The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-17
County Officers Acted
Promptly and Thor
oughly.
ESCAPE WAS IMP0SSIBLL
Accused Just Out of the
Penitentiary Where He
Served Long Term.

Frank Pisheniro, Italian, who last
night shot and killed E. w. Brooks.
aged 40, in the Joe Bardelli house on
the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and
Bennett street, was captured at seven.
thirty this morning by Deputy Sheriff
Bell Harris while trying to escape
across Buffalo creek between Katy
and Pennington.
Between crying and praying he told
the story of the shooting to the off.
GERS who brought him into the city,
protesting all the time that Brooks
was not dead and not until he was
shown copy of a paper carrying the
story, was he convinced he had com.
mitted murder. Then he broke down
and asked that since he must be hang.
ed that It be done quick and had over
with.
According to Piseniro's story, Yves.
ley Grapes and Will Taylor, two Amef.
leans, took Brooks, who was very
drunk, upstairs to his rooms over the
Pisheniro store last night. Coming
down they told Pisheniro that Brooks
had been having some trouble with an
Italian named Jim Pacifico, who oper-
ates store on Maple avenue.
Pisheniro, who is friend Of PACT
fico's, got a 80 revolver and with Mary
Ambrose, IN American born Italian
girl, started upstairs to see what the
fuss was all about. Pisheniro and
Brooks soon started an argument III
which Mary took part and Brooks be-
coming enraged struck the girl in he
face. Pisheniro ordered him to stop
and the quarrel assumed serious pro
portions. Pisheniro drew his gun and
ordered Brooks to lot loose his hold on
him. Brooks promptly knocked him
down and Pisheniro opened fire, the
first shot landing in Mary's arm. The
second shot caught Brooks full N the
face and killed him instantly.
Rushing from the room Pisheniro
went to his home on Robinson street
and from there started toward Man
L!ngton. The officers we're Immediate
ly notified and in few minutes drag
net was being spread. By daylight
this morning men from the sheriff's Of
flee were in Uniontown, Clarksburg,
Warrington, Wheeling, Brownsville
and riding on every car that left the
city. All night was spent in securing
every road and by path in the county
and 1t was as result Of this minute
search that the murderer was located.
Where are you going" shouted
Deputy Bell Harris, when he saw o
man trying to get across Buffalo creek
without being seen.
I'm looking for a job" answered
Pisheniro.
Come on then, I've got one for
you" called Harris, drawing his gun.
When brought to the county jail
7 sheniro was recognized as one OF
the famous band of Black Handlers
given long penitentiary terms here
about ten years ago, his sentence hay
ing expired but few months since.
Pisheniro does not try to deny the
affair and since he has learned that his
victim is dead, seems to take It for
granted that he will be hanged. There
was a very noticeable effort on the
part of the Ambrose girl, when ques-
toned by the officers, to make case
of self defense for Pisheniro.
An inquest over the body Of Brooks
was held this afternoon and death by
shooting at the hands Of Pisheniro was
the verdict. Brooks, according to his
wife, who is an American, Is Italian,
but Italians who were acquainted with
him said he could speak no Italian.
His friends say he was a half breed In
dian. The body is at present in the
Cunningham morgue for the burial OF
which funeral arrangements have not
as yet been completed.