The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-29
AN UNNATURAL PARENT.

ROSE MAssIMExo TEsTIrIEs AGAINST HIl
FATHER ANTONIO LEoS-rHE PRISONER
HELD TO AWAIT THE ACTION OF THE GRAND
JURY.
In the First District Court room, Butler street,
Brooklyn. Justice Ferry presiding, yesterday, Mrs
Rose Massimeno appeared against her brutal father,
who murderousy assaulted her because sho told her
husband no had treated her unnaturay. She testi.
fed that the 10th OF February last, about hapast
o'clock. her father camo TO her bedroom, and,
taking hold OF her arm led her into the other room,
where no asked her II sho would have him hanged.
.No, father" she said. "what should want you
hung for ~ he then said, ''why did you write o etteg
to John Kelly, your uncle, IN New York;" she said
tho letter did concern him; hc shut tho door and
called Tor her tather.in-aw; her father and
uncle Antonio and John Leon, behind the door,
and when old Mr. Massimcno camo they held the door
against him to prevent his entrance; his arm
caught in the door. and they then admitted
him; witness then went to her bedroom, where
her father Antonio Leon, followed, and taking
revolver from his pocket beat her with It on the bead.
and then fred three shots, but whllo tho pistol
pointed toward her OF the bullets took effect al
though her skirts caught IRE. Running into the front
room she raised the window. Her father pursued her,
dashed her tho floor and hit her the head
or eight times wi,n the butt OF tho pistol; bio also
kicked her the breast aud back She jumped up at
last ana said Oh, father let me 90 away" He said.
you arc not dead yet; have done this much and J
her again the head She exclaimed,
"Fathor. | am dying am dyng!" and he thcn
away, followed by his brother.
tho examination failed TO shake the testimony
Of the young woman, who said she had no bad feeling
against her father her father Flaw attempted TO take
the pistol from the prisoners hor hands were bruised
from trying to ward oil tho blows and TO
toct her hands and lace John Leon stood quietly by
during the assault with his hands In his pockets do.
ing nothing either 10 prevent tho assault or to assist
IN II.
Dr. Meade, resident surgeon OF the Long Island
College Hospital, testified 10 the condition IN
when the young woman when taken TO that
institution and sad that she would have
cred IL not for her great vitality and wonderful
power OF recuperation.
Nicholas NassImcnO who IS about seventy years OF
age testified to having witnessed the assault ana
roboraed the testimony OF hts daughter.in-law
Her husband, John Massimeno, testified to having
met Antonio and John Leon after leaving the house
that morning and to subsequently finding Rose bleed.
ing down stars, and on going TO his apartments dis
covering n broken pistol and knife there.
John Icons testimony was 10 the effect that he
called at the residence OF his niece In company with
his brother, tho latter went into with Rose
alone heard struggle and two shots fired he
in and saw his b other ''pcrsecutlng" her.
The prisoner, Antonio Leon, testified that he asked
u letter to John Kelly" and she replied that
she had sent letter him; no then
told her that she must not DO saucy "a
her father. He claimed that no had ncvcr boon guilty
OF the alleged by her against MIN; no admit "a
having Knocked her down tho door and having
beaten her. but said that he did attempt shoot
her. -tho pistol went of accidentally
JLst..e Ferry committed the prisoner to Raymond
Street J-,i to await the action OF the Grand Jury.