The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-11-08
Mike Lappenna Resents the
Charges of Intimacy with
Mrs. Tony Fernando, and
Shoots His Cousin.
SLAYER is CAUGHT
AFTER LONG CHASE
Found in Woodshed Near His
Home by Police Chief Cor
mon-He Feels No Regret
Over His Crime.


cousin that he was too intimate With
married woman, Mike Lappcnna, 621
Elliott Reid Fence factory about 5 80
o'clock last evening and opened fire
on his cousin, Tony Lappenna stand
ing a short distance from the doorway.
He shot twice at him. one bullet TAX
ing effect in the left temple, killing
Tony almost instantly. Mike Lappen-
IA then backed outside of the room.
waving the gun above his head while
the terrified employees of the factory
stood around stupitied, The murderer
was arrested shortly after Z o'clock
by Supt. Gormon and Patrol Driver
Wenger
This morning in police court he was
arraigned on the charge of murder, but
waived preliminary examination and
was bound over to the Wayne circuit
court He has already admitted he
killed his cousin and although last ev-
ening he was cool and collected, this
morning he showed signs of extreme
nervousness, but still steadfastly de-
clares that he does not regret his ac-
ton.
Aneered by Charges.
The I.appennas with a number of
other Italians live at 621 North
Twelfth street Mike and Tony were
employed on the night shift at the
fence factory There has been some
feeling between the two for the past
few days. Tony had been telling other
Italians at the rooming house, it is
said, that Mike was too intimate with
Tony Ferranda's wife. Mike was ang-
| cred at this allegation and said he
made up his mind to kill. his cousin.
although H had sfssa Tony ~ Sara-
ing. Y.
As he stepped into the main room
at the factory just before time to 60
| to work, he saw Tony but nix feet from
him Tony was in the act Of changing
his street clothes for factory clothes.
What you say that for?" were the
only words uttered by Mike a. he drew
80 calibre revolver from his coat
pocket and not giving Tony time to
! answer he fred two shots in quick
succession.
AS the limp form of his relative fell
on a roll of wire fence, Mike, waving
the gun about his head backed to the
door and darted out Of the factory on.
to Chestnut street. He then ran east
to West Third street, thence to the
railroad tracks to Sheridan street,
where he jumped OF the abutment and
went to State street. From State
street he ran into Happy Hollow and
went east ON North F street to Eighth
Fearing he would be caught II he went
east ON r street the murderer stealth
fly walked to the river and followed
the river to Twelfth street. He then
went north on Twelfth to H and hid in
a shed near his home.
search For Murderer.
In the meantime the police had beer
notified and Day Sergeant McNally de
tailed All of the day men to search and
soon had the night men on duty. Pa
trolman vogelsong went to the fence
factory where he got a description o.
the man and where he lived. After
scouting about the vicinity OF the fac
tory for short time Vogeisong visited
the house where Lappenna lived and
searched it, but could get no clue tt
the murderer's whereabouts.
I With the exception OF four Mair
street patrolmen the entire police
force was placed on the case. All ths
patrolmen wore citizens clothes ant
we're instructed to keep a close look
out in the railroad yards. Patrolmar
Bundy was stationed near Lappenna' I
house with instructions to arrest any
one who attempted to enter or leav,
the building.
At 7:O5 o'clock Acting Night Ser
geant Little received a telephone cal
saying a suspicious acting man wa
lurking in the alley between Twelfth
and Thirteenth street near F. Chic
Gormon and Patrol Driver Wenge
drove the patrol wagon to a plac'
: near the Lappenna home and then tn
superintendent and Patrolman Bund.
: | searched the house as well as tn
house occupied by Fernando, but the,
found no one who answered the des
: scription of the murderer. Believing
their tip" was valueIess Gormon anl
Wenger started back to police head
quarters As they passed the allie,
, between Twelfth and Thirteenth the
stopped and saw the form of MAJ
come out OF the yard of Fernando
home and walk north in the alley.
Jerking their revolvers from thei
!. holsters the two followed the ma
down the alley. The man stopped an
opening a gate walked into the var
to the rear OF 621 North Twelfth
Walking into the open gate few se<
onds later the police searched th
outbuilding and were about to wal
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