Two Sicilians Killed and Four Injured
Scow Town, that section of the Crockett Waterfront lying directly east of the old Eppinger warehouse, the inhabitants of which number mostly Sicilians was the
scene of a cutting and shooting affray last Saturday night about 9:30 o’clock that resulted in the death of two persons and the wounding of four others. All the parties concerned in the affair are related and the exact cause leading to the trouble is hard to ascertain because of the conflicting stories told. The truth will probably not be known until the matter is sifted out in court. Out of the varied accounts the writer has secured the following story which shows that a misunderstanding, added by a family feud, resulted in the death of Joe Billici and his niece, Rosa Billici, by shooting, while Steve Billici and Mrs. C. Enea were wounded by shots and Mrs. Steve Billici and Mrs. L. Bruno injured by cutting.
Harmony has not prevailed in Scow Town for many months especially between the family of Joe Billici and the families of L. Bruno and Steve Billici. Two month ago last Saturday night, or to be more explicit on June 25, Joe Billici created a disturbance at the home of Bruno and his brother Steve for which he was arrested on the following Monday and fined $30. This instance is cited to show the unfriendly feelings existing
between the families.
Last Saturday night Joe Billici, accompanied by a man named Enea, came uptown to make some purchases and entered the Toscano saloon to secure a drink. Shortly after entering another crowd, said to have been friends of Steve Billici, came in and wanted to drink at Joe’s expense but he refused because of a lack of money. Some words were passed and trouble ensued between some of the party that resulted in their being ejected from the building. Constable Fox appeared on the scene at this juncture and put a stop to further trouble, the crowd dispersing. Some of them were from Scow Town and they happened to return home ahead of Joe. The latter’s wife inquired after him and was told that he was coming. She was also informed of the saloon quarrel. When he did appear he was scratched about the face and his wife thought he had been fighting with his old enemies. Under this belief she hastened to the home of Steve Billici and smashed a front window. This brought Mrs. Steve Billici to the door, also Mrs. Bruno her mother. Joe’s wife accused Steve’s folks of beating
her husband and wrangling ensued. In the midst of this quarrel Joe appeared
armed with a razor with which he slashed his brother’s wife about the head and
face and also made two long gashes, extending almost from ear to ear, about the
throat of Mrs. Bruno. The screams of the women brought Steve to the door and he
received a gash on the forehead. Steve retreated into the house and secured his
revolver, his brother Joe returning home. As Steve came out with his weapon
another brother, Frank, who was attracted by the disturbance, grappled with him
to secure the revolver. In the struggle the weapon was discharged, the bullet
barely breaking the skin on the left arm of Frank but striking his 9 year old
daughter Rosa, standing off several feet, in the right eye. The child lived
about three hours.
From this point the rest of the evening’s affair is muddled. Steve claims that after the revolver was discharged that Salvador Billici, eldest son of Frank Billici, shot him in the right wrist while he and Frank were struggling over the weapon. Then Frank secured the weapon and he and his son disappeared.
In the meantime, it is claimed, Joe rushed home and secured his rifle and was returning to the scene when Steve emerged from the house with a rifle and opened fire. One bullet passed through the corner of a storeroom and struck Mrs. C. Enea in the right breast. As the force of the bullet had been spent it made merely a slight flesh wound. The second bullet from Steve’s rifle pierced Joe’s head,. entering at the left eye and emerging at the back of the head, making a gaping wound. Death was instantaneous.
Constable J. J. Fox, followed by J. J. Lewis and Oscar Prytz, hastened
to the scene after the first shot was fired. In the darkness they were unable to
distinguish just where the trouble was. All was quiet then in Scow Town, so
Constable Fox hastened to the Lucido house on the bluff side where a commotion
was going on. When he reached there the first person he encountered was Mrs.
Steve Billeci, who had fled from her home and from whose head and face blood was
streaming profusely. While this woman was trying to explain to him the trouble
two more shots were fired from below and Constable Fox rushing toward the place
found Steve with his smoking rifle. Throwing his revolver on Steve, Constable
Fox disarmed him. In the meantime Lewis discovered the dead body of Joe. Pacing
Steve, who was weak from loss of blood, inside the house, Constable Fox passed
the rifle to Lewis and arrested Frank Lucido on suspicion for witness purposes.
Shortly after Lucido had been taken into custody, Constable Fox arrested
Salvator Billeci on suspicion that he had taken part in the shooting. Lucido and
Salvator were placed in jail.
Later Frank Billeci was also arrested and turned over to Deputy Sheriff Veale and Constable Palmer of Martinez who conveyed their prisoner by launch to the county jail. Lucido and Salvator were taken to Martinez the following day and placed in the county jail. Lucido was afterwards released, evidence showing that he had nothing whatever to do with the affair. Young Salvator and his father were brought down from Martinez Wednesday and taken before Justice of the Peace O'Neill, who released the father on $500 bail, as it was shown that he had acted in the role of peacemaker. Salvator’s bail was placed at $5,000, which friends raised for him
Wednesday.
Doctor G. W. Sweetser and A. W. Rickey and Druggist A. A. Paul were summoned to attend the injured, who were placed in the Bruno home. The sight presented the medical men on entering the place was one they will not soon forget. The house represented a shambles more than a dwelling place.
INJURED TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Steve Bellici and Mrs. Bruno, the ones suffering the most injury, were taken to the county hospital at Martinez Sunday morning. While at first their cases were considered dangerous, under skillful treatment they have made good progress toward recovery.
Steve is suffering from the effects of two wounds, one in the right wrist which he claims his nephew Salvator inflicted with a revolver and the other from a bullet wound in the right breast. Then again it may be that another bullet was fired aside from the one laid at Salvator’s door.
Mrs. Bruno’s close call from death was miraculous. Had the razor blade
sank a fraction deeper, arteries and windpipe would have been severed. The cuts
made exposed the throbbing arteries and windpipe.
CHARGED WITH
MURDER
As soon as Steve Billeci, now in the county hospital, recovers from his wounds he will be taken into court to face a charge of murdering his brother and his niece. As he admits killing Joe and it is known that the shot he fired with his revolver killed Rosa, his niece, he stands a small chance of going free.
SALVATOR CONFESSES
It is said that Salvator Billici admitted in the sheriff’s office Tuesday that he shot
his Uncle Steve after the latter had killed his sister while Steve and the girl’s father, Frank, were struggling over possession of the weapon. It is reported that he did the shooting with a revolver throwing the weapon into the bay after the firing.
FUNERAL SERVICES OF THE DEAD
The funeral services of Joe Billeci and his little niece Rosa were held Tuesday at Martinez under the direction of Undertaker J. J. Hauser. The services were largely attended, two processions forming that stretched several blocks. Services were held at St. Catherine church and interment made at St. Catherine cemetery.
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