In 1910, at the conclusion of the construction of the Hegins Water Works at Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, a fight took place at the quarters of the Italian workers. One of them fired a gun and killed another. Several men fled and a manhunt ensued. It is not clear from the available newspaper articles what exactly happened at the work camp or who the various men were who were involved.
Nearly two weeks after the murder, a man whose name had not been mentioned in the early articles, Frank Gallo, was arrested in Reading, Berks County. The story of his capture included a citizen of Pottsville driving State police to Reading in his “machine” (apparently the Pottsville police didn’t have autos in 1910) and then, in the middle of the night, raiding “seven or eight houses, the quarters of Italians,” before they found the guy they were looking for. He was taken back to Pottsville in handcuffs in the privately owned car.
The man who pulled the trigger, Guiseppi Trolesta, was identified in various articles as Frank Trolesta, Giuseppi Brumster, Guiseppi Brumesto, Guiseppi Brumestro, and Giusseppi Pronisto. The Lykens Standard, in addition to making an attempt at identifying who did what, and apparently having trouble with the Italian names, referred to the murderer as “No. 27”
The victim was identified as Pietri Felle (the name on the death certificate), Pedro Felle, Peter Falle, and even Angelo Druminto (the way the name went out over the wire services) and Dominick Matcia. The Lykens Standard referred to him as “No. 25.”
A coroner’s inquest determined the cause of death was “Pistol Shot – Murder,” not, as one of the sensational news articles stated – the shot didn’t kill him so the men jumped on him and stabbed him multiple times until he died, to keep the injured man from furnishing any information. A Pottsville newspaper referred to his death as “one of the most brutal in the history of the county.” A knife was mentioned in several articles, but most articles refer to the gun as the weapon.
It doesn’t appear that anyone was ever caught and tried for the crime. Frank Gallo was tried and found guilty of “carrying weapons” according to a brief article that appeared in a Pottsville newspaper in early 1911.
Attempts to locate the killer in news articles using any of the spellings and variations of the names given have resulted in nothing.
Note: Palo Alto is a borough in Schuylkill County, south of Pottsville. Landingville, was incorrectly given as the location of the murder. Landingville is a borough in Schuylkill County, also south of Pottsville, and a distance from Valley View where the murder actually place.
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From the Pottsville Republican, October 31, 1910:
PEDRO FELLE WAS SLAIN IN QUARREL
Quarreling over the possession of a revolver on Saturday night in one of the laborer’s shanties at Valley View, an Italian named Pedro Felle, of Palo Alto, was shot through the heart and death ensued a few moments later. His slayer, who is Guisesippi Brumesto, made his escape immediately after the crime was committed. A detail of State Police consisting of six men, headed by sergeant Cady, were sent out from the local barracks to Valley View to search the country with the purpose of running down the fugitive.
Brumesto and his victim were employed at the work of digging the trenches and laying the water mains for the Hegins Water Company, that constructed a water plant to supply Hegins and Valley View with water. The work was completed on Saturday and the workmen were paid off that afternoon.
The two men engaged in a quarrel later in the shanty in which they were sheltered and, it is alleged, that Brumesto deliberately pointed the weapon at his victim, fired it, and the ball ploughed its way through his heart, and he was dead in a few moments.
Felle is a native of Rome. He was 26 years of age and was unmarried. He, it is said, bears a good reputation.
The fugitive is about five feet and eight or ten inches in height. He had a reddish brown mustache, and wore a blue serge coat and weighed about 160 pounds. He had no vest at the time of his escape. He was about twenty-five years of age.
This is the fifth murder in this county within a short period that has not been avenged. Four defendants charged with charged with homicide may be called for trial at the sessions of the court of oyer and terminer to sit during the two weeks commencing November the fourteenth.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, October 31, 1910:
KILLED IN FIGHT OVER REVOLVER
Special to The Telegraph
Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, October 31 [1910] — In a quarrel over the ownership of a revolver, Pietro Felle was shot and instantly killed by Guiseppi Trolesta at Valley View, fourteen miles east of this place last night.
Both men have been at work for some time on the water plant at Valley View and were locking up last evening preparatory to leaving when Trolesta missed his revolver and accused Felle of taking it. Felle denied having the revolver and hot words ensued while a search was being made of the Italian’s cabin. Finally Trolesta found his weapon and turning on Felle, shot him, the ball entering his breast and piercing the heart causing instant death. Trolesta fled into the nearby woods and has not been captured.
Following the shooting a posse of citizens and fellow workmen started a search for the murderer and word was sent to the State Police at Pottsville.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, October 31, 1910:
ONE ITALIAN SHOOTS ANOTHER
Elizabethville, October 31 [1910] — Pietro Felle was shot and killed on Saturday night at Valley View by Guiseppi Trolesta, a fellow countryman. The shooting was the result of a quarrel over the possession of a revolver, which Trolesta accused Felle of taking. The men had been working for some time on the water plant at Valley View and were packing up Saturday evening preparatory to leaving, when Trolesta missed his revolver and accused Felle of taking it. Felle denied having the revolver and hot words ensued while a search was being made of the Italians’ cabin. Finally Trolesta found his weapon and, turning on Felle, shot him, the ball entering his breast and piercing the heart, causing instant death. Trolesta fled into the nearby woods and has not been captured.
Following the shooting, a posse of citizens and fellow workingmen of Felle started a search for the murderer and word was sent to the State Police at Pottsville. Yesterday morning a detachment of the police arrived and are now scouring the country for the missing man. On the trip across the valley the police saw a man supposed to be Trolesta near Good Springs Station, but he immediately took to the woods and escaped.
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From the Pittston Gazette, October 31, 1910:
FIGHT OVER GUN LEADS TO MURDER
Pottsville, October 31 [1910] — Quarreling over the possession of a revolver, Guiseppe Brumster shot Angelo Druminto through the heart and death ensued a few minutes later. The men were part of a gang of employees engaged in laying a water main for the Hegins Water Company at Valley View, near here.
Yesterday Brumster and Druminto engaged in a quarrel when the former got hold of the weapon, it is alleged, and deliberately fired a shot through his victim’s heart. He then escaped.
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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, October 31, 1910:
FATAL SHOOTING ENDS QUARREL OVER PISTOL
Water Company Employee dead With Bullet in Heart — Alleged Assailant Escaped
POTTSVILLE, Pennsylvania, October 30 [1910] –Quarreling over the possession of a revolver, Guiseppe Brumster shot Angelo Druminto through the heart and death ensued a few minutes later. The men were part of a gang of employees engaged in laying a water main for the Hegins Water Company at Valley View, near here.
The men were part of a gang of employees engaged in having a water main for the Hegins Water Company at Valley View, near here. Today Brumster and Druminto engaged in a quarrel, when the former got hold of the weapon, it is alleged, and deliberately fired a shot through his victim’s body.
A detail of State police were summoned and left for the scene of the murder, but thus far have not succeeded in apprehending Brumster.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, November 1, 1910:
HEGINS MURDER A BRUTAL ONE
According to the testimony taken at the inquest into the murder which occurred at Valley View yesterday, the murder of Petro Falle was one of the most brutal in the history of the county. Guisseppi Pronisto, the slayer, had an altercation with Dominick Matcia over the ownership of a revolver, the former claiming that the latter had stolen his weapon, and demanded $20 for the same. At this point, Petro Falle, the dead man, butted in, and said that Matcia had not stolen the gun. Pronisto then claimed $20 from Falle, and while the latter was protesting that he was not the guilty party, Pronisto grabbed a revolver and shot him through the heart, while within three feet of him. The State Police are still looking for Pronisto and also for a man named Frank Gallo who gave him the revolver he had and who is wanted as an accessory.
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From the Lykens Standard, November 4, 1910:
MURDER AT VALLEY VIEW
Guiseppa Trolesta, one of the Italians employed on the water plant at Valley View, last Saturday shot and instantly killed Pietro Felle, whom he accused of stealing his revolver. The men were packing up preparatory to leaving when Triolesta missed his revolver, and hot words ensued while a search was being made of the Italian’s cabin. Finally Trolesta, whose number was 27, was handed his revolver by Italian No. 13, and turning on Felle (No. 25), shot him in the breast, the bullet piercing his heart. Trolesta fled into the nearby woods, and although a detachment of State constabulary was immediately put on the cases they have thus far failed to find him. Felle’s body was sent to friends at Pottsville, where it was buried. The work on the water plant was finished last week and the 40 Italians employed left on Saturday.
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From the West Schuylkill Herald, November 4, 1910:
MURDER AT VALLEY VIEW
Quarreling over the possession of a revolver on Saturday night, in one of the laborer’s shanties at Valley View, an Italian named Peter Felle of Palo Alto was shot through the heart and death ensued a few minutes later. His slayer, who is Guiseppi Brumestro, made his escape immediately after the crime was committed. A detail of State Police consisting of six men, headed by Sergeant Cady, were sent out from the Pottsville barracks to Valley View to search the country with the purpose of running down the fugitive.
Brumestro and his victim were employed at the work of digging the trenches and laying the water mains for the Hegins Water Company, that constructed a water plant to supply Hegins and Valley View with water. The work was completed on Saturday and the workmen were paid off that afternoon.
The two men engaged in a quarrel in the shanty in which they were sheltered and, it is alleged, that Brumestro deliberately pointed the weapon at his victim, fired it and the ball ploughed its way through the heart, and he was dead in a few moments.
Felle was 26 years of age and was unmarried. He, it is said, bears a good reputation.
The fugitive is about five feet and eight or ten inches in height, He had a reddish brown mustache and wore a blue serge coat and weighed about 160 pounds. He had no vest at the time of his escape. He was about 25 years of age.
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From the Pottsville Republican, November 10, 1910:
MURDER SUSPECT IS CAUGHT
This morning at 3 o’clock, Frank Gallo, one of the men wanted in connection with the murder of Pedro Falle, at Valley View, on the night of October 30, last, was captured at Reading. Late last evening information was given Capt. Adams that Gallo was seen in one of the Italian settlements in the Berks capital. Immediately preparations were made to go to Reading and apprehend the suspect. Samuel Daddow, of the firm Youse and Daddow, volunteered the use of his machine. Four troopers were taken aboard and with Mr. Daddow at the wheel, the party left the barracks shortly after midnight. The trip to Reading was made without accident. On the arrival of the troopers, the party who furnished the information, was hunted up and together they surrounded the house wherein the suspect was supposed to be. While three of the troopers stood guard, two entered the house and started a search. In a small room on the fourth floor of the house they came across Gallo lying on a cot. He was informed that he was under arrest and seeing the odds were against him, submitted peacefully. He was handcuffed and placed in the automobile and brought to Pottsville, the party arriving shortly before six o’clock this morning.
Capt. Adams that that thus far his prisoner has had little to say. He acknowledges however that is name is Gallo and that he was formerly working on the water works at Valley View. It has also been learned that following the murder, Gallo took to the mountains and spent the night in hiding. The following day he walked to Reading. The account of the murder will be recalled by a large number of the readers of the Republican. Falle and Gallo and another party had words. Finally one of the party pulled a revolver and fired point blank at Falle. The shot did not prove fatal and in order to keep the injured man from furnishing any information the murderers completed their work by stabbing their victim to death.
Valley View is situated about five miles from Tremont and the place where the men were quartered is on a lonely spot on the mountain. From the time that the news was brought into Tremont and the arrival of the officers at the scene of the crime, several hours had passed by, or more than sufficient time for the murderers to make good their escape.
Most likely, Capt. Adams will arrange his prisoner before one of the local justices this evening. It is understood that sufficient evidence is possessed by the State troopers to hold their man without bail. in the meantime, the troopers are will on the trail of Guiseppe Bruesto and his arrest is likely at any time.
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From the Allentown Democrat, November 11, 1910:
MURDERER ARRESTED
Charged with murder, Frank Gallo, an Italian, aged 30 years, was arrested at Reading yesterday morning. He is wanted for the murder of Peter Felle, aged 28, shot at Landingville, Schuylkill County, about two weeks ago during a fight about a penknife.
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From the Reading Times, November 11, 1910:
ALLEGED MURDERER CAUGHT IN READING
Arrest Is Made by State Police, Aided by Local Officers, in House of Italians on Nicolls Street
After going through seven or eight houses on Nicolls Street, the quarters of Italians, sergeant Edward T. Hallissey, of Troop C, State Police, aided by a squad of men of the same troop, who came to Reading in an automobile at midnight, and with Detective Miller and Sergeants Tailey and Morris, of the local police force, arrested Frank Gallo, who is alleged to have shot to death Peter Tele, a countryman, during a quarrel at Landingville, Schuylkill County, two weeks ago. The arrest was made about 5 o’clock yesterday morning, and Gallo was picked out among a group of 20 Italians who were asleep in the house.
After the murder Gallo escaped and the case was reported to the State Police. Sergeant Hallisssey was detailed on it and he traced the alleged murderer successively to Minersville, Pottsville, Hamburg, Millmont and Reading. A decoy letter helped the officers in locating the suspect.
After the arrest the prisoner was taken to police station and later Sergeant Hallissey took him to Pottsville where he was committed to jail.
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From the Pottsville Republican & Herald, November 11, 1910:
MURDERER OF PIETRO FALLE CAPTURED AT READING
At three o’clock yesterday morning Frank Gallo was taken into custody at Reading, by four members of Troop C, of the State Police. He was handcuffed and is held for the murder of Pietro Falle, on Sunday, October 30, at Valley View.
Samuel Daddow, of Pottsville, took the officers to Reading in an automobile and directed them in their work. They left Pottsville at midnight and returned with their prisoner at six o’clock next morning.
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From the Pottsville Republican, November 12, 1910:
GALLO COMMITTED TO PRISON
Yesterday, Frank Gallo, arrested by the State Police in connection with the murder of Pedro Falle, at Valley View, was given a hearing before Squire Martin, and committed to the county jail for a further hearing, sometime this week. Besides admitting his identity, Gallo also admitted that the revolver that was used in firing the fatal shot belonged to him.
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From the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, November 12, 1910:
Capt. Adams and a detail of Troop C, of the State constabulary, of Pottsville, arrested Frank Gallo as a murder suspect, and he was lodged in prison to await a hearing. He is charged with killing Peter Falle, at Valley View. The murder followed an altercation in which half a dozen men participated. Gallo fled after the murder to Pottsville, and then to Berks County, where State troopers who pursued him in an automobile made the arrest.
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From the Pottsville Republican, January 5, 1911:
FRANK GALLO GUILTY
The jury returned a verdict this afternoon in the case in which Frank Gallo, formerly of Palo Alto, was charged with carrying weapons by Sergeant Cady, of the State Constabulary. A motion was filed for new trial.
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Additional Item:
A copy of the official Pennsylvania Death Certificate for Pietro Felle, who died at Hegins Township on October 29, 1910. The document was signed two days later by the coroner who indicated that the cause of death was “Pistol Shot – Murder.” Note that his marital status is given as “married,” while the news articles indicate he was “single.” The body was removed to Pottsville to be buried, location not stated. Note that at one time a news clipping was pasted to the top of the certificate. The story that best matches the headline shown is from the West Schuylkill Herald, November 4, 1910.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Pennsylvania Death Certificate from Ancestry.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.