The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-10-03
2osa Lapone Shot Down at
somers by NicoIi Bellino
Wednesday Night.
iTAHL IN QUICK CAPTURE
jherif Nabs Would be Murderer at
Truesdeu Less Than Hour After Crime
was COMMUNICATION Claims That
no Used Ills Gun in Self Defense.

Rosa Lapone, an Italian aged n
yoars, was shot and seriously if not
atally wounded ia fight among
Members of a railway section gang at
he Village of somers just after six
clock Wednesday night and Nicolo
3ellino, who admits shooting the man,
Is now held at the county Jail on.
charges of attempted murder. BellinO
was arrested by Sheriff stahl near the
village Of Truesdell less than an hour
after the shooting took place and ne.
has made partial confession of his
connection with the crime. The shoot
Ing came as result of feud be-
tween the men which had continued
over several months.
Bellino at the county jail this morn
ing talked freely Of the shooting and
declares that he drew his revolver
only when he was in danger Of serious
injury. Lapone is in st. Mary's Hos
pital at Racine and the officials of the
hospital stated this morning that his
condition was so serious that it would
be impossible for him to make any
statement in regard to the shooting.
The shooting caused great excitement
i'm 9he Village of Somers and the escape
Of Bellino after the shooting resulted
in the organization Of a posse of citi-
zens who were actively searching for
the man wb he was arrested by
Sheriff Stahl and brought to Kenosha.
The shooting took place in car
which hi | been occupied by the work
men of the st. Paul railway as a sleep
ing place. Bellino had been sort Of
a straw boss over the gang of work
men at Somers and he had some trou-
bic with Lapone some time ago. 1t
is said that the injured Italian resent
ed the authority shown by Bellino and
that ne had several times quarrelled
with the man who shot him. Just af.
ter the men quit work Wednesday
night the quarrel was renewed and ac-
cording to the story Of Bellino four
men started to assault him. Lapone is
alleged to have been the leader of the
men. Bellino declares that he warned
the men, but when Lapone came at him
he drew his revolver and fired four
shots.
Lapone dropped hit by two of the
bullets and the other two went wild.
Belliao at once led from the scene of
the shooting believing that he had
killed Lapone. Deputy Sheriff James
Nelson Of Somers was one Of the first
men to reach the scene of the shoot
ing and he at once notified Sheriff
Stahl that the crime had been commit
ted and that Bellino had started south
along the tracks Of tho ST. Paul road.
Nelson then went to care for the
wounded man. Lapone was bleeding
profusely and as soon as possible Mel
SON secured carriage and took the
wounded man to the hospital at Racine.
1t was found that one Of the bullets
had entered the right shoulder and had
gone down into the body piercing the
lung. The other bullet had taken eff
feet I'M the right knee of Lapone. The
first wound was considered very seri-
GUS and it was declared al the hospi-
tai this morning that the condition OF
the injured man was very grave.
Sheriff Stahl received the telephone
in regard to the shooting just before
half past six o'clock and taking four
men with him he started for Truesdell
in an automobile hoping that he might
Intercept the Italian. Just as the car
reached the crossing the sheriff motto.
Cd man running south. along the
track and jumping OUT Of The car he
hid behind fence and waited while
thes automobile went on The man
came to the fence and when he saw the
Sheriff he drew his revolver. stahl
did not draw his revolver but made E
lunge for the Italian and managed tc
knock the weapon from his hands
Bellhlo made no effort no avoid arrest
and he was brought to jail by the
sheriff. The revolver carried bv Bell
no had been reloaded but the Italian
made no effort to shoot tie sheriff. Al
the jail Bellino insisted that he fell
fully justified in shooting and insist
ed that he made an effort to get away
because he feared shat he could not
Get fair trial.
Bellino has been living in the neigh
borhood Of somers for many years and
he is declared to have been a peaceablt
fellow. He has been in charge of The
workmen for the railway for some time
and the officials Of the company have
placed a lot Of confidence in him.
Would you take music lessons if W,