The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-29
ITALIAN SHOT
IN COLD BLOOD
Leonard PirO, Bartender, Muir
dered by Two AssassinS, Not
Yet Identified.
ASSAILANT SENDS BALL
CRASHING THROUGH HEAD
Victim Slain Without Word of
Warning; Tragedy Has Only
One Witness.

Shot through the head Leonard PRO.
an Italian bartender employed in the
James Tedesco saloon at the southwest
corner OF Fourth West and First South
streets, was murdered by two unidenti-
fled assailants this Friday morning at
1:4o o'clock The cause OF the shooting
was not learned. George Pagan, a ne
sro, living over the saloon. was the only
witness 10 the murder. The body was
removed to the undertaking rooms OF
O'Donnen & Co, Pagan was taken to
the police station. where he is being held
pending an investigation. Piro resided
at 323 West Fourth South street and
had been married five months.
Hearing the report OF the revolver. Pa
Jrolmen Wicket and Griffiths ran from
West Second South street 10 the saloon
No one was in the saloon when they en-
tered and. upon looking behind the bar,
they discovered the body OF Piro. The
ball had entered his head at the point
where the bridge OF the nose joins the
forehead Death was III all probability
instantaneous.
Upon the arrival OF the police. Pagan.
who had run out of the saloon after the
shooting: returned and gave the police
his version of the murder, When queS-
toned he told the following story:
Story of Sole Witness.
81 was standing at the pool table
shooting the balls around by myself
just sort Of practicing. Suddenly two
men entered the saloon. Both wore black
slouch hats and black suits and had
their faces covered with black rags, tied
just below their eyes One held the
right hand swinging door open, and the
other. the one with the soft orange
colored shirt, had a revolver In his hand,
a long black gun.
Without a word. this man pulled the
trigger and the bartender fell TO the
floor The man who did the shooting
turned to look at me. but when the shot
went off l went out the back door. As
i was going out of the door l saw the
direction and noticed his orange -colored
shirt l also saw him start to run out.
"Just before the bartender was shot
he jumped back against the cash regis
ter and seemed 10 be reaching for some
thing He never had n chance,
After the arrival of Patrolmen Wicket
and Griffiths, they Immediately fele-
phoned headquarters, and Sergeant Rob
erts and Patrolmen Cleveland and Egbert
responded A thorough examination OF
the premises was made Tor any clue
which might throw light on the motive
for the shooting. but nothing was dis
covered.
James Tedesco. the proprietor Of the
saloon, was notified and went immediate
that PRO had been in his employ as bar
tender since July / and had always
worked on the night shift. According
to Tedesco. Pro came TO this city about
five months ago from Helper. Utah. and
was 26 years of age. He was married
Just before he came to this city. In
his coat pocket was found card OF the
Western Federation of Miners showing
that he had joined that organization as
a miners helper. He was member
OF local union No, 237 and had Joined the
union on November 90, 1907. Lying on
the floor beside the body was .32-calibcl'
Colts automatic revolver fully loaded
and with one bullet In the chamber.
Tcdesco said that so far as he knew
Piro had never had any trouble with
any one, He could assign no reason for
the murder
The police are inclined to believe that
Piro was the victim of the Malta So
ciety. He was not known To have re
ceived any Black Hand letters since he
had beeD I'm cifv