The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-11
JEALOUSY, RELIGION And MURDER.
Luigi Lusignani, an Italian, and Solomon
David Moon, an Irishman, Arraisned at
the Morris County Court, N. j., for
the Murders of Their Wives.
STORY OF THE CRIMES.
Jealousy the Motive in the Case of the
italian Religion and Drunken
ness in the Other.

For the first time In the history of Morris county
two murderers are awaiting trial at the same term
of Court. What makes the circumstance the more
remarkable is the strange coincidence that both
the cases are cases of wife murder and both
OF atrociOus and revolving barbarity. The FIRST Ii
that of Luigi Lusignani Italian, whose trial was
commenced yesterday afternoon. The story OF the
crime Is as follows:-AbOut three years ago Clos
vannl Bercotti, an Italian, came to Dover, N. j.. a
town of about 5000 Inhabitants, six miles rom here
on the line of the Morris and Essex Railroad. He
was In search OF employment and succeeded in
getting work at his own trade, that of shoes
maker. BY industry and economy he in about q
year, saved enough money to purchase store OF
his own, and when he had got started in business
he went to New York for a short time, returning
with an Italian woman named Johanna Moosi, who
lived with him as his housekeeper. The woman
was twenty-four years Of age, and Bercotti about
one year older. The pair lived happily together
until the 7th Of last November when there arrived
ut Dover on the early train from New York two
men, On arriving they inquired the way to Ber-
cotti's store. The individuals were
LUIGI LUsIGNANI,
or No. Is Baxter street, New York, and Mariello
Phillip, fellow laborer who lodged with Luigi In
the same house. When the two men came to
Bercotti's store Luigi claimed the woman Moosi
as his wife, and demanded that she should at once
return to her home. She refused to do So alleging
that when she was at home she was 80 lii treated
she had to go away. She went outside the store
and for some time conversed with the man who
claimed to be her husband, Phillip in the mean
while remaining with Bercotti, whe was at work.
After taking some time outside the store Luigi
reiterated his demand that Johanna should &C
company him. She again refused to do So and at
this point BercOtti interpOsed and said that if
Luigi would return to the city he would persuade
the woman to follow him. Johanna spoke again
and said she would never go, when
from his coat and plunged it into the unfortunats
womans breast. He then tried to escape but
Barcotti laid hold of HIM. receiving in the con-
nct two terrible wounds in the abdomen. The
desperate assassin WAS however despite his
but Bercotti, though his life was for some time N
danger, has recovered, and will be able testify
at the trial. Phillip, who did not interfere while
for witness He and Luigi were street aborers,
and, owing to the short time they have been in
the occurrence the excitement was SO intense that
it was with great difficulty the people could be pre-
vented rom lynching Luigi and the trial has been
The other case Is one of even more revolving
barbarity. 1t is that OF David Moore, who stands
charged with the murder of his wife on the 2st OF
November. The couple lived in lonely shanty, in
wild place. called Irlshtown, about two miles
from Dover. On the 2sth OF November two youths.
who were out squirrel shooting, passed near the
shanty OF Moore, and in the rear they found the
oody o. ha VINO Was aS Map
body was covered with wounds and bruises ami
was fearfuly dishgured. 1t was without covering,
with the exception OF a linen undergarment, AMI
this was frozen. When the intefi Of the house
was examined the rooms on the ground loor were
COVERED WITH BLOOD,
and other tokens were revealed which shower
that there had been fearful tragedy The marks
in the freshly fallen snow denoted that the dead
body had been dragged from the house to the
brook side. Moore had returned home the night
before the body was discovered and was nowhere
to be found, but pair OF overalls which he had
worn were found in closet smcared with blood.
drunk and, as usual, had quarrelied with his wife,
as he was constantly in the habit Of doing, the
iiGicuitIes, she being Roman Catholic and he q
Protestant week after the CRIME ,, had been
was lost. He returned to Dover in about
three weeks alterward, pretending entire ignor-
arrested and lodged In the County Jail at Norris
town. AS there Is no direct evidence to implieate
ing one, and his counsel claim that they will be
able to produce good defence; but the chain oil
e Ss e ass
sert that they Will have no difficulty III fastening
the deed upon the prisoner.
The trial of the Italian was set down for halfpast
two O'Clock yesterday afternoon. and ut That time
great number OF people assembled IN the vicinity
Of the Court House, handsome structure on
rising ground in the heart OF the town. When the
doors were opened
THE CROWD sURGED IN,
and In few moments the court room, which holds
about three hundred persons, was crowded to SUI.
location. The audience included large number OF
females, who wished to crafty their curiosity by
the unusual exhibition OF the two wife murdcrers.
Chief Justice Darymple, keen-looklng little man,
was the sude nd w MN As
for the people appeared La Mott, prosecuting AT
tOrney, assisted by Attorney General Gilchrist.
For the prisoners appeared the counsel assigned
by the Court two weeks ago, when the indictments
were found by The Grand Jury-Messrs. Church,l
Wurts and Mills. small army OF reporters
through the courtesy OF sherlT Vandever, were
furnished with seats at the same tables Win inc
lawyers.
on he case of the people against Luigi Lusignani,
and moved Tor an immediate trial.
Mr. Wurts, one OF the counsel for the defence,
asked FOR q postponement us the defence were nos
ready to proceed, owing to the TACT that they had
PROCURED AN INTERPRETER
and had only once communicated with the pr!s-
oner, In addition there was a material witncSS
for the defence absent and the senior counsel MI
Vanetta was also unable to attend. Under these
circumstances Mr.. Nurts asked Tor postpohe-
ment which, after some consideration, was granted
the trial to come of on Thursday morning.
The case OF the people against
SOLOMON DAVID MOORE -
for the murder Of his wife, was then called anu triak
MI. Mills, of counsel for the defence, requested
that short delay might be granted IN order nSss
important testimony on benalf OF the prisoner
hich could not be forthcoming for day or TWO,
taking into CONFEDERATION the fact that the prisoner
was man without money ana ad counsei as,' t
to him, consented to adjourn the case unlil Wco-
nesday, when it will be properly called me Coure
was then adjourned and the crowd OF people nled
out eagerly discus the chances the prisoners.
1t Is generally believed that the result OF the
trials will be verdicts OF murder IN tho rss degree.
and "a Jersey Justice Is proverbal the offences OK
the two men will, In all probability, be expiated on
the scafod The defence OF Lusignanf VIII, II iS
expected, develop some interesting features, tho
strong point OF the counsel consisting in tie
alleged seduction Of the wife Of Lusignani by Ber-
cotti. D f f Un .ar0lI
,ropp uror puCr r,,rryx..t --.l