Sichera, Paul: 1930
Paul Sichera was beaten to death by Louis Mircori and Donato Ciricolo, of Altoona on November 28, 1930.. Paul had lived at 706 6th Street. As of January 1, 1931, both men were waiting for the Grand Jury to rule on their case.
There was not much sympathy for the victim. News accounts of the day described Paul Sichera as an “odious demon.” It is interesting that that headline was a quote spoken by one of his killers, Louis Mircori. Another man, Mr. Santella, although not involved in the crime, testified that Mr. Sichera was a bully, a ruffian, and a terror to all the people living on Eighth and Ninth Avenues, especially when he was drinking.
Mr. Sichera was found, dying, at 1002 Eighth Avenue, the home of Donato Ciricolo, on November 28, 1930. He was suffering from a head injury and exposure.
According to testimony at the trial, held at Hollidaysburg in January of 1931, the three men had been drinking at the Sixth Street, Altoona, home Mr. Sichera and Mircori shared. The place was described as a ‘hovel.’ Ciricolo called Mr. Sichera a traitor because the man had been paid $100.00 to be a witness at a recent murder trial, and at the drinking party, he was bragging that he had committed perjury. Mr. Sichera may have been speaking about either the Gates or Logan trials; more research is needed. The two men began to fight, and Mr. Sichera bit Ciricolo on the lip and then flew into a rage. He bit a crucifix, broke it, and trampled it on the ground.
According the accused, oddly enough, the next day the three men continued their drinking at Ciricolo’s home. At some point, Mr. Sichera lunged at Ciricolo. Ciricolo picked up a fence pailing and struck him on the head. He fell, and hit his head on the stove as he did so. His skull was fractured, and the coroner was to judge that this, along with exposure and alcoholism, caused his death.
At the trial, Judge Patterson said he knew the facts in the case and there was not much in dispute. He considered that when a man goes looking for trouble, as Mr. Sichera did, and gets hurt or killed, that man is to blame. Even the assistant District Attorney who was proseceuting the case agreed, stating he felt the Mr. Sichera was the aggressor. The attorney for the defense, Robert Pudenbaugh, offered to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Ciricolo was sentenced to one to two years. Micori was nolle prossed and walked out of the courtroom a free man.
