a mountain near Old Forge, Burehanti, the first of the bandits to be
taken into custody, was’ arrested at Homestead on March 26, 192), whan
he took part in an unsuccessful payrobl robbery there, On May 419, 192k
Torti and Stummy were cornered at Tiltonville, Ohio, and Torti wae
wounded in the head and arm in an exchange of gunfire with the arrest»
ing officers. Rather than be taken prisoner, Stummy shot and killed
himself. Bassi was captured following a holdup-murder in Cambria Co,
and sentenced to die from there, Fasci, the last member of the gang,
was caught in Chicago, Ill,, 18 months after the holdup, At their
trial, Burchanti and Torti sought to prove an alibi and produced wit-
nesses who swore that they had been in Yorkville, Ohio, attendirg a
funeral on the day of the holdup, However, the other passengers on
the train all identified them and pointed out Torti: as the actual gun-
man. After their conviction by a jury that deliberated for three hours,
their witnesses were ‘all arrested on charges of perjury and one re=
ceived a ¥X#K penitentiary sentence while the others received suspended
sentences and returned to Ohio, Their case was unsuccessfully appealed
to the State Supreme Court and on June l, 1925, they were both electro-
cuted at Rockview State Prison, Both refused any spiritual solace and
instrpcted guards to tell any priests that called that they would not
see them, Burchanti, the first to go, shogted to Torti from his cell
when the guards came for him: "Goodbye, John; I'll see you up above,"
Torti shouted back: "All right, Tony, So long," These were the last
a mountain near Old Forge, Burchanti, the first of the bandits to be
taken into custody, was arrested at Homestead on March 26, 192), whan
he took part in an unsuccessful payrobl robbery there, On May Al9, 192)
Torti and Stummy were cornered at Tiltonville, Ohio, and Torti was
wounded in the head and arm in an exchange of gunfire with the arrest=
ing officers. Rather than be taken prisoner, Stummy shot and killed
himself. Bassi was captured following a holdup-murder in Cambria Co,
and sentenced to die from theres, Fasci, the last member of the gang,
was caught in Chicago, Ill,, 18 months after the holdup, At their
trial, Burchanti and Torti sought to prove an alibi and produced wit-
nesses who swore that they had been in Yorkville, Ohio, attendérig a
funeral on the day of the holdup. However, the other passengers on
the train all identified them and pointed out Torti as the actual gun-
man, After their conviction by a jury that deliberated for three hours
their witnesses were ‘all arrested on charges of perjury and one re-
ceived a XKHK penitentiary sentence while the others received suspended
sentences and returned to Ohio, Their case was unsuccessfully appealed
to the State Supreme Court and on June l, 1925, they were both electro-
cuted at Rockview State Prison, Both refused any spiritual solace and
instrneted guards to tell any priests that called that they would not
see them. Burchanti, the first to g0,. shofted to Torti from his cell
when the guards came for him: "Goodbye, John; I'll see you up aboves"
Torti shouted back: “All right, Tony, So long." These were the last
a mountain near Old Forge, Burchanti, the first of the bandits to be
‘taken into custody, was arrested at Homestead on March 26, 192), whan
he took ae in an unsuccessful payrobl robbery there, On MayAl9, 1921)
Torti and Stummy were cornered at Tiltonville, Ohio, and Torti was
head and arm in an exchange of gunfire with the arrest=
in, Rather than be taken prisoner, Stummy shot and killed
himself, Bassi was captured following a holdup-murder in Cambria Co,
and sentenced to die from there, Fasci, the last member of the gang,
was caught in Chicago, Ill,, 18 months after the holdup, At their
trial, Burchanti and Torti sought to prove an alibi and produced wit-
nesses who swore that they had been in Yorkville, Ohio, attending a
funeral on the day of the holdup, However, the other passengers on
the train all identified them and pointed out Torti as the actual gun-
man, After their conviction by a jury that deliberated for three hours:
their witnesses were ‘all arrested on charges of perjury and one re~
ceived a KWH penitentiary sentence while the others received suspended
sentences and returned to Ohio, ‘Their case was unsuccessfully appealed
to the State Supreme Court and on June 1, 1925, they were both electro-
cuted at Rockview State Prison, Both refused any spiritual solace and
instrpeted guards to tell any priests that called that they would not
see then , Burchanti, the first to go, shoted to Torti from his cell
when the guards came for him: "Goodbye, Johns I'll see you up aboves!
Torti shouted back: "All right, Tony, So long." These were the last
Je nountain pear Old Yorge, Burchanti, the first of the bane
SERPS EG, catsteerts a Abnetoed oe Sarch yay
2
BURCHANTI AND TORTI = Continued= Pennsylvania 6-1-1925
\ }
words spoken by either man, Burchanti pulled away from the guards
escorting him and litterally ran into the death chamber, alone and
unassisted, He wore a broad smile, described as being "practically
a grin" as he sat himself in the chair and waited to be ttrapped in,
Torti, following a few minutes later, took his time in enterime the
death chamber and appeared cool, collected and unconcerned, Three
months later their confederate Bass i was executed for the Cambria
County murder and in December, 192b Fasci, the last of the gang,
was electrocuted, All were buried in the prison cemetery.
See also: Michael BASSI and REXKKK Paul Fasci,
SCRANTON TIMES, Scranton, Pa, June 1, 1925 (photo of both on first
poeoye 12=27-1926
1 28 ATLANTIC 659
Peete AND TORTI - Continued= Pennsylvania 6-1-1925
words shee by either man, Burchanti pulled away from the guards
escorting him and litterally ran into the death chamber, alone and
unassisted, He wore a broad smile, described as being "practically
a grin" as he sat himself in the chair and waited to be btrapped in,
Torti, following a few minutes later, took his time in entering the
death chamber and appeared cool, collected and unconcerned, ‘Three
months later their confederate Bass i was executed for the Cambria
County murder and in December, 192b Fasci, the last of the gang,
was electrocuted, All were buried in the prison cemetery.
See also: Michael BASSI and R&KEK Paul Fasci,
SCRANTON TIMES, Scranton, Pa, June 1, 1925 (photo of both on first
page); 12-27-1926
1 28 ATLANTIC 659
BURCHANTI AND TORTI - Continued- Pennsylvania 6-1-1925
\
words spoken by either man,
Burchanti pulled away from the guards
escorting him and litterally
ran into the death chamber, alone and
unassisted, He wore a broad smile, described as being "practically
a grin" as he sat himself in the chair and waited to be strapped
Torti, following a few minutes later, took his time in enter
death chamber and appeared cool, collected and unconcerned,
months later their confederate Bass i was executed for the Cambria
County murder and in December, 1926 Fasci, the last of the gang,
yas electrocuted, All were buried in the prison cemetery.
e also+ Michael BASSI and REXEE Paul Fasci.
SCRANTON TIMES, Scranton, Pa, June 1, 1925 (photo of both on first
1 28 ATLANTIC 659
9S (ynne 26 bath on Fre
“BURCHANTI, Tony, and TORTI, John i
Burchan'i, alias Tony Barlandi, alias Louis Carni, and Torti, alias
}dohn Demartini, were white men who were employed as miners by the
West End Coal Company located at Mocanaqua, Pa. On July 23, 1923,
they both quit thbir jobs and left the area without collecting their
paye Fully aware of the payroll schedule of the company, they had con-
spired with another miner, Peter Fasci,, and two others "Big Jack" Stu-
mny and Mike Bassi, to hold up the Laurel Line Limited electric rail-
way car that would be carrying the company's payroll on July 30. That
morning, Burchanti, an expert mechanic, drove the automobile that the
gang had previously stolen in Scranton to an isolated point beyond Moo-
sic, Lackawanna Co,, by which the train would pass, He kept the motor
running and waited until the car, bearing the other four members of
the gang who were riding as passengers approached, Torti, sitting be-
hind the car's motorman, drew a pistol and shot him, forcing him to
stop, The other members of the gang drew pistols on the other passen=
gers and the paymaster with his three guards, then one of the passen-
gers, Edward Murphy, a salesman, failed to move promptly enough, Torti
shot him, killing him instantly, h " : :
bull et and the gang left the earn REN eHe Sooke bral SEL ONGE ed :
Burchanti, standing by the train. with the car running, held the passen-
gers at bay until his confederates had e,t
grove bee The abandoned Car was Sad a Soar 448, hg, can and he, then
BURCHANTI, Tony, and TORTI, John , dia
Burchani, alias Tony Barlandi, alias Louis Carni, and Torti, alias
| John Demartini, were white men who were employed as miners by the
West End Coal Company located at Mocanaqua, Pa. On July 23, 1923,
they both ouit thbir jobs and left the area without collecting their
paye Fully aware of the payroll schedule of the company, they had con-
spired with another miner, Peter Fasci,, and two others "Big Jack" Stu-
may and Mike Bassi, to hold up the Laurel Line Limited electric rail-
way car that would be carrying the company's payroll on July 30. That
morning, Burchanti, an exoert mechanic, drove the automobile that the
gaag had previously stolen in Scranton to an isolated point beyond Moo-
sic, Lackawanna Co,, by which the train would passe He kept the motor
running and waited until the car, bearing the other four members of
the gang who were riding as passengers approached, Torti, sitting be-
hind the car's motorman, drew a pistol and shot him, forcing him to
stop, The other members of the gang drew pistols on the other passen-
gers and the paymaster with his three guards, hen one of the passen-
gers, Edward Murphy, a salesman, failed to move promptly enough, Torti
shot him, killing him instantly, he pay 7
bullet and the Par left the eeain ioe Une eee SP eh EES bY
Potcran ae Pecan the train with the car running, held the passen-~
gers a ates a ;
Grove away) ovthe ebendonet eee ae ne Saat preven 90, ¢ Boge an, ang he, then
BURCHANTI, Tony, and TORTI, John .
Burchani, alias Tony Barlandi, alias Louis Carni, and Torti, alias
John Demartini, were white men who were employed as miners by
‘eest End (al Company located at Mocanaqua, Pa. On July 23, 1923,
hey both quit their jobs and left the area without collecting their
pay. Fully aware of the payroll schedule of the company, they had con-
spired with another miner, Peter Fasci,, and two others "Big Jack" Stu-
my and Mike Bassi, to hold up the Laurel Line Limited electric rail-
would be carrying the company's payroll on July 30, That
morning, Burchanti, an expert mechanic, drove the automobile that the
ghag had previously stolen in Scranton to an isolated point beyond Moo-
i He kept the motor
sic, Lackawanna Co,, by which the train would pass.
running and waited until the car, bearing the other four members of
the gang who were riding as passengers approached, Torti, sitting be-
hind the car's motorman, drew a pistol and shot him, forcing him to
The other members of the gang drew pistols on the other parse
i hen one of the p
signing tin instantly, The paymaster was alan y
atid the gang left the train with pee ayroll of oro, A ar * ft
pocohant ty Sees by the train with the car running sen=
igers at until iis confed it in
KGrove ovaj, The abandoned car was Hound 12a Yh hs satiate
esr asa
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