© 2011 Paul Forte

Salvatore's Close Shave

The following is taken from a transcript of  the 1894 Old Bailey Criminal Court Proceedings.  It concerns an incident in a London pub involving Lorenzo Mezza from Casalattico, Alfonso Forte (brother of my great grandmother Maria Giuseppa) and Salvatore Evangelista (husband of Maria Giuseppa's sister, Civita).  Salvatore was the only one found guilty of intent to do grievous bodily harm and served five years in prison, but he later became a very successful London society hairdresser.  We knew his sons Louis and Pip, who used to visit us in Brighton regularly.

Salvatore Evangelista c. 1890
 
Salvatore and Civita lived at 32 Lisson Street, Edgware Road, London in 1911 and had an exclusive Hairdressing Salon in Grays Inn Road.

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Case93.
LORENZO MEZZA (18), ALFONSO FORTI (30), and SALVATORE EVANGESTA (25), were indicted for feloniously wounding Michaeli Dinverno with intent to murder. Second Count, with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

MR. BURNIE Prosecuted, and MR. LAWLESS Defended.

The prisoners being Italians, the evidence was interpreted to them. A discussion occurred as to the mode in which the interpretation should take place.

MR. JUSTICE HAWKINS ruled that, although the prisoners were defended by Counsel, the Evidence should be interpreted to them in case they might find it necessary to correct any error, or make suggestions to their Counsel.

MICHAELI DINVERNO . I understand English a little-I live at 4, Bath Court, Clerkenwell-I am an Italian, and am an artist's model-about eight on the evening of 12th November I was in the Crown public-house in Back Hill, Holborn, in the bagatelle-room-several others were there, amongst them the three prisoners-we were playing a game called mora; it is played as "master and foreman," with the fingers-six of us were playing; the prisoners and two others-I don't know their names-we were playing for beer-Forti was foreman, and Bianci was master-we had had the beer on my side-the master and foreman did what they liked with it-Mezza was not anything; he wanted two glasses of beer-I told him it was none of his business, because when he was master and foreman he had done as he liked-he said, "Well, I want two glasses of beer," and he got up from the seat, and was going out at the back, and I saw him leaning up against the bagatelle board in the room-as I was passing he called me something; I don't know what it was-I turned round, and asked him what he meant-we had a few words, and then he had his hand in his pockets, and he took it out, and up with his hand, and hit me on the head-I don't know whether it was a knife or a razor that he took put-I did not see what it was, but it cut my right hand-I stepped back, and looked at my hand and when I looked up he was gone-I heard someone struggling behind me, and as I went to turn round I heard Salvatore say that the three had been waiting for me for five or six days, and as he said that he hit me on the neck with a razor-I did not see him then, but as I finished to turn round I saw him running out of the door with the razor in his hand-I did not exactly see him strike me, he was right at the back of me-I was struck from behind the ear on the left side-for the moment I was still, I did not move at all-I asked someone that was near to take me to the hospital-the blood was squirting out from my throat like a fountain-I walked three or four yards and then had a cab-I remained in the hospital till the 5th of December.

Cross-examined. Up to the time of this dispute over the game we had been all perfectly friendly-Mezza wanted the two glasses of beer-I used no bad language-I know Maestra Colla-he was there, and Bianci; he was playing the game, I think they could see everything that occurred-I did not see Bonetti-I did not try to get away-I did not push Salvatore or Forti-I was once charged with assault and convicted; that has nothing to do with this case-immediately after Mezza struck me Salvatore attacked me-I do not remember saying at the Police-court that Salvatore said, "We have waited for you five or six days"-I have thought of it lots of times, but I did not remember it at the time-Delucca is the man that took me to the hospital-I don't know whether he is a relation of mine; he has only recently come from Italy-I have been in London all my life-he is a very great friend-he does not live in the same house.

DONATI DELUCCA . I am a confectioner, and live at 189, High Holborn-on November 12th, about eight at night, I was at the Crown public-house on Back Hill, in the bagatelle-room-there were about ten or twelve there with the prosecutor and the three prisoners-they were playing mora I had one game with them; I was not in the game of "master and foreman," and not in the dispute-I saw Salvatore with a knife or razor in his hand-I thought they were chaffing-I heard Salvatore say, "Five or six days we have waited for this"-four or five minutes after that I saw the prosecutor with a cut in his throat, but I did not see the razor when he cut it-I saw Salvatore with his hand across the prosecutor's neck-before that I heard the prosecutor say to Mezza, "Let me alone"-Salvatore's wife then came and took him away-I saw the other two prisoners with something in their hands, I know they were blades, but I can't say whether they were knives or razors-I saw Mezza and the prosecutor speaking to each other, like a quarrel-when I saw the prosecutor struck I caught hold of Forti and held him fast, not to go to the prosecutor-Forti had a knife in his hand and was going towards the prosecutor, and I caught hold of him and said, "Don't do anything wrong"-while I was holding Forti, Salvatore re-entered the room-it was then I saw his hand across the prosecutor's throat, and I then relinquished Forti and ran to the prosecutor's assistance and caught hold of him, because I saw him almost fainting, falling to the back-I sent for a cab and took him to the hospital-I bound his throat up with three handkerchiefs to stop the bleeding-the prisoners ran away, I did not see them again-after we came out of the hospital the inspector and the police with my assistance went in search of the prisoners-soon after eleven we found Mezza in bed at his lodgings-I spoke to him in Italian-he said to the police, "I will come with you, but I have done nothing"-as we were going to the station we met Forti, and I pointed him out to the police, who took him-I spoke to him in Italian-he spoke to me first, and said, "Who is this man that takes me?"-I said, "This is a policeman"-he said, "What is the good of his taking me when I have done nothing?"Cross-examined. I am no relation of the prosecutor's-the prosecutor did not push, strike, or knock down Salvatore or Forti; he did nothing at all.

OLYMPIO PETRUCIO . I am manager of the Crown, and have been so for eighteen months-Verioni is the landlord, and has been so for that time-about eight in the evening of 12th November I was having my supper in the back room, I heard a noise in the bagatelle-room-I went in and saw the prosecutor and the three prisoners-they were talking back, one to the other-I said, "I don't want any row in my house," and I said to Mezza, "Take your hands out of your pocket"-he took them out, and put them in again-I then saw them all go back to the door-I saw Salvatore with a razor in his hand-I was frightened, and drew back-I did not see anything in the hands of the others at that moment-I did not see what happened after that-I saw the prosecutor leaning against the bagatelle board-he did not fall down-when I put Forti out he had a knife in his hand; I made him drop it-I heard someone say, "Go for a policeman," and two minutes after the policeman came Forti came back-he said, "What is it? What do you want?" and he said, "I want him"-a man who was inside handed me this cap (produced); I think it belongs to Salvatore, but I can't say-my wife handed me this knife, which I saw her pick up from the floor; it was open-it is Forti's knife.Cross-examined. I did not see any blood on it-when Mezza took his hands out of his pocket he had no knife in them-I saw one in his hand after-I think I told the magistrate that I saw knives in the hands of all three-the prosecutor had had a few words in the house sometimes before this; he never broke any tables and chairs-he had been quarrelsome one evening about a week or fortnight before.

ANTONIO VALUCTA . I speak English a little bit-I am a mosaic worker, and live at 11, Back Hill, Holborn-on the night of the 12th November I was in the Crown public-house, in the bagatelle-room; I was not playing mora-I saw the prosecutor catch hold of Salvatore and push him against the door of the bagatelle-room-Salvatore put his right hand in his pocket, took out a razor, and cut the prosecutor across the neck-I was frightened, and ran away to the back door-I saw Salvatore run out at the back door.Cross-examined. I did not see the prosecutor's hand bleeding-it was after Salvatore was pushed that he used the razor-I saw Mezza in the room, but I did not see him do anything-he was close to them-there were a good lot of people there.

CHAGINKA BIANCI (Interpreted). I am an ice-cream vendor, and live at 1, Somer's Court, Holborn-I was in the bagatelle-room at the Crown on this night about eight-I was one of the six playing at mora for beer; the prosecutor was "master" and I was "foreman"-Mezza asked for two glasses of beer-the prosecutor said, "No, I will give you one glass"-he said, "I want the two, when you are a master you want it all your own way"-Mezza then left our company and went against the bagatelle board and put himself in this position (leaning his head on his hand)-the prosecutor went towards him, and Mezza said, "Lorenzo, let me alone, I am not the man for you"-the prosecutor put his little finger to his neck, saying, "If you don't let me alone I will put these two fingers to your neck," and he touched his chin with his fingers-I saw Mezza put his hand in his pocket, but I did not see him take out a knife or anything-the prosecutor said, "Take out your hand from your pocket"-then I saw Salvatore and Forti had something in their hands, I could not tell what it was-Salvatore then had a knife in his hand, and I saw him draw his hand to the prosecutor's neck; there was then such a confusion that I really cannot explain myself; I lost my hat, I found it afterwards-I afterwards found that the prosecutor was wounded-he said, "Look what they have done to me; keep me up or I fall"-I took hold of Forti and took him out of the bagatelle-room into the public-house bar and into the street-I saw that he had in his hand something like a knife, that was when he was in the street-he tried to get back, and I tried to stop him, and in the struggle I received a wound on my finger; it was a little scratch; perhaps it might have been with a nail.Cross-examined. The prosecutor actually stuck his fingers in Mezza's throat, and touched his chin, and used bad language-I did not see him strike Salvatore.

MAESTRA COLLA . I am an ice-cream dealer, and live at 5, Fleet Row, Eyre Street Hill-I was in the bagatelle-room at the Crown on this night while the game of mora was going on-I went in just as the row began-I said to the prosecutor, "Don't speak bad; the beer is nothing"-he said, "Mind your business"-he said to Mezza, "You leave me alone; I am all right"-Mezza put his hands in his pocket-the prosecutor said, "What are you doing? Put your hands in your pocket! Are you going to take a knife out?"-Mezza said, "You are too much for me; I am a boy"-I did not see a knife with Mezza-Forti said to the prosecutor, "Come on, and finish the game"-the prosecutor said, "Who are you? I don't understand you," and pushed him back-Salvatore said, "Leave him alone"-the prosecutor said, "What do you want?"-he put his hands in his pocket-I did not see what he took out-he made a motion-after that the prosecutor showed me what had happened, and I fetched a policeman-about eight minutes afterwards I was in a shop close by, and Forti came in-he said, "Where is Salvatore?"-I said, "I don't know"-he said, "Where is Mezza?"-I said, "I don't know"-he said, "Who took a cab for him?"-I said, "I did"-he said, "You will have to pay for it"-he had a knife in his hand-it was a knife like that (Produced)-I don't know whether this is the one.

Cross-examined. I saw a bagatelle stick in Mezza's hand-at the time Salvatore struck the prosecutor Mezza was standing opposite me-the prosecutor was not holding him; the three were together-when the prosecutor was on the floor Mezza took the bagatelle stick; I did not see a knife in his hand at all-the prosecutor did not strike Salvatore before Salvatore stabbed him-he only said, "What do you want?" that was all-I did not say before the Magistrate that the prosecutor had struck Salvatore, knocking him down-he fell down-he pushed him, and said, "Step back," and he fell down.

C. CARAZZI. I am an ice-cream seller, and live at 11, Fleet Row, Eyre Street Hill-between eight and nine on the evening of November 12th I saw Forti's brother-I followed him to different places, and ultimately to the corner of Piccadilly Circus, where I saw Salvatore-I called a constable, and gave him into custody-I did not speak to him.

JOHN THOMAS (Police Sergeant, 37 G). From information, I went to Vine Street Station, where I found Salvatore detained in custody-I put him in a cab, and conveyed him to King's Road Station-he spoke in very broken English, and said, "On which side was his throat cut?"-I said, "On the left"-he held up his hand, and said, "Is he dead?"-I said, "No."

Cross-examined. I don't think he was excited; he seemed surprised-he was told the charge in Italian, but he said he could not understand a word.HENRY LINO (268 G). I arrested Forti in Farringdon Road about half-past eleven on the night of the 12th-I told him I should take him into custody for being concerned with two other men in cutting an Italian's throat with a razor at the Crown public-house, Back Hill, at eight that night-he replied, "It was not a razor, it was a knife"-I found this small pocket-knife on him.

EDWARD WEST (Inspector, G). I received information about this shortly after eight on the Monday evening-I afterwards received this cap from the manager of the public-house-I showed it to Forti, and he said, "That is mine"-I saw Mezza while he was detained there-I took a note of what he said; he spoke in broken English-he said, "I was in the room; we were playing mora; Michaeli was master in the game. Some said they would give two glasses of beer. I said I would give my glass to Salvatore and two to Mezza. Michaeli gave the beer to other people. I said, 'Why give beer to other people?' and asked him to give me two glasses. I then said 'I will play no more mora.' The prosecutor said, 'Go to your own place; I am no good to you.' He smacked me in the face, put two fingers to my neck, and pushed me and then pushed Salvatore Before he had his neck cut I left the house."

EDWARD ARTHUR PERRAM . I am resident medical officer at the Royal Free Hospital-on Monday night, 12th November, about eight or nine, the prosecutor was brought there suffering from a wound on his neck, extending from just below the left ear-it was about seven inches long when the wound was fresh; it is not so long now, from contraction-it was downward and forward, and had cut through several structures-the internal jugular and several vessels were divided; the cartilage of the throat and the windpipe was opened-it was a dangerous wound, highly dangerous to life-there was a superficial wound on the right hand, not cutting any of the tendons, not dangerous-the wound in the throat was consistent with having been caused by a razor, and that on the hand by a knife or any sharp instrument-he remained in the hospital till 5th December-the danger was after the hemorrhage had stopped, from concurrent hemorrhage-his life was in danger for some time-we had to open the vein, and inject salt water.

In the course of the case the deposition of one of the Italian witnesses being referred to, MR. JUSTICE HAWKINS expressed a very strong opinion that such depositions ought to be taken in the language spoken by the witness, and that it should be translated on oath into language understood by the accused; a deposition written down in language not understood by the witness was not a deposition upon which perjury could be assigned, nor would it be available in the case of death or absence from illness.

MEZZA and FORTI- NOT GUILTY .
SALVATORE EVANGESTA- GUILTY on Second Count. - Five Years' Penal Servitude.
NEW COURT.-Wednesday and Thursday, December 12th and 13th, 1894.