The Healer and the Pirate

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Friday, June 3, 2011

Marie Curie and a Bihn at Columbia; Coney Island Murder; Orphans - 1921

Sorry about the length, but wow, the world is so interesting!

More on Marie Curie:

COLUMBIA TO AWARD DEGREES TO 2,457

Mme. Curie, With Six Americans, Will Receive Honors From University Today.
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GOV. MILLER TO GET LL.D.
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Others Are Judge Mayer, President Angell, Robert Grant, J.C.Merriam and Dr. Lambert.
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COL. DONOVAN A TRUSTEE
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Alumni Name College Athlete and War Veteran to Represent Them on Board.



--The New York Times, June 1, 1921

Oddly, the headline used the specific number "2,457" while the article said "about 2,450." This notes that the honorary degrees are one of the last events of Commencement, which started with a procession (assembled at 10 o'clock AM and marching at 10:20). It was to be finished a bit after noon.

William J. Donovan was the "college athlete and war veteran" noted above.

But what really caught my eye is that in the looooooong list of names of graduates, under "Teachers College" and "BACHELOR OF SCIENCE" is

Bihn, Louise E.

Bihn is a fairly unusual name. Pretty neat!

I have a fascination with Coney Island. No idea why. I even have a side blog on historic Coney Island. So, Coney Island mystery! (Warning; the story below is a little graphic)

Dead in Lot, His Head Almost Severed With Ax
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Fifty Cards on Brooklyn Victim Bear Name of Owner of Cafe Just Closed


...Michael Mommones, watchman for the Independent Coal Company, whose yard adjoins the lot, saw the body and telephoned for the police, thinking that the victim was intoxicated and had fallen.

The body was that of a man about twenty-five years old, apparently an Italian. He wore a new grey suit and new black oxford shoes. Fifty cards inscribed "Venezia Restaurant & Café, 19-21 Kenmare Street. Proprietor, Silvio Melchiorre," were found in his pocket. Silvio Melchiorre has run a café at that address for three years, but the place was closed last night.

--New-York Tribune, June 6, 1921

Assuming the streets today are the same as they were in the 1920s, Neptune Avenue and West Twentieth Street was more or less a couple blocks north of where Steeplechase was/where the ballpark is now.

SLAIN MAN IDENTIFIED.

Coney Island Victim Had $1,200 Ring, Which Was Missing.


--The New York Times, June 7, 1921

The man was Ernesto Melchiorre, Silvio's brother. The end of the article mentions Ernesto had been arrested for being a "confidence man." But when it comes down to it, it sounds like Silvio, and probably Ernesto, were dealing with bootleggers. Things did not end well for Silvio either.


A SECOND BROTHER VICTIM IN TWELFTH RUM FEUD MURDER

Restaurant Owner Shot in Crowded Street Six Weeks After Kin Is Found Slain.
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CHILDREN AT PLAY NEAR-BY
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Confederate Holds Man in Conversation as Assassin Creeps Up and Fires Five Shots.
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BOTH WALK CALMLY AWAY
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Police Ascribe Killings to Revenge by "Roughnecks" Against Leaders Who Cheated Them.


--The New York Times, July 24, 1921

The article mentions that Silvio made statements to imply that Ernesto had been killed resisting robbers, but now police think Ernesto was lured by a friend from the Venetian Restaurant to the Harvard Inn on Coney Island, and eventually lured to another address and killed.

But ending with something happy:



300 ORPHANS SEE CONEY.; Get Free Taxi Ride, Gifts and Supper--Mayor Reviews Them.

--The New York Times, June 2, 1921


Interestingly, the article actually starts out describing four "negro" or "colored" orphans. It's my understanding that there hasn't been all that much research done on segregation in Coney Island. The orphans were brought to Steeplechase "and were given toys, candy and supper." They came from 7 different orphanages, including "the Dominican Asylum, the Chinese Mission (and) the Colored Orphan Asylum."

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