The Washington herald., 1911-09-12

portunity ran headlong and uncon.
sciously into the lair of a man made
frantic by the taunts Of teasing chill
dren.
Tony Melano, the wiseacres of the
Central office say, has a temper. He
is known to have shown signs Of that
temper on numerous occasions. He had
been taunted by a crowd of boys short
ly before the Smith boy entered his
cobbler shop, they declare.
What Was MOtiveH
What, then. is the motive for the muir
der mystery" they asked. Melano, they
explain, thought that young Harris was
the emissary of his tormentors. He first
grabbed the boy and thrashed him good
with a piece Of strap. II the story of
Earl Ahmy can be relied upon He be-
came enraged when the suffering boy
tried to talk TO him and cried and
hurled the hammer at his head, the po-
lice say.
Evidently il dawned on the italian that
he had slain the afflicted boy, the police
say Then it was he decided on the
story of the "red-haired" man, which
the police declare is nothing but f9inn.
In Mathilda Clagett, a negress, the de-
tectives have another valuable witness
whose testimony enmeshes Melano more
thicklv in the maze of evidence. The
negress, who lives at 122 Madison alley
northwest, will COrroborate another wit
ness testimony, the police say, and help
in a great measure TO convince the cor
oner's jury that Melano should be held
for the crime.
Besides the Clagett woman's evidence,
the Central office men declared late last
night that they had a valuable witness
fhaf ha
answering the prisoners description run
ming from the cobbler shop shortly be-
fore the fire.
Hint Mt Surprises.
Numerous surprises, the detective
hinted, would be sprung on the Italian
and his attorney, James F. Kelly. at
the inquest this morning. More than
twenty witnesses will he summoned.
The detectives declare they have three
witnesses alone who saw the crime
and one of whom probably will be able
to positively identify MelanO as the
man he saw strike the hoy with a steel
instrument
Despite numerous grilliugs and the ref
utation Of his alihi. the Italian remains
stealfaSt to the story that 'red-haired
man" committed the murder.
"Circumstaitial evidence against me-.
he tells those who talk to him at his cell
door. ''Of course they are all against
me now. l read the newspapers. I see
a little boy and other children tell that
do not care what they say.
These detectives can easily put the
words for the little children right in the
mouths Of the little ones. and then make
them say things TO the Judge. I know
that is what they will do to me. and they
may send me to the prison. did not do
this thing. I have been fooled by this
red-haired man whom I thought was a
friend of mine
Different in Italy.
You never read Of an innocent man
being kept in prison for years for some
thing done by another. In my country
| know q man was in prison thirty years.
He was released when the other man,
while dying. confessed to the crime.
The clouds will pass away after a
while, and I Will see sunshine again. You
know I am innocent looked at that
body at the morgue yesterday and did
not finch because my heart is clear. II
! had been guilty I would have stepped
hack for fear that the dead would rise
Watch me and see I am not nervous and
broken up hy my imprisonment. I will
be freed in a little while"
pathetic scene WAS enacted in front
Cf the prisoners cell yesterday after
noon when his wife and three small chill
drcn, the Youngest of which the mother
carried in her arms. Clutched at the steel
bars Of the cell door and cried Ove- the
plight OF the father and husband
Mrs. Melano and her children are
II destitute circumstances They have
Hrither food nor money. The rent is due
Tor their humble abode in SChOtts alley.
The rent Is due for the Cobbler shop
where the father and prisoner made
Woman and children will have to go and
live with relatives in New York
CobbIer's Family Destitute.
It is puzzlng the police as TO how they
can prevent ;he woman from leaving
the city. Her story is of great i'm
rortanCe. they say. She heard her hus-
band come in some time Saturday night
or Sunday morning The police say she
has told them that he came in shortly
before they came To take him away
The woman cannot be kept in this city
unless some provision Is made for her
ment cannot pay for her keeping The
Board of Charities may be appealed to
in the case to-day and her friends will
try to take care of her until provision
IS made.
Harry Smith. father OF the dead boy,
who is employed as a life guard at At