The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1920-01-30
WOMAN'S THRILLING
STORY OF MURDER

MRS. FABRlzIO CONFESSES The KILLING
OF HER HUSBAND - DENIES She
SOUGHT LOVE OF POTENZIANI-SH
CLAIMS She SHOT HUSBAND ON THE
RAILROAD TRACK IN SELF-DEFENSE.
On the morning of January 9 the
body OF Dominic Fabrizio, an Italian,
was found on the railroad tracks at
the outskirts of Union Bridge man
gled by having been run over by
train. Examination of the body showed
a gunshot wound in the back. Fabri-
zio lived at Union Bridge with his
wife, Domenic, and five children.
Ernesto Potenziani was a boarder in
their nome On the morning of the
murder Potenziani left Union Bridge
on the 1924 train for Baltimore.
States Attorney Brown notified the
Detective Department, Baltimore, and
Potenziani was arrested when he ar
rived at Union Station. He denied all
knowledge OF the murder, but declar-
ed that Fabrizio had been killed by
train. He was brought to Mestmin
ster and stuck to his story. Another
suspect arrested was a cOlOred man,
known as Monk Green. Green was
held IN Jail here until Monday, when
he was discharged in consequence of
the story told by FabriZiOs wife, who
had been arrested i'll Baltimore. She
related there in detail how her hus
band had been killed by Potenziani,
and his body placed on the track; de-
claring that after he killed him he re-
turned to the house, told her what
he had done and threatened to kill her
if she revealed his secret, and that he
had then forced her to give him about
SIS, which he knew she had in the
house, and with it had gone to Balti
more Mrs FabriZio was brought to
jail here to be held as a states wit
ness. Potenziani in Jail learned that
she had accused him OF the crime,
and retaliated by telling States At
torney Brown that the woman had
killed her husband and begged him
not to tell, and that he had denied
all knowledge of the affair because of
his promise.
Friday morning Court Interpreter
Pipitone, of Baltimore, in the jail Of
flee here, in the presence OF States
Attorney Brown, former States At
torney Sea.brook, Sheriff Bloom
and Deputy Byers, questioned -Poten-
Zianni, and his statement was taken
down by Court Stenographer BerWag-
er. He stated that ne was in bed
asleep about 6 o'clock on the morning
| of the killing, that Mrs. + taDrlzio
came to his door, called him to get
up, as she had important things to tell
him. He got up went to her rooom,
where she told him that Fabrizio had
beaten her the night before and again
that morning; that he had dragged
her from her bed, and forced her to
go. with him to the railroad track,
for what purpose she did noe know;
that when they had gone a short dis
tance from the house she begged to
be allowed to go back and get her
gloves. Her husband permitted it.
She went to the house, got the shot
gun and killed him and placed his
body on the track. He stated that
this talk took place in the Woman's
bed room, and that she was clad only
in her underwear, and he supposed
she had removed her dress on account
of blood stains. He also stated that
she produced a bottle of whisky, and
offered him a drink, but that he de-
clined to take it. He further stated
! that several times in the past the wo-
man had invited him to intimacy with
her, but that he had always refused; |;
that she had told him that if her hus-
band were to get killed, he and she
could return to Italy, as they had
plenty of money, and could live there
together, and then, on the morning
of the killing, she showed him two
bank books. He promised her to keep
her secret and did so until he learn
ed that she had accused him of the
crime.
Mrs. Fabrizio was then brought into
the Jail office, carrying in her arms a
baby about Is months old. She was
asked whether she wanted to take
away from or add anything to her
story as told in Baltimore. After a
few minutes hesitation, without any
) urging, she replied that she
did, that her former story was
untrue, and that she wanted to tell
Just what had happened and why. She
said that in Italy her husband had
: been intimate with her and another
girl; that he had had a child by the
other girl, but that she was poor,
while the accused had money and he
had married her instead for her mon
ey; that they had come to America,
! but that he had never forgotten the
other girl; that they had recently
| quarfeled because he had said that he
, was going to send $100 to the girl in
!, Italy. After they came to America, he
, was always cruel to her. She show
ed scars on her head which she said
were the result of beatings at the
, hands of her husband and the marks
Of burns on her wrists and hands
from his having pushed them into the
fire of the kitchen stove Sne decIar-
ed that while living in Baltimore. he
had often driven her out into the night.
and that he always made her work
hard, even just before the birth of each
of her five children
i On the morning of the killing she
was awakened by his voice and found
him standing by her bedside fully
dressed He had in his hand reyoI-
ver with three bullets in it. He grabb-
cd h !, IL, Z :.