Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-08
SHOT TO DEATH AS
RESULT OF QUARREL
John Olson Killed by Fellow Roomer
Who Later Surrenders Self
to Police.
SLAYER MAKES A STATEMENT

John Olson, aged as, an employe
OF the Union Fuel company. was
shot and killed by Jay Brutto, aged
21. an Italian, also in the employ OF
the Union Fuel company, at the
home of Mrs. F. Palmtag, 2O14
Spring street, yesterday afternoon,
as the result OF a quarrel.
Brutto came to the central police
station last night at 9:3O and gave
himself uD to the authorities. He
made the following story:
"I met Olson at the Union Fuel
company's yards at about 2 O'Clock,
where ! had gone to take him his
lunch, but found him not working
and in an intoxicated condition He
said to me, Let's go home, and l
said, "All right and took him by
the arm and led him 20 the house.
When we got there we both went to
our rooms.
AFTER had been home a few minutes
started downstairs to get me some-
thing to eat. and Olson stuck his head
out Of the door Of his room and asked
me where was going. / told him. and
he said he'd go, too. I then told him
he'd better stay there. but to come on
II he wanted TO.
Asks for Food.
when we got downstairs we found Mrs.
Palmtag's daughter, Nellie, playing sol-
taire, and I asked her for something to
eat. She told me to go to her mother,
who was in the kitchen. and she would
get Il for me. / went. While I was in
the kitchen Olson began abusing Miss
Painting. and she told him TO get out OF
the room. but he wouldn't go. so l came
in and tried to get him to go upstairs
with me. but he wouldn't Go that, either.
tried to take him up by force and he
commenced beating me with a chair, so
let go OF him. and Miss Palm,ag told
me to go away and let him alone. so l
went upstairs 20 my room
''Just as i got to the head OF the stairs
looked back and Olson was coming up
with his knife open. sayiag that he was
going 20 kill me and all the rest OF the
Italians in the neighborhood. l said.
No. you're not going 10 kill me- and
ran to my room and got the rifle and
shot him Just as he was about TO reach
the top of the stairs then threw the
gun down and, jumping ove- his body, ran
down the stairs and out Of the house
the back way, cause was scared
Then came down here after / had
called up to make sure he was dead,
and here I am"
Urges He Surrender.
( After his escape from the house, Brute
/ says he went to the home Of his aunt al
22O7 Pierce street. where he met his
l cousin, Joe seria, who told him the best
/ thing he could do was TO cali the policS
and give himself up. lie stated thai
/ from the home of his aunt he went 10
saloon and called up the Palmtas res
idenoe and asked IL Olson was dead
4 They informed him he was. lie then wan
dered around that part of town for sew
eral hours, he says. his cousin following
him. and then he started for the polic'
/ station.
Miss Palmtag, upon being asked con
oerning her acquaintance with either o
the men. stated. Il have never beei
away from the house with either o
them, and | only see them TO speak 4
them as they went to and from thei
! work. AS far as either OF them beinI
especial friends OF mine, they were not
they were merely acduaintances an'
roomers
Mrs, Palmtag stated that BrUtto ha'
been in the house year and was wei
thought OF by them all. Olson. she said
had been with them but a month. an,
thev had taken him on the recommenda
ton given him by Brutto.
Fred Pslmtag, the foreman OF tn
Union Fuel company yards. and sol
OF Mrs. PalIntaH. stated that Brutto wa
well nked at the yards and was a goo'
worker. having been promoted severa
times.