The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-04-14
FEUD CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM
Joe spampinato Assassinated by Ber-
nard Mistretta and Son.

most instantly killed by Bernard Mis-
tIetta and his 15-year-old son,
Gaetano Mistretta. The tragedy oc-
Cured in Charles street, in the i'm
mediate proximity of the grocery and
bar-room conducted by Mistretta,
which Is located at the corner OF
Charles and Houmas streets.
Spampinato, in the course of This
usual daily round of ice delivery, was
driving N his wagon along Charles
street, in the direction of Houmas
street. AS he neared the corner, Mis-
tretta and his son, according to the
testimony OF eye-witnesses, came
from gate giving access to the back
yard of the Mistretta premises, and
began firing at Spampinato. The lat
ter jumped from his wagon and start
ed to run from his assailants, but had
taken only a few steps when he fell
to the ground, his left leg having been
fractured by charge of buck-shot.
1t is alleged that he dropped in a
kneeling posture, with his hands up,
.whereupon the two Mistrettas adj
vanced upon him, shooting as they
came. When their victim sank down,
mortally wounded, it is asserted that
they stood over him and emptied their
weapons into his PROSTATE body.
An examination of the corpse by
Coroner D. C. Brumfeld disclosed the
fact that Spampinato's jugular vein
and carotid artery had been severed
by deep knife stab in the neck.
None of the eye-witnesses is able to
say when this wound was inflicted,
all declaring that the only weapons
seen in the hands of the two Mis-
trettas were shotguns and pistols.
After the shooting the Mistrettas
are said to have walked back into
their yard Bernard Mistretta sur
rendered to citizen who came run
ming up at this time His son was ar
rested short while later by Chief of
Police Robert Dill and Deputy Sheriff
Sidney Acosta. It was thought at first
that Mistretta's elder brother, Pas
quale Mistretta, had taken part in the
shooting, but subsequent testimony
is said to have developed the fact that
rasguale Mistretta tainted while tie
tragedy was being enacted and was
not concerned in the crime. He was
rot. arrested.
After being ewanfhed by DR.. E. K.
Sims at the scene of the tragedy,
Spampinato's body was removed to
his home, where a closer examination
was made by Coroner Brumfeld. This
disclosed bullet wound in the left
~ bolo,,, So 4Lo sc +L,
heart, the missile having penetrated
both lungs and lodged in the flesh on
the right side, from whence it was
extracted by the coroner. The right
hand was badly torn by several buck
shot wounds, main artery being
severed, and the left leg was shatter
ed near the ankle by bullets of the
same caliber. A knife wound had
severed the juglar vein and carotid
artery. Any of the wounds would
have caused death, those in the body
and neck being necessarily fatal.
Spampinato lived for several minutes
after being shot, but was unconscious
when two ladies residing in the COM
munity rushed to his assistance and
endeavored to staunch the flow OF
blood. He died without utterlng
word. One Of the ladies who minis
tered to the dying man was an eye
witness of the shooting, and her testl-
mony is expected to play prominent
part in the trial.
The Mistrettas a1lege that several
attempts have been made to assassl-
nate them, and in statement after
the shooting Bernard Mistretta de-
clared that spampinato was the man
they suspected Of trying to take their
lives. One night some weeks ago the
community was aroused by fusillade
Of shots, and the Mistrettas asserted
that they had fred at man who was
lurking in the neighborhood Of their
store. A similar incident occurred
Thursday night at about 9:15 o'clock.
Pasouale MistretEssaxplained to police
officers that while he"was walking up
and down on the sidewalk in front OF
his brothers store man shot at MN
while his back was turned, and that
he wheeled around and fired at the
would-be assassin as he ran away.
He claimed that he did not recognize
his assailant, but gave a description
closely approximating that OF SPAN
pinato. The latter always strenuous
lv denied that he bore any enmlty to
the Mistrettas, and laughingly ex-
postulated that he was not guilty OF
attempting to assassinate them. NO
weapon Of any kind was found on
Spampinato's body after the shooting.
The dead man was a widower, ~
wears old, and leaves five small chill
dren. three girls and two boys, be
sides a sister, Mrs. Paolo Gioffre. He
bore an excellent reputation, ha@
never been in trouble, and was gener-
ally liked. He had been in the en-
nlov of the Dona1dsonville Ice Com
panv for many years. The sum OF
S700 in currency was found by Of
fcials of the company secreted in the
wagon driven by Spampinato, evident
Nv being his savings. In addition
about $50 in bills was taken from MS
clothes.
! Bernagd Mistretta IS one of the
leading members of the local Itallan
COLONY. is prosperous. and has always
stood well in the community. He has
wife and eight children, three girls
and five boys One of the latter
Frank Mistretta, is student at the
Louisiana State University. He re-
turned home Friday afternoon.
spampinato's funeral took place at
II O'Clock this forenoon, with ser
vices and interrhent in the Catholic
church and cemetery The obsequles
were conducted by the Italian Benev-