Shot By His Old Rival

New York, 1895

Giaginto's Unrelenting Hate for the Man Who Won his Sweetheart.

With a bullet hole in the left breast of his overcoat and a battered leaden pellet in his pocket, Joseph Schiavello, of Astoria, appeared before Justice Duffy in the Long Island City police court on Friday and asked for a warrant for the arrest of Carnetto Giaginto. The hostile feeling between the two men, according to Schiavello, dates back eight years, when he married Giaginto's sweetheart in Italy and came to this country. Giaginto, who swore he would be revenged, followed them.

The two men met in New York, and Schiavello asserts that Giaginto attempted to shoot him, and spent six months in jail in consequence. The two men met again in Astoria Thursday night. Giaginto whipped out his pistol and blazed away at his rival. The bullet cut a hole through his coat, and glancing along one of his ribs, came out at the breast bone. The wound is not dangerous. Giaginto has escaped, but a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 12.

Man Gets Hour Off From His Work and Slays Rival for Love of Wife

1920

A growing coldness on the part of his wife roused the detective instinct in Achie C. Vance, watchman at a factory in a Chicago suburb. He decided another man was the explanation. Watching the back porch of his home thru a knothole in his barn of evenings when he was supposed to be at work, he found that Mrs. Vance regularly costumed herself in her best and went strolling. He shadowed her and saw that she generally met O. L. Vannier.

A few nights ago Vance laid off work for an hour and killed Vannier.

Tells of Shadowing.

He told the story in a cell at the Harvey jail. His wife occupies a cell close by.

"Saturday night I followed her as usual. As usual, I saw her meet Vannier. He is 30; I am 48.

"I had arranged with another watchman at the plant, Warren Dopkins, to sub more me until I had attended to my personal affairs.

"That night I hid behind trees and heard every word they said. I heard her say to him: 'Gee, I sure do love you.' And he told her the same. Then I went up and asked them what they meant.

Other Man Runs.

"Vannier started to run. You see, I had warned him to keep away from my wife. I drew my revolver and shot once in the air. I only intended to arrest him. I shot two more times. He dropped. I thought I was shooting in the air. But he had a bullet thru his body.

"Of course, I helped him all I could. I put him and my wife in a taxicab and took them to Dr. T. A. Noble. Then I reported back to my job and telephoned the police chief, James E. Tomlinson, he could get me when he wished."

Vannier died without regaining consciousness.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 2.

Note: The article as printed has Vance's name as "Achie," and we might hazard a guess that it could be Archie instead. I only saw one other article on this incident and that article used initials, "A. C. Vance." That other article says, "The shooting took place on the prairies near One Hundred and Fifty-fifth boulevard and Vine street at 12:20 in the morning." — Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, Aug. 2, 1920, p. 1, for that detail.

Wife Throws Acid on Mate's Face to Scar Him and Hold His Love

1920

NEW YORK, N. Y. — A frail little woman in her twenties sat in police headquarters and sobbed out a confession, say the police, that she had poured carbolic acid over her husband's face as he slept. She did this, she said, to disfigure him for life so she would not lose him to a "prettier woman."

When she learned that she had killed the man she would have saved for herself she fled, leaving her 8-year-old girl in a room adjoining the father's bedchamber. For weeks the woman was a fugitive from justice.

Mrs. Alexandra Sokolowsky, widow of Frank Sokolowsky, widely known organizer in the American Federation of Labor, who was murdered in New Haven on the morning of June 26, related this remarkable story.

Tries to Disguise Self.

She was arrested, wearing large tortoise shell rim spectacles to disguise herself and clad in a waist of flaming scarlet and a dark serge walking skirt.

Included in her alleged confession was a list of many dates on which the husband deserted her to seek the company of other women. It was the constant fear that she was losing her grip on the labor leader's love that led her to brood over her troubles and decide on a way to keep him to herself.

The woman's story follows:

"My husband was a big, handsome man. I killed him on June 26. He had been away since June 24 and I knew that he had been with another woman. He was so good-looking and such a great lover of women that I thought surely he would leave me.

Found Love Letter.

"He had come home a little after midnight and when I accused him of being out with another woman and told him that I had found a love letter in his pocket, he told me that I must leave him alone and that he was going out again.

"I often had been thinking of disfiguring him so that I could keep him. But I never had thought of killing him, for I could not have lived without him. When I got that last love letter that was addressed to him I was determined to do what I had planned.

"He fell into a doze and I took a pint bottle of carbolic acid and flung it on his face. I swear I didn't mean to kill him."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 2.

Sears Wife's Tempter With a Red-hot Iron

1920

Angry Husband Then Plies Whip to Victim's Wounds.

SEATTLE, Washington. — Branding with a red-hot iron, administering a horse whipping and driving him from the State, was chosen by Alvin Steigerwald, widely known Washougal dairyman, as punishment for Walter Groth, an employe, whom he accused of attempting to violate the sanctity of his home, according to a statement made by the former to county officials.

Steigerwald is said to have returned to his home and found his wife in tears, sobbing out Groth's name. Steigerwald claims to have taken his shotgun and hunted Groth. He changed his mind, he said, about killing Groth and determined to brand and horsewhip him and send him out of the State.

Attorney Yates, investigating the affair, stated Steigerwald told him he paid Groth's fare out of the State and that realizing that Groth's wife and 14-day-old baby would be entirely destitute, took them under his protection and provided for them until he found their relatives in Portland, Ore.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Aug. 7, 1920, p. 1.

Kills Wife, Shoots Self

1916

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — In a fit of jealous rage Ben Cowley shot and killed his wife, a widely known beauty, and then attempted to kill himself. He is in a hospital with a bullet wound in his head, and is not expected to live.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 3.

Atlanta Women Meet; Flash Their Pistols

1915

Summoned to Police Court, They Give Different Versions of the Exciting Occurrence

ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 16. — Uptown Atlanta had a shock from an encounter between Mrs. W. L. Bishop, formerly of New York, and Mrs. J. Walter Ware, both prominent socially, in which a pistol played a part.

The two women met in the center of the city in the morning. Both were in their automobiles, and when they saw each other, Mrs. Ware pulled a revolver and pointed it at Mrs. Bishop.

Speaking for his wife, Mr. Ware stated later that Mrs. Bishop was unreasonably jealous of his wife, had been following her and that he had given her a pistol to defend herself. Mrs. Bishop jumped out of her automobile and approached Mrs. Ware's automobile, he said, and his wife then drew her revolver. Mrs. Bishop declined to talk of the affair.

Mrs. Ware accompanied her husband to the courthouse the next morning and swore out a peace warrant against Mrs. Bishop. She explained to court officials that Mrs. Bishop was "jealous of her without the slightest cause," and that for this reason she feared the latter might harm her.

Why She Drew the Pistol

Mrs. Ware reiterated her statement that she drew her pistol in her automobile only after Mrs. Bishop had leaped from her auto and run toward the Ware car in a threatening manner.

"I feared she was armed, and simply wanted to protect myself," she said. Mrs. Bishop vigorously denied the charge of the Wares that she is jealous of Mrs. Ware.

"I'm not jealous of her, either reasonably or unreasonably — that's all bosh," she asserted.

"If Mrs. Ware and her husband wish to assume that attitude in this affair, they are privileged to do so, but they certainly are wrong about it. There's no jealousy in it at all."

Mrs. Bishop's Version

Mrs. Bishop declined to divulge the cause of the trouble from her point of view.

As to the pistol incident she completely reversed Mrs. Ware's version.

"I was unarmed and had no thought of trouble," she said. "I was driving along in my car peaceably when this woman, from her auto, saw me. Before I knew what she was about, she had drawn a pistol and pointed it at me. I never left my car until she had done this. Then I did get out and go to her car and rebuke her for her conduct, telling her I was unarmed. She did not draw her pistol on me at this time, but simply cried out, 'Oh, Mrs. Bishop, can't we settle this among ourselves?' I replied to her that I was going to have her arrested."

Rival Kidnaps A Bride

1920

Girl On Eve of Marriage Is Stolen By Man Whom She Had Rejected

CHICAGO, Feb. 25.—(Special.) Police of three cities were busy yesterday trying to locate pretty Iolanda Sabatini, aged seventeen, who was kidnapped Monday night, by a suitor she had spurned, and whisked away just on the verge of her marriage to another man, who was agreeable to both the girl and her parents.

Late last night the father of the girl received a telegram, apparently filed at Rockford, Ill., which said:

"I have kidnapped Iolanda. Do not worry."

This was signed by Joe Falco, who was a soldier at the Rockford encampment and the parents of the girl believe he is holding her prisoner there or at Beloit, Wis.

The girl was to marry Lawrence Menconi. While he was at the house Sunday night, Falco was discovered peering in the windows. Presumably he realized that his time was short, as the girl would soon become the bride of his hated rival and decided upon quick action. Iolanda started for a nearby grocery Monday evening and the police believe Falco and some confederates were in waiting with an automobile into which they threw her and drove across the country to Rockford.

—The Evening State Journal and Lincoln Daily News, Lincoln, Nebraska, February 25, 1920, page 7.

Wife Offers to Pay Alimony to Husband

1920—

Wife Offers to Pay Alimony to Husband

All She Asks Is Divorce and Custody of Children

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., May 20. – Mrs. Ida May Harp, of this city, established a precedent in local divorce courts when she filed suit against Arthur E. Harp, an insurance adjuster, and offered in her complaint to pay him $25 a month alimony.

Mrs. Harp charges that Harp has been cruel to her. They were married in Napa in 1905 and separated recently when, says Mrs. Harp, he told her he was sorry he married her and that he wished himself in the "hot place" instead.

Harp also is jealous, she says, and refused to let her attend church, saying if she did she might flirt with the minister. He also was jealous of tradesmen.

Mrs. Harp asks for a divorce and the custody of their two children.


Women Are Inferior, Avers One of Them

LONDON, England, May 20. – "Women do not excel in any art. I do not personally know of any woman qualified to be an associate of the Royal Academy of Arts. Women have never been good in any art."

That is the opinion of Lady Scott, the sculptress and widow of the explorer, in discussing the fact that it is more than 150 years since a woman became a member of the academy.

Asked why she thought women fail at art, Lady Scott said:

"I don't know. We are an inferior race, I suppose."

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 4.

Whole Family Arrested for Horsewhipping Youth

Richmond, Indiana, 1909
----------
LASHED BOY WITH BAD TONGUE.

Whole Family Arrested for Horsewhipping Youth.

Richmond, Ind., Sept. 6.—The entire family of William C. Bass will appear in the city court today to answer to charges of assault and battery on Arthur Englebert. The family includes Mr. and Mrs. Bass, Miss Isabelle Bass and Ellsworth Bass.

The charge of assault and battery grows out of a horsewhipping that Miss Bass administered to young Englebert when she says she learned that he was circulating stories detrimental to her.

The Bass and Englebert families reside close together and Englebert was caught in passing the Bass home and was lashed with a blackshake whip until he was scarcely able to walk.

It is said Englebert apologized before he was allowed to leave the Bass home. He meant to let the matter drop, but the affair became public and he then swore out warrants against the Bass family. At first he tried to obtain a revolver and revisit the Bass home for revenge, but he was dissuaded from this.

--Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 8, 1909, page 2.


DIES REJOICING IN CRIME

New York Woman Who Slew Faithless Lover Expires Happily.

New York, Sept. 6.—Still unrepentant for her act, Elizabeth Clara Becker, the young woman who on Saturday killed John A. Gunther, Jr., the garage proprietor, with whom she lived, and then shot herself, died today at a Brooklyn hospital. Her last words expressed satisfaction that Gunther was dead. The woman said she shot him because he was untrue to her.

--Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 8, 1909, page 2.



Chocolate quinine proved so toothsome to the five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Emley, of Huntington, that the little tot drank eight tablespoonsful of the medicine during the absence of her mother. The child will recover, but may be deaf as a result of the dose.

--Fort Wayne Weekly Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 8, 1909, page 2.

Daubs Jelly on Floor to Catch "Other Man"

1920
----------
Wife Denies Affinity Charge and Sues for Divorce.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., May 20. -- The sleuth with the jelly glass proved to be Edward McPhun, employed by a lumber company, whose wife, Sadie McPhun, filed suit for divorce.

So jealous was McPhun of his son-in-law, she declares, that at night after others had retired, he spread jelly on the floor between the bedrooms of the wife and the son-in-law in order to have imprints of their bare feet should they undertake during the night to visit each other.

Mrs. McPhun further alleges her husband would hide in closets for hours at a time and jump out at her when she chanced to open the closet door.

They were married in 1898 and separated ten days ago, she says. He accuses her of intimacy with the son-in-law and [she] alleges he searched the house for affinities with a searchlight, and recently broke two of her fingers in a quarrel. She asks for $65 a month alimony, the custody of their two minor children and all of the community property.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 1.