Arthur, and a good one, too"
at the same time reaching for his re-
volver. 1t looked as though the
trouble would commence in the hall
way. The three went back into the
kitchen and sat down. Here they told
stories and for time it looked as
though the clouds of war had passed.
Finally the conversation drifted to
the proprietress of the boarding
house, Mrs. Gross, who Donati claim
ed was favoring Branz in that she
would bake pies and cakes and send
them over to the BranZ cabin free of
charge and that when he (DonatD
was boarder at the house all he
got to eat was potatoes and he had
to even pay for these. 1t would seem
from this that Donati was jealous of
Branz and the jealousy led to the
trouble.
Some hot words were passed be
tween Donati and Branz, interspersed
with profanity. Donati, who carried
two revolvers. a 80 and a "A pulled
the .32 and deliberately shot Branz.
The bullet entered the right shoulder.
just below the neck. Donati said he
had aimed at his victims heart and
was regretful that he had shot wide
Of the mark. Arthur Zadra, to pro-
tect BranZ as much as possible
sought TO reach Donati, but the latter
covered him with the gun and threat
ened to kill him II he interfered. Do
natl Quieted down and within a short
time Branz left the house and went
to his cabin and retired. 1t was not
until after six o'clock that Donati
left for his cabin. On his way he
stepped in to see Branz and asked
him how he was feeling. Very SYM
pathetic OF Donati.)
Tuesday noon Arthur Zadra brough
the injured man to town where his
wound could be treated. Donati arriv
ed in Central during the afternoon
and saw Branz and sought to patch
up a truce. He argued that is was
not necessary to take the affair into
the courts as it would cost both of
them money. He did not say what
kind of settlement he wanted to
make, but 1t is presumed that he in
tended to give Branz some money not
to prosecute.
a warrant was sworn out for Dona-
It's arrest Tuesday and he was plac-
ed in Jail. In the evening he was ar
raigned before Justice Mccullough
charged with assault with intent to
kill. He pleaded not guilty and his
hearing was set for this afternoon.
Donati is an Austrian and cannot
speak English and had to do all his
talking through an interpreter.
From reports it appears that Dona-
ID is too light on the trigger. Six
months ago he resided In Russell
Gulch and entered n house there and
shot out the windows. He left the
next morning for Chicago Creek and
nothing was heard from him until he
got into the trouble at Perigo. He
and Branz. the man he shot, were
leasing in the Perigo mine.