1914-11-21ah

“Joe Bennassi, an Italian who resided at 178 Barton street west, is hovering between life and death at the city hospital, a victim of a self-inflicted bullet wound in the base of his skull.”

Hamilton Spectator.     January 21, 1914.

It was an incident shocking enough for any Hamiltonian, but for those in the city’s Italian community is was practically alarming.

It was shortly before 8 .am., on January 21, 1914, that Joe Bennassi,  a well-known man to most Italians living in Hamilton, approached the doorstep of a house on Tiffany street, the home of the Strohan family.

Joe Beannasi, popularly known as “Big Joe” was seen by Ivan Strohan saw Joe approaching:

“The boy has told the police that Benassi called at the house intent on shooting Mrs. Strohan, but she ran out on the street and eluded him.

“Bennassi then walked to the front steps, placed the revolver to his right ear, and fired.

“The boy who was terrified by the tragedy, ran screaming to the hotel of Michael Wolfe, and told of the shooting. Wolfe telephoned for the police and Bennassi, unconscious, was rushed to the city hospital.”¹

¹ “Intended to Slay Another, Shot Himself.”

Hamilton Spectator. January 21, 1914.

In the limited time between the shots being fired at 7:55 a.m., and the time that the morning edition of the Spectator hit the streets, a Spectator reporter had investigated and had discovered the reason for “Big Joe’s” rash act:

“Bennassi has been in Hamilton about seven years. Early in October, he moved to 178 Barton street west and became acquainted with Mrs. Strohan.

“The acquaintance, it is said, rapidly ripened into an infatuation, and Bennassi continually forced his attentions on the woman. Alexis Strohan, husband of the woman, yesterday it is said, rebuked his wife for talking to Bennassi.

“ ‘Big Joe’ heard of the rebuke and brooded about it. He moped around his boarding house all yesterday afternoon and last night.

“Today, he rose early and told fellow countrymen that he was going out to ‘do a job.’

“ Bennassi had been out of employment for some weeks and this remark was taken to mean that he had secured some work. The awful import of it  was forcibly brought home to the other boarders when they learned fifteen minutes later that he had tried to do away with himself.”¹

“Big Joe’ had approached the Strohan house, packing a 32-calibre pistol in his hip pocket. Seemingly half-crazed, he had forced his way into the house,  pulled out the gun and pointed it at Anna Strohan. Terrified, the woman screamed and ran out of the house. “Big Joe” let himself out of the house and went only as far as the front steps, where he stopped, put the revolver to his head and pulled the trigger. Only one shot was fired, the bullet becoming embedded in Bennassi’s head.

As the morning Spectator went to press, “Big Joe’ was still alive although doctors were not holding out much hope for his living much longer.

In the aftermath of the incident, many people were deeply shaken:

“Mrs. Strohan, it is said, is still in a hysterical condition from shock and fright. Bennassi was very popular in the district, and many of his countrymen called at the hospital to inquire about his condition this morning.”¹