The Murder of Martino D'Alio

In the last post we find that the murder of Luigi Luponio created the opportunity for Catarina Bartolomeo to get remarried to Nicola "Nick" D'Alio.  If the newspaper accounts are to be believed then it is quite probable that Martino D'Alio's death was hastened by Luigi's murder as the newspaper articles imply that Catarina was the driving force behind the murder of Martino.


This story begins with the meeting between Catarina and Nicola. We do not know how or when they met, but it is likely that they met in Utica as both were residents of the area.  However, it is also possible that they met in Italy as Nicola's birth town was not far from Alife (town that Luigi and Catarina got married in). In fact, San Potito Sannitico is less than 7km (~4 miles) from Alife so it is possible that they knew each other and that Nicola and Catarina met there (and even got married there).  More research needs to be done in this regard.


What we do know is that Nicola and Catarina had a daughter together. Her name was Amalia and she was born in Utica NY in 1892 (according to her headstone). She first married Antonio Festa in 1908 (living on 2nd St from at least 1910 through 1930 ... and most likely until Tony's death in 1937).  She then married Albano Quattrociocchi in 1939 and they moved to 705 W. Thomas St (1940 census).


So how did Martino D'Alio end up dead?  From the newspaper accounts it seems that Nicola (a fruit peddler in Utica) was summoned to Italy by his father who had suddenly come into some wealth.  The father made it sound like he was frail and needed Nick to manage his affairs.  Nick and Catarina sailed for Italy in the Fall of 1895.  When they arrived in Italy, they found that things were not what they were expecting. For one, Martino was much healthier than reported and had many good years ahead of him and for two, Martino hated Catarina and would not let her live in the house. Nick had to find new quarters for her.  With the animosity of Martino and the prospects of it being many years before Nick and Catarina would inherit his money, a plan was hatched to kill Martino.


The first attempt failed as Martino survived being poisoned.  Knowing that Nick had poisoned him, Martino decided to change his will but before he got the chance Nick laid in wait and shot him several times.  Unfortunately for Nick, he did not die right away and his body was discovered by some of the town folks who brought him back home where Martino had enough time to write a new will before he died.  Nicola was arrested and charged with his father's murder.  It is unknown how long he served, but what we do know is that Catarina and Nick are later found to be living in Rome NY on McAvoy Street in 1926.  What became of Nick and Catarina is unknown.  Obituaries were not found for either one. There is a Catarina Bartolomeo buried in St. John's Cemetery in Rome NY although it is not known if this is her.


Given that Catarina was quite likely part of the plan to kill Martino it is likely that the death of Luigi Luponio indirectly lead to the death of Martino D'Alio.