La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1916-12-02
MYSTERIOUS MURDER
Michael Carpcnello Mysteriously
Murdered Last sunday Night
No Clue to Murderer

Michael Carpenello, aged SO. and
a resident of this city for nearly
twenty years, was found in an un-
conscious condition near his home
in the Wickmau addition last Sun
day evening about o'clock. He had
been slugged in the head with an
iron bolt about eight inches long.
and the instrument of death was
found near his body. There were
three ugly wounds on his head. and
two OF them were such serious frac-
lures OF the skull that there was no
hope of his regaining consciousness
from the very first. The injured
where he died at 3:30 o'clock Mon
man was taken to the City Hospital.
day morning without regaining con-
seriousness.
The body was found by Mike Con-
tine. a young Italian about II years
OF age, who had been attending an
italian party" in the Wickham ad-
dition Sunday afternoon. and be-
tween s and 7 o'clock had started
for his home in the east end of town.
When near the bad turn in the road
in the Wickham addition. Contine
saw the body OF a man lying on the
ground and Immediately notified Joe
Razutto, who lives In that neighbor-
hood and the latter at once sum-
moned the sheriff and city marshal.
who had the unconscious man taken
to the City Hospital. There was no
clue to indicate the identity OF the
murderer at the scene OF the trag-
edy. and not clue has as yet de-
veloped.
Carpenello left his home in the
Wickham addition during the after
noon and went TO the east end OF
town to. visit a married daughter
About 5 O'Clock he left his daugh-
ter's house to return home and that
was the last seen OF him until he
vas found In an unconscious con-
dition about 400 feet from his own
front door. As Carpeneilo had about
40 cents in.money on his person and
a watch. II was evident that robbery
had not been the object OF his being
slugged. and IL there was an object
in doing away with him II is still
wrapped in mystery.
on the day following the murder
Enrico Florretti. n brother-in-law OF
the deceased. was arrested on sus-
picion and taken to the county Jail.
Although his brother-in-law had
been murdered Sunday evening.
Florretti did not know anything OF
the tragedy until Monday. and this
notwithstanding the fact that he
lives In a house adjoining that OF
Carpenello. lie knew nothing OF II
until he was informed by Joe Ra-
zutto. who went over TO the Santa
Fe shops where Florretti Is EN-
ployed to talk to him about the trag-
Guy anu iHat Nv hh'N
ing OF II whatever. This was re-
garded with so much suspicion that
Fiorretti was placed under arrest.
He reamined In the county jail un-
Ill after the coroner's inquest on
Wednesday afternoon. when he was
released. as there was nothing In the
Testimony to Indicate that he knew
anything OF the murder.
An inquest was held by Coroner
King Wednesday afternoon. Sixteen
witnesses most OF them relatives OF
the dead man. were examined. but
all appeared to be as much In the
dark concerning the tragedy as ey-
eryone else. and none OF them could
give even the faintcst clue as TO the
identity OF the murderer or his OBJ
ject. The jury OF six. which inciud-
ed J. d. craighead, J. H. crozier. G.
y. Braun. Thos. l.. Davis. John
Hunter. and John Gwyn. returned n
verdict to the effect that the de
ceased came to his death on Novem-
Der ?6th. about 9 or 7 o'clock .. m,
at n point about $50 feet south
from his front gate: that his death
was caused by n blunt instrument
used upon the head OF the deceased
by u party or parties unknown to
the Jury"
Michael Carpcncllo was familiarly
known In La Jupta at Little Mike"
or Mike Bush" and has been res
ident OF this city for nearly TWEEN
" years. He and his wife came TO
La Junta direct from Italy Just
after they were married. They have
eight children. and two OF the
daughters are married and live In
the east end Of town. Carpenello has
h~au tr shu ,tnv Oe sh.. a.