Research

These documents are from several local newspaper publications between December 1914 and December 1921. The bulk of the reporting was done in the Trenton Evening Times, which sold for 2¢ at that time. References to the trial and its characters were also found in the Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser, Bridgetown Evening News, and The Jersey Journal. You'll note that many of the stories made front page news. As you look through the newspapers, you will find the names misspelled on occasion, but rest assured that they are all reporting on this same story -- The Murder of Maria Fiorelli by Her Husband, Alpino Fiorelli.

We've included some addition documentation from ship manifests. These show when Alpino, Enrico, and Mariano left Italy to come to America. Additional details are visible, including occupation, last permanent residence, and final destination. We can also see with whom they were traveling. Pages from the 1920 Census also give us a glimpse as to where Alpino and his two sons were living and what they were doing at that point in their lives.

I hope that you enjoy this small part of our family's history. If you're interest in genealogy, and would like to know more about our relatives, living or dead, please let us know and I'm sure Cynthia can provide you with answers. She did all of the research on this story and has hundreds of relatives documented in her family tree on Ancestry.com. Have something to add? You can e-mail me by clicking here .


Newspaper Articles

Gets Six Months for Assulting His Wife - Trenton Evening Times 15 Dec 1914
Mother of Two Shot to Death in Street (page 1) - Trenton Evening Times 2 Feb 1915
Mother of Two Slain in Street (page 2) - Trenton Evening Times 2 Feb 1915
Gain No Trace of Borough Slayer - Trenton Evening Times 3 Feb 1915
Kills Wife from Ambush - Bridgeton Evening News 4 Feb 1915
75 Indictments by Grands Jurors - Trenton Evening Times 4 Feb 1915
Deserted Even in Death, Wife Pays for Crime - Trenton Evening Times 4 Feb 1915
Four Arrested for Assitance Given Murderer - Trenton Evening Times 5 Feb 1915
Few at Burial of Murdered Woman - Trenton Evening Times 6 Feb 1915
Another Chapter in Tragic Murder - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 7 Feb 1915
Police Do Good Work - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 7 Feb 1915
Court House Topics - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 7 Feb 1915
Take Charge of Murder's Tots - Trenton Evening Times 8 Feb 1915
Arraigned on Indictment for Shooting Down Estranged Wife, Killing Her in Street - Trenton Evening Times 26 Feb 1915
Special Jury for Murderer's Trial - Trenton Evening Times 12 Mar 1915
Court House Topics - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 21 Mar 1915
Slayer Unnervered as Jury is Named - Trenton Evening Times 22 Mar 1915
Witness Says Man Confessed Murder (page 1) - Trenton Evening Times 23 Mar 1915
Witness Says Man Confessed Murder (page 2) - Trenton Evening Times 23 Mar 1915
Slayer in Tears Tells of Killing - Trenton Evening Times 24 Mar 1915
Wife Murderer is Found Guilty in First Degree - Trenton Evening Times 25 Mar 1915
Ask Commutation in Fiorelli Trial - Trenton Evening Times 26 Mar 1915
Now for the Accessories - Trenton Evening Times 27 Mar 1915
Court House Topics - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 28 Mar 1915
Endeavor to Save Condemned Slayer - Trenton Evening Times 9 Apr 1915
Pardons Court Spares a Life - The Jersey Journal 27 Apr 1915
Spare Fiorelli's Life, Shot Wife - Trenton Evening Times 27 Apr 1915
What Happened in Trenton Last Week - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 2 May 1915
Fiorelli's Children Visit Him in Prison - Trenton Evening Times 8 May 1915
Shielding of Criminals by Their Friends Are Points of Justice's Charge - Trenton Evening Times 11 May 1915
Indict More for Aiding in Escape - Trenton Evening Times 28 May 1915
Aided Murderer, Charge at Trial - Trenton Evening Times 9 Jun 1915
Now on Trail for Statutory Charges - Trenton Evening Times 10 Jun 1915
Aiding Criminals - Trenton Evening Times 12 Jun 1915
Court House Topics - Trenton Sunday Times-Advertiser 13 Jun 1915
Plead Non Vult to Aiding Slayer - Trenton Evening Times 14 Jun 1915
Term in Prison for Assisting Slayer Escape - Trenton Evening Times 2 Jul 1915
Start Prison Terms - Trenton Evening Times 8 Jul 1915
26 From Here Ask Clemency by the State - Trenton Evening Times 16 Nov 1915
Mercer Men Among Pardon Seekers - Trenton Evening Times 16 Mar 1916
Court of Pardons also Paroles Thirteen Convicts Sentenced in this County - Trenton Evening Times 12 Apr 1916
Wife Killer Uses Bed Clothes to Hang Self - Trenton Evening Times 3 Dec 1921


Ship Manifests

Alpino Fiorelli (line 30) - 11 Oct 1905
Enrico Spera (line 7) page 1 - 5 Sep 1908
Enrico Spera (line 7) page 2 - 5 Sep 1908
Mariano Spera (line 9) - 9 Feb 1910


1920 Census Records

Alpino Fiorelli (line 47) - New Jersey State Prison
Salvatore Fiorelli (line 27) - 516 Central Avenue, Buena Vista Township
Dante Fiorelli (line 64) - 388 Wheat Road, Buena Vista Township


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