Below are newspaper articles written at the time of the shootings
| Killing in Willisville
A race riot between Italians and Americans is feared at Willisville, a mining town north of Ava, as the result of the lynching of Albert Piazzia, a poolroom owner, who shot Andrew Adams in an attempted hold-up. The cause of the trouble seems to be of several years duration. A man by the name of Will Cooper is wounded in addition to Andrew Adams and they both were sent to hospital at Murphysboro that night. Reports are that Cooper and some Italians had trouble a few years ago & Cooper has felt that he has been in danger ever since that time. Cooper was accosted by Piazzia and his brother, Sunday night and he called to Adams, who was passing by for assistance and then the feud started. [From the "Daily Free Press" October 13, 1914] |
Inquest fails to identify memebers of mob who killed Piazza at Willisville Percy, Illinois, October 14 - Willisville is quiet and there is no excitement here. Coroner Devine assisted by State Attorney Riess, held an inquest and no evidence could be found identifying any of the masked crowd who lynched Albert Piazza. The jury returned a verdict that Piazza came to his death on October 12, 1914 by bullet wounds he suffered from a mob of unknown persons, after being taken from the officers about one mile south of Percy. The body of Piazza was taken to Willisville, where it will be buried today. His brother, Sam Piazza, who was killed in the fight Sunday night, was buried there yesterday. The body of Andy Adams, who died in the Murphysboro Hospital was brought to Willisville. There is considerable excitement in Willisville and several deputies have been sworn in to keep the peace. Cooper, the other fellow wounded in the feud Sunday night is improving at the hospital at Murphsboro and is expected to get well. The Italians are leaving Willisville and going to Murphysboro by lots as they are fearful of the Americans at that place. They are leaving their families behind and will send for them when they get work. Piazza's body was buried today with over a hundred bullet holes in it. Even his shoes were perforated with bullets. He was shot while in the buggy and after the officers were ordered out. He was still handcuffed and the officers were taking him to Percy preparatory in lodging him the jail at Pinckneyville. [from the "Daily Free Press" October 14, 1914] |
Cooper Fourth Victim Will Cooper died at 2:45 this morning, the fourth victim of the battle at Willisville, Sunday between himself and Adams and the two Piazza brothers. The bullet which struck Cooper is thought to have been poisoned. At the undertaking firm of Roberts and Sons it was learned that all post mortem indications point to a loaded bullet. The body turning black as it does in case of such death. It was found that Cooper did not even posses a pocket knife at the time of the trouble and though he was a powerful man in stature was unable to cope with the armed Italians. Cooper was shot in the left side in a spot not far from that in which Adams was struck. He had lived in Willisville for sometime, was about 25 years of age and unmarried. The corpse was taken up on No. 2 of the M. & O. Wednesday afternoon for internment. [from the "Daily Free Press" October 15, 1914] |
Murder at Willisville Sunday night the Village of Willisville, not to be outdone by the big powers in Europe, had a little war of their own. One man was killed and one was seriously wounded. One of which it is thought will die. The fight occurred about 9:00 Sunday night. Albert Piazza aged about 23 and his brother Sam, aged about 19 fought Andrew Adams and Will Cooper. Sam Piazza was killed. His brother was placed under arrest after the fight. Cooper and Adams were placed on the Mobile and Ohio accommodation and were taken to Murphysboro Hospital. Andrew died Monday night. Monday officers arrested Albert Piazza, placed him in a buggy and started to Percy to take a train for Pinckneyville to place him in jail. When near Percy they were halted by a body of men, the prisoner was taken over from the officers and literally shot to pieces. It is said over 100 bullets were fired into his body. Excitement is high at Willisville and a race riot is feared. [from the "Illinois Herald" October 15, 1914] |
Duquoin The funeral of Andrew Adams, who was shot by Albert Piazza at Willisville, was held In Willisville. Adams died In the Murphysboro hospital, where he and Will Cooper were taken after the rioting In Willisville, in which Piazza was mobbed. Adams was twenty-three years old and was to have been married to Miss Bessie Kerr of Willisville in November. [Cook County Herald, Friday, Oct 23, 1914, p7] |
Chester Labor Leader Arrested: Dec 31. -- Allen Russell, labor leader of Willisville, Ill, who was arrested in Henrietta, Okla on a charge of murder in connection with the lynching of Albert Piazza by a mob of coal miners near Willisville, October 12, was placed in jail here today. Four others are held here under a similar charge. (Temple Daily Telegram, Temple Tex., Vol 8, No 45, Ed. 1 Friday, January 1, 1915, p2) |
Chester The trial of Allen Russel, Nelson Osborne, Charles Dllday, Thomas Browning and Edward Beisner, charged with the murder of Albert Piazza on a country road near Percy, 111., is in progress here, following the completion of the jury iate yesterday. Seven laborers, three farmers, one carpenter and one barber are on the panel. Piazza, who killed two men in a street fight at Willisville, October 11, was taken from bis captors by a mob ot 30 men the following day on the way to Plnckneyville and shot to death. (Edwardsville Intelligencer, Friday March 12, 1915, p 4) |
Willisville The Willisville coal mines south of Sparta have reopened. These mines employ about 300 men and shutdown several weeks ago, when a race riot broke out and two Americans and two Italians were killed. In the reopening, both Americans and Italians got their old jobs back. [from the "Coal Age, Volume 7" Coal & Coke news dated January 16th 1915] |
Percy The mines at Willisville have been closed down for about 60 days throwing approximately 300 men out of work. At a recent meeting of the miners' union at Percy, it was decided to share up with the men at Willisville. Accordingly about 125 men were given places at the mine. [from the "Coal Age, Volume 7" Coal & Coke news dated June 26th 1915] |