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, Arraigned ut
the Morris County Court, N. j., for
the Murders of Their Wives.
STORY OF THE CRIMES.
Jealousy tho 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 ana both
OF atrocious and revolving barbarity. The first is
that Of Luigi Lusgnani an Italian. whose trial was
commenced yesterday afternoon The story OF the
crime Is as foll0ws:-AbOut three years ago Clos
vanni Bercotti an Italian, came to Dover, N. j.,
town Of about 5000 Inhabitants, six miles rom here
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 a
year, saved enough money to purchase q store OF
his own, and when he had got started in business
he went to New York for short time, returning
with an Italian woman named Johanna Moosi who
lived with him as his housekeeper. The woman
was twenty-f0ur years OF age, and Bercotti about
one year older. The pair lived happily together
until the It'll OF last November, when there arrived
at Dover on the early train from New York two
men. On arriving they inquired the way to Ber-
c0tti's store. The individuals were
LUIGI LUsIGNANI,
OF 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
return to her home. She refused to do so, alleging
that when she was at home she was 80 III 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 Bercottl, whe was at work.
and the woman came inside again, and the former,
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
would
LUIGI DREW A KNIFE
ms coat sn red to au
Barcott laid hold of him. receiving in the con.
nict two terrible wounds IN the abdomen. The
struggles, secured The woman died instantly,
but Bercott though his life was for some time IN
danger, has recovered, and will be able to testify
at the trial. Phillip, who did not interfere while
the terrible ARRAY was in progress has been held
and, owing to the short time they have been IN
New York. they speak no English. At the time Of
the occurrence the excitement was so intense that
it was with great difficulty the people could be pre-
vented from lynching Luigi, and the trial has been
looked forward to with great interest.
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 2sth OF
a wild place. called Irlshtown about two miles
from Dover. On the Goth or November two youths~
who were out squirrel shooting passed near the
shanty Of Moore, and in the rear they found the
body Of woman who was recognized as Mary
body was covered with wounds and bruises amt
was fearfully dishgured. 1t was without covering,
| with the exception of linen undergarment ami
this was frozen. When the interior OF the house
was examined the rooms on the ground noor wero
COVERED WITH BLOOD,
| and other tokens were revealed which sh0wef
that there had been fearful tragedy. The MARKS
in the freshly-lae snow denoted that the dead
| body had been dragged from the house to the
brook slde Moore had returned home the night
| before the body was discovered and was nowhere
| to be found, but pair OF overals which he had
worn were found in closet smeared with blood
9 arankt ii n pac fs Afals FAD but f ft1os
difIicutles, she being Roman Catholic and he
Protestant. A week after the crime had been
was lost. He returned to Dover in about
ance OF the death OF his vie lie Was Immediately
arrested and lodged In the County Jail at Norris
town AS there Is no direct evidence to implcate
him it is believed that his trial will be an interest
ing one, and his counsel claim that they VIII be
able to produce good defence; put tne cnaan o.
very strong, and the attorneys for the people as
sert that they will have no difficulty in fastening
The trial Of the italian was set down for halfpast
two O'Clock yesterday afternoon. and ut That time
OF the Court House, 4 handsome structure on
rising ground in the heart Of the town. When the
N'''' THE CROWD sURGED IN,
and in few moments the court room, when nolds
about three hundred persons was Gn 70 s Of
females who wished to crafty their curiosity Dy
| the unusual exhibition OF the TWO wiIe muruerers.
| Chief Justice Dalrympe, a keen-lo0king little man,
was the presiding Judge, and with him were the
| two associate Judges Of the district. AS counsel
for the people appeared La Mott pr0sec@!nS at
For the prisoners appeared the counsel assigned
| by the Court two weeks ago. when the indictments
| were found by The Grand Jury-Me5srs. Churcn,
wurts and Mills. small army OF reporserss
| through the courtesy OF Sherln Vandever, were
! furnished with seats at the same tables with the
Al three O'Clock the prosecuting attorney cailed
on he case of the people against Luigi Lusgnani,
and moved Tor an immediate trial.
Mr. Wurts, one OF the counsel for the defence,
asked FOR pos ponement, as the defence were hos
ready to proceed, owing to the fact that they had
PROCURED AN INTERPRETER
| and had only once communicated with the pr!s-
| oner In addition there was material Witness
for the defence ABSENT ana tue senior counsel h M'
circumstances Mr.. Wurts asked for postpone
ment which, after some consideration was granted
the trial to come OFF on Thursday morning.
The case OF the people against
| SOLOMON DAVID MOORE, .
for the murder Of his wife, was then called ana traA
MI. Mills, of counsel for the defence, requested
that short delay might be granted IN oruer nn =
the defence might more fully have Tune 10 Gumeo
important testimony on behalf OF the prisoncA
which could not be forthcoming Tor DAY or wv,
This motion was resisted but Judge Darymp.e
taking into consideration te iac tma ,nse ssgne
was man without money and had COUNSEL - W.
TO him. consented to adjourn the clse u." Cn,re
nesiay when 1t will be properly caiee' .m1 9,aS
was then adjourned and the crowd OF pcp,c n,ru
wa Siscns sing the OF the prisoners.
IL is generally believed that the Iesu . oi .o
trials will be verdlcts OF murder ~ ' IN. nfenc az
AMI "a Jersey Justice Is proyerDal Inc onGhces ~.
sha two men will in all probability, be expiatea on
the scanoId The defence OF LusignauL VIII, ~ rs
: oxnected develop some interesting leaturess INC
point OF Of th the e Of Iagnan BY
cotti. ----------- a.
MORE VIOLENCE asswssd