Jacob & Joseph Bassanella: Murder & Escape

Jacob Lewis Bassanella was born in 1879 in Germany to Jacob Bassanella (1849-1916) & Fancesca Gotterwald (1859-1890).

 Joseph Bassanella was born 11 Aug 1883 Germany

Jacob was at West Point

He was wanted for Desertion & Robbery

Here's a newspaper article I found

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82151555/jacob-bassanella/

 Here are more article I found on their crimes:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82152665/joseph-bassanella/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82151762/jacob-bassanella/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82151441/jacob-and-joseph-bassanella/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82151036/jacob-bassanella/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82153249/joseph-bassanella/

Telegram Jacob Sr. got about the death of his and escape from Prison.

Here are prison records and a letter 

These fellas were first in New York with their family when they arrived and Jacob's desertion and robbery charges the family headed to North Dakota. Their father was a gardener when they lived in NY.

Here is the rest of Jacob & Fancesca's children in order of birth

 Jacob Lewis Bassanella

1879–1903

Marie D Bassanella

1880–1966

Joseph Bassanella

1883–1908

Ervin Bassanella

1885–

Annie Bassanella

1889–

Harold Frederick Bassanella (Changed his last name to Cutch)

1889–1970

William Frederick Bassanella (Changed his last name to Bosnell)

1890–1968

Minnie Bassanell

Photo of Jacob Sr. with his daughter Marie and her children.

Even though Jacob confessed and said Joseph had nothing to do with the murder, Joseph sat in prison.

I am sure this was his last hope and so when he saw an opportunity to escape he took it. But something I will never understand about criminals is why they didn't head for a boarder and hop on a boat to another country. Most seem to stick around and eventually get caught yet again. But in this case he was caught and shot dead.

 He apparently headed north, perhaps with some idea of avenging his dead brother, stealing a target pistol and clothing here, and a horse there. He was recognized and chased by the sheriff, the two exchanged shots at some point about 17 miles north of Washburn until Bassanella fell dead with a bullet in his brain.