Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1912-02-29
Determined Man Was Shot
by Some One at Point
Where Body Lay.
NO CLUE TO WHO
is RESPONSIBLE
Officers and Authorities Are Maxim
Widespread Investigation, But
Nothing Revealed as Yet
to Clear Mystery.

That Joseph Mayano, the Italian,
whose dead body was found in the
park woods near the Tumbling Dam
was shot TO death by some person as
yet unknown, is the firm conviction of
the authorities, including Prosecutor
J. Hampton Fithian.
The Prosecutor who has been ill
for some time, come out yesterday and
made some personal Investigations in
the puzzling tragedy. The Prosecutor
procured from officer Aaron Smith the
rifle which was picked up beside the
body when it was discovered Sunday
noon. The rifle was very much rusted
and the hammer was still back,
cooked, just as it was found. The rifle
was turned over to an expert who
oiled the weapon, removed the rust
SO that the rife could be broken, and
when this was done, it was found that
there was a cartridge still in the
single barrel. This precludes all pos
sibility of Mayano shooting himself
with the rifle either accidentally or by
design.
Yesterday afternoon Prosecutor
Fithian visited the spot where the
body of the Italian was found. he
was accompanied by the man who had
discovered the rifle and carried it
away. This gentleman carefully ex-
planned the position the gun was lying.
He showed that it was lying in the
soft leaves with the breech down and
the weight of the rife resting on the
hammer. This would indicate that the
weapon had fallen from the hand of
Mayano when he received his death
wound and was held in position in the
soft muck in which it rested. 1t is
almost assured that had the rife been
placed where it was found, by human
hands, it would have been laid upon
the side and not upon the back or top,
which is wholly unnatural
Prosecutor Fithian made very
careful examination of the surround
ings, and is of the opinion that the
Italian was shot where he fell, and
that the body was not dragged to the
spot after the fatal wound had been
inflicted elsewhere.
The utter absence of motive for
murder presents a puzzling situation.
Thus far the authorities can find moth
ing that would indicate that anyone
should desire to harm Mayano. Some
people at the Parker Brothers glass
plant say that the Italian was a good
workman and quiet. Others say that
he was quarrelsome, but there has no
one been found who can give any in
formation indicating any motive for
the murder of the young foreigner.
Prosecutor Fithian is convinced that
Mayano was shot to death by some
one. 1t is quite certain that the %
calibre bullet found in the neck of
the body was from a rife and must
have been shot at close range 1t is
hardly likely that a % calibre revol-
yer would have had sufficient force
to drive the bullet through the skull
of the Italian. Experts are of the
opinion that even rifle of this calibre
must have been shot at close range to
have had the bullet make the peculiar
wound described by the County Ply
sician as result of the autopsy. 1t
is also apparent from the nature of the
wound, that the weapon must have
been over the head of Mayano, as the
bullet entered over the left temple and
plowed downward and backward. The
wound could have been made had
,Mayano been bending over as he
plunged through the brush, and walk
ing toward the man who fired the fatal
shot.
officers Aaron Smith and Frank ].
Lore spent all of yesterday in round
ing up !talisns and cutting them apoa
the grill. Despite this searching in