The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-28
LALASA, IN JEALOUS RACE, HAD
PRESSED GUN To A||FE'S HEAD
POLICE CONVINCED THAT MISS
ING GUNMAN WAS JEALOUS
OF FRANK BRUGAN.
Authorities BaffIed In Search Because
Fugitive's Wife is Afraid to
Give Information.

That Joe Lalasa, East End Italian
who Yesterday morning shot and dam
gerously wounded Frank Brugan, a
boarder in his home. while in tit OF
Jealous anger, few days ago. pressed
gun to his wlfe's head and threat
ened to shoot her was the information
cleaned by the police last evening our
ing the search for information mat
would aid them in establishing mo-
tive for Lalasas deed. This bit OF n
formation, together with the attituue
Of Mrs. Lalasa, has convinced GeteC-
tiyes at work on the case that jealousy
alone prompted him to do the deed.
. Frank nice man. Ny husband XII
him" Mrs. LalaSa is said To have told
Detective Fred Frazier yesterday When
he talked to her regarding the snool-
ing, This assertion Of the woman the
authorities take TO be an INDICATION on
her part that Lalasa suspected his VIE
and Frank Brugan. ~ ,,,,
In the meantime. Brugan. with oui-
let through his body. was resting Qnieelt
night, while county and city authorities
hrnt every effort toward tho apprcnen-
sion Of his boarding boss VINO sh1t mn
down in I.alaSa'S home. NO. VI Alley ~
iat $40 o'clock yesterday morning. Al
though the wounded man seemed 10
ihave regained some strength last eve
ming and to be resting better than coul4
be expect ed considering the nature ~
the wound, DR. Il. p. Bippus, the nttcnu-
ing physician. and attendants at the nos,
pital, cannot forere1l the outcome. ana
Whether or not the shooting Will result
in murder Te .9;1ad 10 10 s sS nee
The authorities were batfled yesterday
and last night in their efforts 10 appre-
bend I.alas;l by the attitude ut Mrs. "a ~
lasa and other italis ans WHO I@nt IN" On his
Whereabouts. The police are CONVINCED;
however. that the woman Is terrilieu
with fear at the thought that her nus
band may return and kill her. when may
account in part for her refusal to come
clean with information they arc sure she
could give them. ~ ,,ro
AS prccaution to save her own ne
from heI. husband. whom she fears. Mrs.
I.alasa last night refused TO sleep IN
her own home, but found rest for the
night in another house. the location OF
which the authorities arc Keeping secret
Tndauntcd by battling features. both
CITY and county officers searchcu III
every direction last night Tor t'aiasa'
aided by tho authorities or i!cnwoou'
RaIlairc. Bridgeport, Moundsville, Mar
fins Ferry and other TOWNS farther dis
Plain Clothes Officers William West
Fred Frazier and Tom Kelley rcnaincd
on duty Il good part Of the night. CON
progress all day, and were Joined In the
effort 10 locate the missing Italian by
Plain Clothes Officers Dave Cleary. Ed.
NIinard. and Henry Walker Of The night
force.
Tho only trace Of Lalasa the officers
had been able to secure was the state
ments of cye-witncSSes who saw MN
run down Alley Is from his home just
after tho shooting. then disappear.
Lalasa M1llworker.
Joe IalaSsa is a mill worker and con-
ducts boarding house at his home.
Yesterday morning. according 10
statement made to Prosecuting Attor,
ney D. 4. Mckee by Mrs. LalaSa ana
her son, I,alasa went to the mill. Brn-
gan was sick. she claimed. and just be,
fore the shooting. DR.. G. w. Clfert had
been there to attend him. Instead or
working all day. I.alasa returned home
Just before $50 o'clock she told the
prosecutor. She was in tho cellar, she
said, and Brugan was sitting on a
couch in an upsta1r room. The. woman
told Of hearing three shots.
The story Of the shooting was told
by the I.alasa bos who said that his
father pushed open the dor 10 Fru
CANS ROOM drew a revolver and nreo:
tt,r rnturr"4 tho r1ln 70 his I""NSt 'ti'd
ucd down the alley.