1914-12-21asas

“During a gang fight in the foreign settlement of the east end last night, Catano Mileni was shot under the heart by a gun alleged to have been discharged by Ruffini Raffaele, alias Ralph Rufus, who appeared in police court this morning on a charge of shooting with intent.”

          Hamilton Herald.   December 21, 1914.

          While the east police station was the site of feverous activity relating to the collection of gifts to be distributed to families in need, the grim work of policing the area continued.

          Shortly before 8 p.m. on Sunday evening, December 20, 1914, police at the Sherman avenue station received notification of a shooting affray.

The patrol wagon was used to get to the scene, although Inspector Coulter and Sergeant Hawkins, accompanied by Constables Duffy and McClure, could have easily got there on foot.

 The scene of the incident was just a few blocks north of the station, at a boarding house near the corner of Sherman avenue north and Brant street.

Although a wild fight had taken place shortly before in the boarding house, when the police entered, things had calmed down :

“Mileni was lying on the floor in a semi-conscious state, with blood rushing from a wound, just beneath his heart. Raffaele, alia Rufus, was sitting on a bed in a nearby room and when he saw the officers he is alleged to have said, ‘I done it and the gun is under the mattress.’

“Reaching down, he produced a 32 calibre revolver, which the police took possession of. Mileni was rushed to the city hospital, and Raffaele was taken to the east end station”¹

¹ “A Shooting That May End Fatally : C. Mileni in Critical Condition in Hospital – Rufus Under Arrest”

Hamilton Herald.   December 21, 1914.

When the policemen and their prisoner arrived at the east end station, the identity of the shooter was unclear, at first:

“ ‘Ruffini Raffaele,’ scribbled the prisoner on the police slate, but after thinking the matter over for some time, the officers thought they remembered a familiar countenance buried under a heavy beard and mustache, and the accused, when questioned, admitted he was Ralph Rufus.

“ ‘ That’s my Canadian name. The other’s my Italian.’ ”¹

Raffaele, under questioning, strongly claimed that he had acted in self-defense. While Mileni had been acted as a peacemaker in a drunken brawl which had broken out. Raffaele admitted shooting the gun, but claimed that he did not aim at Mileni, but at another Italian who was about to attack him.

The Spectator account of the incident, which the reporter called a ‘carousal’, included detailed information on the identity of the shooter:

“Raffaele is by no means a stranger in local police circles. Some four or five years ago, he was convicted on a charge of stabbing another Italian and was sentenced to nine months in prison. He was later arrested on a charge of imprisoning a girl named Rose Bartlett in a house in the Italian settlement, and keeping her there for immoral purposes.

“The girl dropped a note from a window, saying that she and another girl were being detained in the house, but at the trial, Raffaele was acquitted and the girl was sent to the reformatory.”²

² “Italian Shot While Trying to Make Peace : Bullet Hit Victim Just Below the Heart.”

Hamilton Spectator. December 21, 1914.

While the prisoner was being detained at the east end station, Mileni was being treated at the hospital on Barton street.

The attending physician, Dr. R. Y. Parry, came to the conclusion that Mileni might not survive his wounds said that he thought it was be advisable that he be asked to make a statement about the case as soon as possible:

“Magistrate Jelfs, Chief Smith and Detectives Cameron and Goodman went to the city hospital where the unfortunate man was taken after the affray.

“Ernest Taylor acted as interpreter, and the man accused of doing the shooting was also present.

“The story the victim told was similar to that Raffaele told the police.”²

After the statement had been taken at the city hospital, Raffaele was conveyed to a cell at the King William street police station in the downtown core.

Dr. Parry’s concern about Mileni proved true as his patient died in hospital at 4:10 a.m., thirty two hours after the shooting affray.

Two hours later, Raffaele was told of the death of Mileni:

“He evinced no outward sign of emotion or regret, but took the news as if he expected it.” ³

³ “Mileni’s Wound Proves Fatal : Foreigner Died at City Hospital Today.”

Hamilton Spectator. December 22, 1914.

Police Chief Smith told the press that getting reliable evidence as to what occurred at the Brant street house was not easy:

“Chief Smith stated today that the police were having considerable difficulty rounding up the many foreigners who witnessed the shooting. The majority, known to have been in the house at the time, have denied all knowledge of the tragedy.”³

After a brief inquest, Raffaele was taken to the police court for a preliminary hearing.

After consultation, Chief Smith and Crown Attorney decided that Raffaele would not be charged with murder :

“Chief Smith, discussing the case this morning, said, ‘There was apparently no premeditation about the shooting. Everyone was drunk, so far as we can gather, and the charge will only be that of manslaughter.”⁴

⁴ “Mileni Dead : Raffaele May Now Be Charged With Manslaughter”

Hamilton Herald. December 22, 1914