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Note: CHICAGO DAILy TRIBUNE, Monday, July 23, 1900, Page 1
DEFENDS CASH AND IS SHOT John A. Barsanti probably fatally wounded by a holdup man who escapes
Tries to rob a saloon Thug enters while proprietor is counting cash and a hard fight follows
Scene 383 Van Buren Street John A. Barsanti, proprietor of the El Dorado Saloon, 383 West Van Buren Street, was shot by a holdup man at his place of business at 1 o'clock this morning. Barsanti had refused to had over his money on the demand of the robber, and the shooting was done during a rought and tumble fight between the men. Barsanti was taken to the County Hospital, where it found that he had been wounded in the abdomen. The surgeons said he would probably die. His wife and son are at his bedside. Up to 3 o'clock the police at the West Lake Street Station, who were notified of the shooting after it occurred, had made no arrests.
ROBBER FINDS HIM COUNTING CHANGE Just before 1 o'clock Barsanti gave to his son practically all the money he had taken in during the day and evening. After the boy and gone with the roll, Barsanti began counting some some small change left in the cash register. As he was doing so a short, thick-set man entered the saloon through a side door. Before Barsanti was aware of his presence he had crept up close to the bar and pointed a revolver at his head.
When the instruder ordered the saloonkeeper to throw up his hands, Barsanti dropped to the floor. The robber stepped back a few paces and waited near the end of the bar for what he expected would be a revolver duel at short range. However, Barsanti's weapon was out of reach. He crawled around back of the bar to the end where the bandit stood.
GRAPPLES WITH THE THUG Arrived at the end, the proprietor swung himself around and made a rush for the robber. He reached the man before the latter could fire his revolver and clinched with him. The robber tore himself loose from Barsanti, jumped back a few steps, and fired at the saloonkeeper. Then he turned to flee. The bullet did not hit Barsanti. He rushed after the robber, as the man ran for the side door at which he had found entrance. He caught the fellow by the coattails before the door was reached, and was dragged out upon the sidewalk.
FIRES AND HITS BARSANTI Here the robber turned on the proprietor, and fired another shot. The bullet struch Barsanti in the abdomen, and he sank to the walk.
The robber's coattails slipped from the wounded man's hands, and the man fled down Center Avenue. People in the neighborhood who heard the first shot had rushed to the saloon. They pursued the robber. He reached Jackson Buulevard considerably ahead of the pursuers, where he turned and disappeared in an alley.
The Desplaines street and West Lake police were notified of the shooting, and soon Lieutenants O'Hara and Howard were on the scene with patrol wagons. Policemen were sent into the alley where the robber disappeared but they did not find him.
An ambulance was called, and Barsanti was taken the County Hospital.
MANY HEAR SHOTS FIRED The corner where the attempted robbery occurred, Center Avenue and Van Buren Street, is one of the most brilliantly lighted on the West Side, and at almost all hours of the day or night is frequented by pedestrians. In the saloon directly across the street from the El Dorado a number of men were drinking when the attempted robbery occurred. In front of the saloon was William McKee, 300 West Van Buren street, and he was the first to reach the wounded saloonkeeper after the shots were fired.
Barsanti lives at 396 West Van Buren street, near the saloon. His wife and son, Fred, to whom he had given the bulk of his money before the robber appeared ($80), were attracted by the shooting and joined in the chase after the robber.
In the struggle, and as the robber was making his way through the side door of the saloon, his coat was caught in the door, and he was detained by this for a few seconds. He soon released himself, however, and after shooting Barsanti ran.
It is believed that the robber had accomplices, as a few minutes before the attempted robbery three men were seen standing before the doorway of the saloon.
Barsanti is 50 years old, and has lived on the West Side for a number of years.
An hour before the attempted holdup of the saloon occurred O. E. Fletcher, 494 Jackson boulevard, was held up by three men in front of his home. One of them held a revolver at his head, but they were frightened away before they secured any money. Fletcher is a bookkeeper emplyed by Fuller & Fuller, wholesale druggists. One of the robbers answered the description of the man who shot Barsanti.
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, Tuesday, July 24, 1900 p.3
DYING MAN PICKS SLAYER J. A. BASRSANTI SAYS E. D. BLACK SHOT HIM AT THE EL DORADO
Six hours before his death at the County Hospital he whispers the name to the Police--They arrest the man, formerly a Y.M.C.A. Light, and later the victim identifies him--Denies guilt and declares an alibi can be established.
Edward Dawson Black, 22 years of age, and for many years a prominent member of the Young Men's Christian association, was identifed by John A. Barsanti on his death bed at the Cook County Hospital, at 3 pm yesterday, as the man who had fatally wounded him in an attempted holdup at the El Dorado saloon, 383 West Van Buren Street, at 1 o'clock in the morning.
Barsanti had come out of the stupor into which the drugs used to relieve his pain had lulled him. In answer to the queries of his wife and son and the policemen gathered about his bed, whether he had recognized the man who had wounded him, he faintly whispered: "Black's son was the man."
HURRY TO ARREST BLACK The policemen hurriedly departed, and on hour later Edward Black was arrested at his home, 303 Jackson boulevard. He denied all knowledge of the shooting. He said he had retired shortly after 11 o'clock on Sunday evening. He was taken to the Lake Street Station and later to the County Hospital, where he was held until the physicians in attendance on Barsanti announced that the patient was in fit conditoin to view the alleged robber. Lieutenant O'Hara conducted Black and two other men to the bedside and asked the injured man if he could pick out his assailant. Barsanti nodded faintly in the direction of Black. Black protested and appealed to Barsanti, stating that he was not near the saloon at the time of the shooting.
"Where were you?" faintly whispered Barsanti.
Than Black began to cry. Barsanti shook his head and fell back on the pillow, closing his eyes. The prisoner was taken back to the police station.
A little later Barsanti rallied slightly and informed his wife and son-in-law, Dante Dellosso, a saloonkeeper at California and Congree street, and Captain Shippy that he had recongnized Black before the fatal shot was fired. Barsanti died shortly before 9 o'clock. His wife and two sons, Fellrucio, aged 18, and Alfred, 10 years old, were at his bedside. The widow was prostrated, and was placed under the care of a physician.
EVIDENCE OF THE SISTER Katherine Black, of the accused man, stated that her brother had retired about 11 o'clock on Sunday evening. In company with a younger brother and herself he had been seated on the stairs in front of their cottage until that hour, when he went inside. A few minutes later, she asserts, she heard the two boys enter and lock the door.
For five years Black has been a member of the Young Men's Christian Association and was for a time Captain of the indoor baseball team of the association. He is known as an excellent amateur athlete and holds several records in the association gymnasium. Three months ago his membership lapsed and has not been renewed.
Five years ago the family of Black resided in the building at 383 Van Buren street, where the shooting occurred, and this circumstance explains why Barsanti knew him. His father is emplyed by the Tilt Shoe Company.
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, July 25, 1900 p.4
NEW MYSTERY IN THE JOHN A. BARSANTI SHOOTING AFFAIR
Post-Motem examination discloses the fact that two bullets entered his body, One 22, the Other 32 caliber.
A new mystery has crept into the case of John A. Barsanti, who was shot by a robber in the El Dorado Saloon, 383 West Van Buren street, early last Monday morning. At the post mortem examination at the County Hospital yesterday it was found that Barsanti had been shot twice, once with a 22-caliber revolver and the second time with a 32. The smaller bullet struck him in the left side and made a flesh wound. The other slug penetrated the liver, and caused death by internal bleeding.
The police of the Desplaines Street and West Lake Street Stations now are seeking for a man who visited the saloon, and who possesses a 32-caliber revolver. Edward Dawson Black is under arrest now, having been identified by Barsanti hours before his death. The victim said nothing about two men coming into the saloon, simply intimating that Black shot him. Two shots were fired, however, one of which was said to have missed the mark.
The police all along have believed that three men were concerned in the attempted robbery, although they thought only one entered the place. With the evidence furnished by the two bullets found in Barsanti's body the detectives are working anew on the case.
Lieutenant O'Hara of the West Lake Street Police Station is searching for two men who are said to have been seen outside the saloon with Black before the shooting. He has a poor description to work upon, however, Black denies that he was near the saloon.
A black derby hat which was found under a table in a room opening from the saloon in the rear, the morning after the shooting, was tried on Black yesterday.
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