Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-12
MURDERER KILLS
OFFICER TRYING
TO ARREST HIM
Italian Who Took Life of
Harrisburg Man Is
Arrested

Tony Rosso. also known by other
names. an Italian laborer, is to-day
under heavy guard in st. Joseph s
Hospital. Philadelphia, charged with
the murders of William f. Dunbar
of Harrisburg; Captain Ralph Mullen
a Pennsylvania Railroad detective
and other men, in Wilkes Barre. and
Buffalo, n. Y.
Police of the country have been
on the lookout for Rosso since July
IL, when, after a slight alteration,
he shot and killed William Dunbar
at Franklinville, n. Y. Mr.. Dunbar
was Harrisburger and had his resi-
dence at 21S North Second street. He
was a supervisor for the Pennsylvania
Railroad on the Erie Division. I'M
nlediately following this act Rosso
disappeared and reward of $1,000
for his apprehension was offered by
the New York authorities. A descrip-
ticn of the man was sent broadcast
throughout the country and all the
police departments in the larger cities
were on the lookout. The Philadel-
phia police yesterday received word
that a man answering the description
of Rosso was working on a sewer.
Captain Mullen and Detective Geo
netti, of the City Hall murder squad,
were sent on the case.
Kills Detective
Rosso was located in saloon near
the Children's Homeopathic Hospital.
He was questioned by the two detec-
tives, and began to grow suspicious.
Suddenly he pulled a knife from his
pocket, at the same time that Captain
Mullen pulled his gun. Rosso made
a lunge at Mullen and after knock
ing the gun from the latter's hand,
stabbed him in the neck, severing the
jugular vein.
Mullen fell, but managed to reach
his gun. Though dying and becom-
ing weaker every minute from the
loss of blood. Mullen fired at Rosso.
hitting him in the cheek and leg. The
murderer was then overpowered by
the Philadelphia officers and placed
under arrest. Mullen died before as
sistance could he rendered. The pris-
oner was bleeding profusely from the
wounds he had received and was
taken to st. Joseph's Hospital. where
hf is now under heavy guard. He
W III ISSONeI, anu III the meantime
the Philadelphia police are tracing
the man and connecting him with the
deaths of three other men.
Dives Through Window
\ Rosso put up stubborn battle be-
fore being cornered. He gave the
detectives a wild chase through the
Homeopathic Hospital grounds and
even after being cornered on an upper
floor of the hospital. freed himself
from the detectives, dived headfore-
most through a window, taking sash
and glass, and landed safely on the
ground below. The pursuing officers
followed him and finally landed their
quarry in a nearby cellar. During the
excitement shots were fired frequently
and pedestrians were forced to seek
shelter.
Rosso was searched when landed in
the hospital and papers were found in
his possession that showed that he
had worked in Scranton for the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western Rail-
road as laborer. The prisoner stol-
idly refuses to answer any questions
The police believe they have captured
a dangerous criminal and allege that
he has been connected with at least
three murdeTs in this country and
possibly more in Italy.
Captain Mullen, the detective who
was killed, is well known in the po-
lice circles of Harrisburg. He was
thirty-five years old and has been
member of the police force of Phila-
delphia for years. He is survived by
his mother and a sister.