.received with perfect apathy.
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.4 n Entertaining and I nstraoti’ve Home J carnal, Especially Devoted to Local News and Interests.
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'[$1.00 a Year 7
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VOL. Xcvn.—-No 49
NORWALK CONN.. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 3. 1891—12
PAGES.
PRICE Two CENTS
iunn PAYS THE PENALTY.
o
EXEBIITEII IT~ WETIIERSFIELII FOR THE IIIRIIEB 0F
IIIS WIFE Ill EIST NORWILK.
DEAD 9 MINUTES‘AFTEB TRAP WAS SPRilllG"
IMPASSINO, HIS ACCOMPLICE, WILL BE PLACED IN
THE DEATH CHAMBER TO-MORROW AND
THE DEATH WATCH SET.
(SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE.)
g ear, and raising his hand, the deputy
Connecticut State Prison, Wethers- i pressed the lever and the may sprung
_field, Dec. 3.—At 12:26 a. m., this morn-
ing Guiseppe Fuda met ,the fate al-
lotted to him by law for the murder of
his wife, Maria Carmelia. Fuda, com-
mitted at. East N orwalk on February
17th last. A murder so revolting in
its inception and execution that the
punishment seems a luxury.
The death penalty was hanging, and
Fuda is the fourth criminal who has
met this fate at Wethersfield since the
new automatic apparatus was devised.
Promptly at midnight Wardeh Wood—
bridge accompanied by the guard and
prison directors, marched to Fuda’s
cell and read the death warrant, which
Fuda who has no knowledge of English,
Ac-
companying the Warden were Fathers
Lynch and Flannery, the latter a young
priest of scholarly mien, interpreting
the necessary orders to the condemned
man. M
The officials then proceeded to the
death chamber, where they were join-
ed by the nine newspaper representa-
tives present. ~
The apparatus is very simple, con-
sisting of the noose of i} inch hempen
into the air, and hanging suspended
for two seconds, fell again with a jerk.
The prison surgeon, Dr. E. S. Fox,
grasped his pulse and watched with
practiced eye the few spasmodic twit-
ches of the body ere the spark of life
was extinguished.
After waiting nine minutes the heart
beats became imperceptable and life
was pronounced extinct. The body was
then lowered and the noose released,
the examination showing that the first
and second bones of the spine were
fractured and the spinal cord severed.
‘ A small quantity of blood oozed from
the mouth from a slight abrasion of
the tongue, but otherwise the face
looked natural and there was nothing
to indicate the violence of his death
except the unnatural rotation of the
head when handled. “ ' -3 .
The body was placed in the hands of
the undertaker who will bury it to-
morrow unless the friends of Fuda
claim it.
Fuda was born in Martone, province
of Reggio, Calabria, Italy, and came to
this country three ago last
March. He sent for his wife - he' fol-
years
B‘V ‘ \ A\“ \‘
SNQ‘hkmsd .. ‘
v.
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x4
f “,1
MARIA CARMELIA FUDA.
rope which runs along an arm above to
an adjacent room and is attached to a
weight 'of 300 pounds.
The mechanism is so arranged that
as a button on.the floor is pressed by
the :foot of the officer, a lever releases
the cylinder of shot which runs out and
releasing a catch, allows the weight to
fall, jerking the body into the air and
fracturing the vertebrae of the neck.
At 12:25 Fuda was led in by Warden
Woodbridge dressed in a plain suit of
.black and followed by the devoted
priests, Fathers Lynch and Flannel-y,
who stimulated the victim with prayers
all during the awful suspense.
"The Warden carefully placed the
black cap over Fuda’s face and adjust-
ed the noose, the knot under the left
5
Q
lowing November. He had been mar-
ried five years when he perpetrated the
murder.
FUDA’S COMPANION IN CRIME.
The companion of Fuda in his crime,
Nicademo Impossino, will be placed to.
morrow in the death chamber lately
vacated by Fuda and the death watch
placed upon him. He will try to have
.his case brought before the Board of
Pardons in the hope of having his sen-
tence commuted but will receive no
consideration, his connection with the
crime as proven by Fuda’s confession
only making his sentence more absolute.
His execution is set down for Decem-
ber 17, and the bravado be manifested
during the trial will stand him in little
aid as he faces the noose , he so richly
deserves, and surrounded by the grim
unsympathetic faces of the guards
whom the semi-darkness of the execu-
tion chamber, lighted dimly by a few
_“fiickering gas jets, must transform intb
so many avenging demons in the dis-
torted workings of his brutal brain.
The Hartford newspapers were rep-
resented by A. W. Green of the Cour-
ant, E. C. Allen of the Telegram, Jo-
seph Mullin of the Times and T. J.
Kelly of the Post. ,
The law permits only five reporters
to be present from Fairfield caunty, in
‘which the crime was committed, and
Warden Woodbridge selected the fel-
lowing: A. B. Underw00d of the
Bridgeport Farmer, A. E. Lavery of
the Bridgeport Standard, L. H. Wilson
of .the Bridgeport Union, E. F. Hallen
of the Bridgeport Post and Dr. J. T.
Kennedy for the N ORWALK GAZETI‘E'.
Sheriff Hawley of Fairfield county was
also present.
THE STORY OF FUDA’S CRIME.
Guiseppe Fuda went to the gallows
for the horrible butchery of his wife
at East Norwalk, the night of February
17, 1897. By his own confession he and
N icodemo Impossino, who is sentenced
to be hanged Dec. 17, 1897, planned,
plotted, and carried out the brutal
murder of Maria Carmelia Fuda.
The night of February 17, Engineer
M.P. Gates of a freight passing through
East Norwalk shortly before 11 o’clock,
saw the body of a. woman lying on the
east bound track. He thought she had
been killed by a train and stopped to
investigate. The crew of the freight
saw that the body bore marks of vio-
lence, the head being terribly gashed
as if an axe had been used. About the
scene were footprints and other indica-
tions that a violent struggle had taken
place. The woman’s head was covered
3with1‘wounds, any one of which was suf-
ficient to cause death.
When the body was first discovered
there was nothing found by which the
woman could be identified. She was
plainly, even coarsely dressed and in
the pocket of her dress 2 was 'foiind a
dance program. She was soon fidenti-
circumstances led to a search for her
1, husband and for Nicodemo Impossino.
5 Fuda was arrested in New York and
5 Impossino in Buffalo. The. detective
i work which located them was of the
9 best and reflected much credit upon
Chief William Vollmer of the South
Norwalk police.
It was learned that Fuda had told
that his wife had suddenly left home,
taking with her a sum of money that
belonged to him and since that time he
had not seen her. The statements that
he had made caused a strong suspicion
of murder to fall on him' and clue after
clue was followed which ‘left no doubt
that he committed the crime. Evidence
was discovered that Fuda, Impossino
and Mrs. Fuda were seen in the Stam-
ord depot early in the evening of Feb-
ruary 17 and from there they took a
train bound east. This disproved
Fuda’s story that his wife had fled and
later he suddenly left tow“, the convic-
tion became general that he knew of
the manner in which his wife 'met her
death and in fact, he was the murderer.
Impossino had also disappeared and he,
too, was believed to have had a hand
in the crime. That the suspicions were
well founded were shown at the trial.
The evidence was so overwhelming
and convincing that it left no reason-
able doubt in the minds of the jurymen,
in either case. Attorneys assigned to.
defend the accused men. exhaus ed
every legal means at their comman? to
save them, but without avail. ,Fuda
declared that he held his wife, while
Impossino killed her with the hatchet.
Impossino denied this stoi-y and said
scene of the murder while Fuda did
the horrible deed and that after it was
done Fuda threatened to murder. him
if he showed any sign of weakening.
The trial of Fuda took place last
June before Judge Ralph Wheeler in
the superior court. Fuda finally ad-.
mitted the min-der, and told tbe‘fstory
fied as Mrs. Fuda, however, V andr'the .
who took but a short time to deliberate-
that he waited on a bridge near the‘
in full, but implicated Impossino as the
man who struck the fatal blows. He
confessed that he held his wife while
Impossino wielded the hatchet. The
murder was the result of his jealousy
of her, Impossino having wrought him
11p to a rage with stories about her un-
faithfulness. The jury found him
guilty June 11, and he was sentenced
June 17 to die on the gallows.
Fuda’s stolidity was the marked feat-
ure of his conduct during his trial.
He is low-browed, swarthy and ignor-
ant. On the other hand, Impossino is
bright and intelligent, and the evi-
dence showed that it was he who con-
ceived the murder and plotted it.
Impossino’s conviction followed just
two weeks after Fuda’s, before the
same judge, and he was given exactly
two weeks longer to live. He is doomed
to be hanged December 17, 1897.
The last sensation regarding
murder was the confession of Fuda, a
few weeks ago. In this he said that he
did the deed while Impossino waited
on the bridge until he returned from
the scene of his bloody work. This con-
firmed Impossino’s story and while it
may absolve him from being the real
murderer it does not clear him from
the charge of being an accessory and
that he knew of Fuda’s intention to
murder his wife when the three left
Stamford together on the night of Feb-
ruary 17. To Impossino, Fuda made
known hisplans and Impossino made
On the contrary he
the
.no remonstrance.
consented to aid and induce the woman
to take the trip to East N orwalk where
her fiend of a husband brutally mur-
dered her. In one sense Impossino ap-
pears equally as guilty as Fuda, for
knowing that the trip was for the pur-
pose of murder, he took no steps to pre-
vent the crime, but aided and abetted
Fuda in its commission.
(His story, which is confirmed by
Fuda, that he Stood on the bridge
while the crime was committed, does
not remove from him responsibility for
the-murder. Had he been desirous of
preventing the crime he might have
done so by informing Mrs. Fuda that
the trip to East Norwalk was for the
:purpOse of murdering her. But he al-
lowed Mrs. Fuda to remain in ignor-
ance as to the object- of the trip and
thus showed that he\was at heart a
murderer even though he may not have
struck the fatal blow. He could have
prevented the murder by saying just “a
few words to Mrs. Fuda. He did not
do so. and therefore his actions show
that he was willing to aid the woman’s
husband in murdering her.
—Photographic supplies at Riggs
Drug store. 01-} tf
._..__——— ,, Md.-.»— — --~«————
Wanted . for Forgery.
Fred. Renkent, a young man who,
until last Saturday, was employed in 3.
Stamford sanitarium. is wanted by the
Stamford police for forgery. Renkent
was discharged from his situatiOn last
Saturday. - On Monday he secured a
check blank of the First National Bank
and filled it out, making it payable to
the order of Fred. Renkent, and forg-
ing his late employer’s name to it. The
same day he succeeded in getting John
Lauth, proprietor of the Germania ho-
tel, to cash the worthless check for him.
Renkent left town the following Tues-
day, and his present whereabouts are
unknown.
‘v'Ar
Attached.
Constable L. D. Keeler has placed an
attachment on property alleged to be-
long to Hubbard Blakesley to satisfy
.a judgment obtained by F. W. Perry
for $712, some ten years" since. The
‘amount claimed is for counsel fees due
the plaintiff.
Y. M. C. A.
The Young Men’s Christian Associa—
tion section will tender a reception to
the young men of the town next Mon-
day night in the new headquarters in
_ Dr.*-Bohannan’s building in Elizabeth
street, South Norwalk. An entertain-
ment will be provided by the commit~
tees.
_-——-- ,_<.-.>_.
Going West.
Lee Herron, the popular young clerk
resigned and will leave town nextweek
for Philadelphia and from there to Den-
ver and the Klondike. Lee’s many
friends will regret his departure and
will wish him success in whatever un-
dertaking he may engage. "
l
in Weed’s Mahackemo cigar store, has -
BRACKill__T_HE SAFE.
Burglars Pay An Early {Morn-
' ing Visit to the Westport
Post Office.
When Met by Constable Allen They Hold
that onicial Up at the Point of
, Their Revolvers.
miles from Norwalk, was the scene of a
daring burglary at 2 o’clock this morn-
ing, when the post office was entered
and stamps and money to the value 0f
$600 stolen.
At the above hour the family of
Charles LaCroix were aWakened by a
terrific explosion and the sound of
crashing glass coming from the rear of
the Westport post office.
Word was immediately dispatched
for Postmaster Samuel B; Wheeler and
Sheriff Kemper, but when they arrived
there were no signs of the burglars,
they having decamped towards Sauga-
tuck
oflice.
immediately after looting the
Postmaster Wheeler began an inves-
tigation and found all of the windows
in the rear of the ofiice broken out, and
the safe door some fifteen feet from the
safe where it had been blown by the
charge of dynamite used by the burg-
lars.
A further investigation into the in-
terior of the safe disclosed the fact that
some $300 worth of Uncle Sam’s postage
stamps were gone as was $300 of Post-
master Wheeler’s money.
Constable Allie Allen came to South
Norwalk at an early hour this morning
and reported the burglary.
Mr. Allen is employed as an officer
in Saugatuck a short distance from the
scene of the burglars’ operations.
_He said that shortly after 3 o’clock
he met four men on the main road in
Saugat-uck, and they being strangers to
him naturally questioned them with the
result that they told him to hold his
hands up, and to hold him to the re-
quest pointed loaded revolvers in his
face.
In connection with the above it may
not be out of place to mention that
'Chief Vollmer of South Norwalk had
noticed the visitation of strangers in
that city and had advised the officers
ofothe fact.
Yesterday afternoon, a young and
healthy looking fellow stopped a GA-
ZE'l‘TE reporter on Washington street,
with a tale of hunger which . he
thought could be cured by the contri-
bution of a nickel. The reporter was
about to comply with the request when
Chief Vollmer put in an appearance,
and the fellow taking the advice of the
reporter sneaked out of the way.
Allen was agreeable and did as re-
quested, and the men proceeded on
their way.
Soon after their departure the Con'
stable was advised of the robbery, and
he quickly blew his police whistle for
assistance, which was responded to by
his father and others, but too late to
intercept the robbers.
He then drove to South Norwalk and
securing the services of Officer Pen-
nington gave chase for the burglars,
and anticipates their apprehension.
From a description furnished the po-
lice by Constable Allen of the men who
“held him up” this poor hungry fellow
was one of the gang.
He claimed to hail from Providence
and had eaten but two doughnuts in
the same number of days.
Constable Allen describes the men as
a combination of tall and short, but is
unable to give a further description
than that two of them wore Derby hats,
one of them a cap, and the other a soft
hat.
This tallies with the four men who
Chief Vollmer and his oflicers had un-
der surveillance yesterday afternoOn.
‘A.‘
‘v'
~-Pi-of. M. S. Rosen, the well-known
oculist Optician, canbe consulted at his
office in the parlors of the Mahackemo
Hotel, South’ N orwalk, Tuesdays from
9 a. m. to 8 p. m. Eyes examined frrfae.
, 5-t
The little town of VVestport, three .
THE 9mm wuuu] LIKE 10' not
When Water street will be paved.
Who Will take the first sleigh ride to
Dorlon Point.
Whether Impossino will be pardoned.
The reason why John Buxton insists
upon remaining single.
The cause of Billy Bates resigning.
How Billy Blascer bought a $2,500
schooner for $150. 4
How some saloons do business with-
[out a license.
Why East avenue-residents are afraid
of a bearskined motorman. ‘
Who will present thnix Engine
company with a pool table.
Why Captain Gladstone cannot sing
tenor.
If Coroner Roach willprow any more. '
Why Commodore Cooney- cannot
prognosticate good sleighing.
VA; ‘
Lyceum Committees.
St. Josephs T. A.B. society have post
poned their social which was to have
taken place last night, till Tuesday
evening next. The following are the ,
newly appointed committees of the re-
organized Lyceum: '
Musical, C. A. Freeman. Mrs. C. A.
Freeman and John Steegmuller; dra-
matic, Miss Hannah Winters, Miss J en-
nie Reynolds and S. J. O’Brien; liter-
ature, George A. Honnecker, Dr. John
T. Kennedy and W. F. Tammany; ath-
letic, William McHugb and Joseph
Steegmuller; order, Joseph J. Brown,
David Bliss, Charles Lynch, Edward
Hines, Edward Hayes, Frank Shields,
Thomas McMahon. James Cole and
Fred Wehle.
-—‘0-0>h~>—
Boxing in Bridgeport.
In the boxing contest in Bridgeport
last night, the bouts between George
Munro and Billy Barrett and between
Frank Patterson and Jack O’Brien,
were declared draws. Casper Leon
was given the decision in his bout with
Lew Myers.
The Weather.
Snow or rain to-nighzzi’and Saturday.
‘ BIRTHS.
CALLAHAN.i——-In Norwalk, Nov. 29th,
ason to M'r. and Mrs. Florence Calla-
han.
SYRINGx—Aln South Norwalk, Nov.
29, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Syrin g,
of South Norwalk.
WYMAN.-—1n South Norwalk. Nov.
28, a son to Mr. and» Mrs. George 1*.
Wyman of South N orwalk.
MARRIAGES.
BRUNDAGE ~ CONKLIN. In South
Norwalk. Nov. 24, by Rev. Frederick
W. Norris, Ernest D. Brundage and
Miss Sadie Conklin both of East Nor-
walk.
FLEMMING~CUMMINGER —— In Stam-
ford, on Wednesday evening, Nov. 24,
in St. John’s R. C. church. by the Rev.
Father Lynch, James H. Flemming to
Miss Helen Cumminger.
TAYLOR—WARNER—‘In Danbury. De—
cember 1, Rev. E. Jay Teagarden, offi-
ciating, Henry M. Taylor and Miss Le-
ona M. Warner. both of anbury.
BARNUM~~In Brookfield district, Dan - '
bury, Dec. 1. Sarah F. Barnum, aged
52 years. '
BARNUM-In Bradford, Pa... Nov. 29..
Edwin Howard Barnum, formerly of
Danbury, aged 50 years.
BUCKLEY—In the Wildcat district,
Bethel, Nov. 28th, Thomas Buckley,
aged 37 years.
CARRIGAN.—-In, Bridgeport, Dec. lst,
James Carrigan, aged 32 years.
CARROLL—In Bridgeport, Nov. 29,
Miss Rose Carroll, aged 33 years.
CASWELL-—In Stratford, Conn.. Nov.
27, Harlow H. Caswell, aged 78 years.
DAVIS—In Bridgeport, Nov. 29, Miss
Sarah Davis, aged 68 yea‘rs.
DELUREY—ln Newtown.
John .Delurey.
DO0LAN.-—In Bridgepo’rt, Nov. 26th,
Margaret, daughter of Peter and Mary
Doolan, aged 21 years.
FEELEY—In Bridgeport, Nov. 28th,
Miss Annie Feeley, aged 32 years.
FABER. -— In .Norwalk, Nov. 27th.
Frederick Faber, aged about 70 years.
KELSEY.—In Denver, 001., Nov. 2lst,
Mabel Kelsey, daughter of Stuart P.
and Annie Kelsey, of Bridgeport, aged
17 years.
LORD.-In Stamford, Nov. 30, Mrs.
George Lord.
MORIARTY—In Bridgeport, Nov. 29,
James Moriarty. _
PATRICK—In Danbury, N 0v. 28, Mrs.
Mary Ann Patrick, widow of Gresham,
Nov. 29
"Patrick, aged 69 years.
REILLY.—In Bridgeport, Nov. 23th,
Elizabeth, Wife of Patrick Reilly.
SEERY—In Bridgeport, Nov. 29th,
Margaret. wife of William Seery. '
STOEHR—In Bridgeport, Nov., 29th, .
Emma, wife of Joseph Stoehr, aged 36
years, 3 months.
TRACEY.—In Stamford, Conn., Nov.-
-26_, J. L. Tracey. '
\
Norwalk Chronicler