ETA: I should note that one of the Ebay pages states that it was “Morristown, Pennsylvania”. This is wrong. There is no Morristown in PA and the notes on the photos say Norristown. Don’t let this mistake confuse you.
The Inquirer and presumably the Bulletin are on microfilm at the Penn library. I once looked through all the papers of winter 1933-34 there. I assume you don’t need a Penn ID (although I had one at the time so I cannot be sure). Presumably, if you have a date, even approximate, you can find the story. It might even be available online.
There is a Morristown, NJ, but Norristown, PA is near Philly.
The description on the back of the photos is a bit confusing. It says he was found dying, but also indicates he “is in serious condition”. I think he wasn’t actually killed. Here’s a find-a-grave memorial for a man that may be him:
Interesting point. It may be that we’re being misled by the titles on the Ebay auctions. The newspaper article I found and linked to above doesn’t mention him dying.
However, the notes on the back of both photos, which are dated 1/3/31 both begin “found dying in bed with his head battered in by an ax…”
The newspaper article gives his age as 40 at the time which would be off by a couple of years from the birth year on the gravestone, but that could be just careless reporting.
Ok,this thread includes three different newspaper pieces (one published a week after the incident) and none say that he died. I certainly think it would’ve been mentioned if he had. Although some of the descriptions of the severity of his injuries are horrific, they aren’t terribly consistent.
[ul]
[li]Did he die from those injuries?[/li][li]If not, is that his tombstone?[/li][li]What happened to her?[/li][LIST]
[li]Was she exonerated? (I doubt it.)[/li][li]Was she convicted?[/li][li]Did she end up back in a mental hospital?[/li][/ul]
[li]What happened to the kids?[/li][/LIST]
If that is his tombstone, I think it’s telling that it’s only his name on it and it doesn’t include a wife. Maybe we’ll go down to Riverside Cemetery this weekend and see if he’s buried alone or with other Muscarrelis. Although finding it may be difficult.
Well, if your wife attacks you with an ax, I could see how it’d cause a strain on the relationship.
Yes, it looks like it’s a big cemetery. It could take a lot of walking until you happen upon the grave. Judging by a thread on the ancestry com forums, the cemetery office isn’t helpful in providing burial location info.
The find-a-grave member who photographed his grave appears to have done a lot in that cemetery. I’d think when they shot Alfred’s grave they would’ve also gotten any other Muscarellis in the same pass. But there aren’t any others listed for that cemetery. So I’d conclude that he’s alone there.
The historical society has the Norristown Register newspaper on microfilm so, assuming it covers the proper time period, you could look for later stories. Hopefully it’s searchable. If they have the obituary for the Alfred who died in 1959, it should confirm whether or not it’s the right guy, and hopefully answer some questions.
samclem, Wow, thanks. Is it at all possible to link to articles or get screen captures? I believe you but he’s posting elsewhere about this and would like to be able to show the evidence. Obviously you shouldn’t violate any copyrights or whatever, but I’d guess that newspaper articles and records that old are public domain.
It’s a flat marker, not a ‘headstone’ so that should narrow down where in the cemetery to look. OTOH, flat markers are harder to read as you need to walk over each one as opposed to viewing them from any distance like you can with a traditional, upright stone.
Using Ancestry, I pulled up his death certificate.
His name on that document was Alfred Muscariello, born Dec. 2, 1891. Death was approximately 4:15 A.M by hanging on his back porch–Oct. 16, 1959.
In the 1930 census, his name was spelled Muscarelly, but census takers wrote what they heard quite often. Wife in 1930 census was Madeliine.
In 1940 census, he’s Alfred Muscarello–no wife, just a housekeeper.
Madeline died in 1979, buried in plot owned by her son Joseph. She was living with Joseph. Also buried in the family plot was Silvio, died 1988. Joseph died in 1991.
