Murder of Guiseppi Tiberi

North Olean History - The Murder of Guiseppi Tiberi
MURDER OF GUISEPPI TIBERI
It was late in the winter of 1906, when an Italian informed the police that the Black Hand society was operating in Olean. Since he feared for his life, the police would not reveal his name. He revealed that the Black Hand members had planned to kill Deputy Sheriff Steele, another man whose name he could not remember, and also a man named Donigan who worked in the Pennsylvania Railroad yards. He went on to say that $318 would be paid to the man who did the shooting and also made known the fact that Tiberi, who had been shot and killed the previous day at Coryville, Pa. had recently received a letter sent by the Black Hand society of Olean.

It was just two days earlier that Guiseppi (Joseph) Tiberi was shot and killed at Coryville, Pa. when four Italians were attempting to rob him. The Coryville constable telephoned the Olean police immediately after being informed of the murder, thus a careful watch was kept on all the trains coming into Olean. The next morning, while in Portville, Deputy Sheriff Steele and Police of Chief Swift received word from the Coryville police that they had captured the four men near Eldred. Three of the men answered the description of the three Italians who had been rooming at the house of Michael Furey on N. Eight Street. They were Frank Godino, Salvatore Curosa, Philip Franzee, also known as Barbaro, and Roka Daqnia, who according to Furey left his home to go in that direction of the murder.
Godino and Curosa were regarded as being friends as Gidino had previous made bail and paid a fine for Curosa. Frazee also had a previous arrest in Olean.

Almost a year later justice for the murder of Guiseppi Tiberi by a member of the Black Hand Society was expiated at Smethport, Pa. by hanging. He was Francis Godino, who was one of the four men, who had made their headquarters in Olean. He was convicted of the first-degree murder of Tiberi, and was sentenced to death by hanging. His three companions were each sentenced to serve fifteen years each in prison.

Godino slept well on his last night, and rose early the next morning. He ate a good breakfast, after which he visited with his spiritual advisor, Fr. Dugan. At 9 o’clock, without showing any emotion, he heard his death warrant and begun the death march, faltering at the door of the turnkey’s room where the execution was to take place. When asked if he had anything to say, he made no response and a few tears coursed down his cheeks as he walked toward the hanging noose. After the priest finished saying a few words, Godino sobbed and made no motions while the straps were adjusted about his limbs nor as the mask was put over his head. His body shot up about three feet as the weight dropped and his feet almost touched the floor as it settled back. It only took three minutes after he left his cell for him to be pronounced dead.

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