The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-16

Roanoke. Va, September 15.-In his
home in the sunny land OF Italy, not
many miles from the blue Adriatic.
Peitro Spega, alias Peitro Spegoto, has
been arrested, charged with the MUIR
der OF Paymaster w. IL. Oakley, at
Rock. w, Va, in August. 1909.
After committing the crime Spesa
try. sometimes with detectives close on
his heels and sometimes apparently
safe from pursuit. Finally he at last
succeeded in slipping across the ocean.
through the blue Mediterranean, into
the Bay Of Naples, whose shores offered
him welcome. From Naples he hasten
ed north, tediously travelling through
the heart of the land, until hnally ne
came 10 the great mountain range INA.
divides Italy almost into two equal
parts.
beyond the peaks lay Spega's cot
tage where dwelt his wife and chill,
dren, and ticre he fclt he had reached
refuge, safe from vengeance OF the
law. But Tar away, beyond mountains.
seas and oceans, the detectives or
Roanoke were following the trail. To- o ,
day headquarters here received olnclal
notification of the arrest, and also OIL
the fact that Spega will be tried.
Held Up at Lonely Spot.
The morning of August 81, 1909. OAK :
ley went to a nearby town 70 secuIe
$4,000 cash. with which to meet j., the
saichel. he started for the commits
sary. accompanied by W. I'll. Franklin
and James McCreedy, the secretary.
They We're not armed at lohelS
snot they were held up Oakley was
killed with shotgun. and the money
was stolen.
When the detective agency was notl-
fled of the crime, Detectives Plttman
and Witten, the latter also a deputy
Sheriff of Mercer county. began an
The problem with which they were
confronted was about as difficult as any
they had ever tackled. Oakley WAS
killed in a lonely place by man
whom no one kneW w, and IN the Ma nsar-
Franklin and McCreedy had taken no
special note OF his appearance. me
detectives, however, searchea eVers
nook and corner in the yiclnlty ana
| finally they struck the trail that lead
| in the end to the slopes of the Ape
mines Pressed into the soil at the
scene of the murder was the track OF
a heavy sole, and along the edge OF
lat were little indentatlons made by
use.
Over wilderness OF hills and
through numerous ravines the detec-
ttves followed the print OF the shoes
several miles. Finally they traced the
murderer to Pocahontas. and there they
secured evidence that convinced them
LOT Peitro Spega's guilt. But Spesa
managed to escape In his trunk az
shoes and shotgun that was used
Ito kill Oakley.
Two weeks passed, with every trace
! of Spega lost. September came and
the quarry was slipping awav. About
the middle Of the month. the detectives
found the thread again. They learned
that Spega had a woman friend In New
York, living on Washington Avenue.
She was interviewed, and after while
| she revealed all that she knew. Spega.
j she declared, had told her of tho crime.
saving he had killed and robbed man
lin West Virginia. She said the Italian
then was somewhere In New Jersey,
New Jersey was searched, but Spega
was not found. Once more trace OF
1 him was lost.
AtHis Home In Italy.
/ In February the trail grew warm
! Through the Italians family, the de-
tectlves learned that Spega was at his
home in Italy, This fact was dlscov-
cred through letters sent from Italy
to this country. Immediately the de-
tectiyes got into communication with
the Italian government. and Spega was
arrested two weeks ago. lie Is In q
state prison at Turano, many miles
south of the place whore he lived.
!. day the agency received a lie letter q,
4
ington. lnclosing a letter from John w.
Garrett, secretary to the American am
bassador at Rome, Hon. John @. Letsh-
man, In this letter. Mr.. Garrett IN
formed the department that the Italian
Minister of Foreign Affairs had officials
| " notified the American ambassador
that spega was in prison at Turano,
land that he would be tried for his
crime at once,
No eStradition treaty covering a case
of this kind ever has been made be-
tween the American and Italian gov-
ernments, Therefore, Spega will be
tried in Turano, the prison town.
| Evidence against him Will be In the
form of afiidavits setting forth all
the facts in connection with the crime
These aifldavfts have been procured by
| the detectives,
Testimony against Spega will be yo-
luminous and win present every posi-
Bile phase OF the case IT will follow
| spega's career in tho Virginia coal
fields and every step taken by him
before and after the murder, culni-
mating In his arrest N Mosciano, u viii
.llage the name OF Which in English