New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-06
Victim Is Shot Down by
Patrollnan Prette at For
syth and Hester Streets
After Being Robbed
Reserves Halt Mob
Attack on Slayer
Father of Luciano Carriffe
Appeals to Crowd to
Avenge killing of Son

Luciano Carriffe, twenty-five wears
old, of 5s Canal Street, was shot and
killed instantly at the corner of For
syth and Hester streets, shortly after
II o'clock last night, by Patrolman
Albert Prette. of the Clinton Street
station.
According to the police, Carriffe was
chasing three men through Hester
Street and threatening them with a
gun in an attempted holdup. John
Scapaticci, brother-in-Iaw of the
dead man, who is the proprietor of a
candy store at 81 Forsyth Street. de-
clares. however, that Carriffe had lust
been held up and robbed of a diamond
stickpin and that he was chasing the
alleged bandits when he was dropped
In his tracks by police bullet.
Reserves Dispense Crowd
Carriffe's aged father was so en-
phatic in supporting Scapaticci's state
ment that, following the shooting, ne
mounted a hydrant and harapued
large crowd of Italians that gathered.
urging them to seek revenge on the po-
lice. 1t was necessary to call the re-
serves from the Clinton Street sta
tion to disperse the crowd.
Patrolman Prette, driving a motor
cycle and with Sergeant Charles Fox,
Of the Clinton Street station, in the
sidecar, was orr his way to the Scapa-
ticci candy store when he encounte red
Carriffe passing the three men who
later escaped during the excitement.
Rosa Scapaticci, Clarifies sister, was
arrested recently at the store and was
released in bail awaiting trial ON
charges OF immoral conduct. Pending
the trial patrolman has been sta
toned in the store to do duty on raided
premises. Prette was taking Sergeant
Fox to the store for inspection.
Bullet Strikes the Heart
AS they turned into Forsyth Street,
they heard a shot fired A moment
later they saw three men dash by, pur-
sued closely by Carriffe, who was
brandishing revolver. Patrolman
Prette said that he recognized Car
rife as "a man with a record" He
stopped his motorcycle and, drawing
his revolver, fred. Carriffe stumbled
and toppled into the gutter, with bull
let in his heart
A police. surgeon reported that the
bullet entered the right shoulder, but
was detected by the blade and entered
the heart, causing instant death.
Before Sergeant Fox had opportu.
nifty to leave the side-car Carriffe's
sister, Scapaticci and the dead mans
father were on the scene. When they
learned that Carriffe had been killed
they turned on the two policemen.
They refused to listen to the police
explanation that Carriffe had at
tempted hold-up. The father
dropped to his knees and, raising the
dead mans right hand, showed the
police sergeant a diamond ring which
was partly pulled from one of the
fingers. He said that the three men
who had stolen his sons diamond
stickpin also had attempted to take
the ring.
When the police refused to listen to
his explanation, the old man turned
with tears in his eyes to the excited
"See, they have keeled my Luciano, and
now they say he was thief"
Then he climbed to the hydrant and
launched on an attack against the police
as the crowd grew and pressed about the
two policemen. The words of the grief
stricken father were beginning to have
their effect on the throng of Italian SYM
pathizers, who threatened the surrund-
ed policemen when reserves reached the
scene from the Clinton Street station.
Patrolman Defends Action
Detective Sergeant Michael Fiaschetti,
head of the Italian Squad, who was
working on another case in the vicinity,
also arrived on the scene. He ordered
Patrolman Prette to return to the sta
tion house at once before he was rec
ogfized or before he met with bodily
harm from the crowd, which was re-
luctantly dispersed.
The father, sister and brother-n-
law refused to leave the body, and
were finally permitted to accompany
IT to the police station. At the sta
tion Patrolman Prette asserted that he
had ordered Carriffe to throw up his
hands and that he did not fire until
he was certain, that the man had heard
the order and had refused to obey.