The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-11-29
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Clue of the Brass Check


enterprlslng contractor. Abraham
Sagalowitz, determined to build row
OF two-story houses at Hegemann ave
nue. and Powell street. In New York.
The work of excavation proceeded
expedtiously. but the workmen had
Lot gone very far when they dlseov-
cred q skeleton.
A few minutes later q second skele-
Ton was brought to the surface.
1.-THE authorities were notified and
the remains were taken to the bureau
of unidentified dead OF the New York
police department.
Life Is supposed to be held cheap
In the metropolis. and 1t would have
been quite easy to have dismissed this
gruesome find as an unsolyed mys
terry.
Eut the police did not take that
view of the matter.
They felt that a crime had been
committed and they went about the
solutioL with all of the ardor Of de-
tectives of fiction. but with great
deal more common sense
BY means of brass check that was
found OIL the first skeleton the re-
mains we're Identified as those of Ros-
sario Passerelle. lahorer. who had
been we'll known In the Italian colony
In East New York.
The second skeleton was not so read
lily plnced.
But 1t was discovered that Passe.
relle had friend named Dominic La
Rosa, and that they were inseparable
companions.
Also 1t came TO light that Passe-
rele and La Rosa had strangely dis.
appeared at the same time.
Incidentally. II was suggested that
the two men had been In bad odor
with some of the wretched secret So
cIetIes which had imported their bad
habits from Italy.
In a word 1t was felt that the two
dead men had been the victims Of
the dreaded Black Hand
But before going after the murder.
ers 1t was necessary tn make sure that
the second skeleton was that OF La
Rosa.
In order to demonstrate TINT the
detectives OF New York city performed
most remarkable piece Of work.
. They reconstructed the remains OF
the dead man.
Around the skeleton was built
: face, some hair, and by the use of cos
metics these were made to appear
natural.
J Two gold teeth that had been found
J In the ht. and which undoubtedly be-
| longed to the deceased. we're nlared
In such way as To attract Immediate
attention.
Ills old felt hat was perched on his
head
: coffee can. covered with newspa-
pars. served as neck. aid around
! this false form was draped the ragged
: cont Of the man.
It was a CHASTITY reproduction Of
what had once been human being.
/ photographs Of this exhibit were
3 taken and shown To those who had
; known La Rosa In life.
d The detectives presently located n
! blacksmith who lived near the LOT
D whore the skeletons Ind hcen found.
8 He said TINT 1t bore striking like.
o ness tn II man whom he Ind seeI, very
b often In that locality.
i.hIe all of this wns going on the
i police department Ind been husly en-.
o gaged In rounding M suspects
\ On fixed day II was resolved to
~ mike A test by having the friends nf
n La Rosa. and those suspected OF the
d murder. file past the reconstructed
i body.
q 1t was a gruesome scene. these sons
!" and daughters Of sunny Italy march
y Ing In that procession.
I. One, rwn. three, five and ten. they
9 filed by without any sign OF emotion
!. beyond natural repugnance over
looking at such an abnormal corpse.
II Presently a woman In the line wav
y cred.
n She was young, with AN olive com
d plexion. with great long black ear
a rings. large gilt hreastpln and dressed
n In bright red and yellow. /.
1t Her face paled and she uttered I
Is scream:
IL "Santa Maria. II rs the ghost o.
IL Dominic La Rosa !"
/ Almost at the same moment sh'
e turned on one OF the suspects In tn,
line and cried out In wailing voice
= lyon devil! Why did yoli XIII him.?
m He was taken into custody. was thl
I Giovanni Romano. and before night
N fall another Italian, Victor Picciotto
N living near the scene Of the murder
10 was also arrested. 1v
lr Roth. CHARGED with homicide, wer
held To await the action OF the gran,
IN Jury.
to Lest II be forgotten. attention shoul'
. he called to the fact that the Idea AM
OF the work of reconstructing the bod
tn was due to Lieut.. Graft Williams. o
vi fhe New York police, and pr Pecchin
"a of tne CITY ta~ttrr laboratory.