The daily gazette., 1881-10-26
Q. n. CIRCUIT COURT.
Continuation OF the Trial OF An.
tonic Corso.


When the United States Circuit Court
opened, this morning, at 10 o'clock, tbe
case Of Antonio Corso, for assault and
battery on Francis Lind, first mate of
the bark AJbie Baker, on the hlph seas.
was resumed.
Emil Ebelspacker, of New York. who
was passenger on the boa, detailed the
circumstances of the quarrel that re.
suited in the stabbing of the mate by
Corso, In about the same manner as the
other witnesses related them. On cross.
examination he said he had never uo-
ticed any unusual harshuess on the part
OF the ofhcers towards the sailors. nor
bad he noticed any previous insubordlp-
ation or bad conduct on The part of the
men.
District Attorney Patterson next
offered IN evidence certified copies OF the
statements taken before the Cousul al
Nal aga, before whom Corso had his pre-
llmlnary hearing. He said the Govern.
ment had been unable to secure the at
tendance of all the witnesses of the
transaction, but this document contained
the evidence OF all whe saw The fight.
The defense objected to the admi..
sion of the document, and the ConIt
sustained the objection, holding that the
hearing beforethe consul was an er marie
one, sufficient TO found prosecution
upon, but not admissible at trlal.
The Government here rested.
In bis opening address to the jury, Mr..
fandegrift, counsel for the prisoner.
briefly stated that his plea would be
seli-deiense' lie then said he proposed
70 place Corso on the stand to testify in
his own behalf, and asked the Cont II
such procedure was allowable. Judge
bradford said it would be novel prac.
tice in this Court.
MIR. Vsndegriit said he had aulbori.
Ties In support OF his position, and that
there existed special u. s. Statute
giving the prisoner the right to 90 upon
The witness stand II he so desired. .rha
act was OF March 10Th, 1878, CHAPTER AZ,
section 20, which Mr.. Yandepriit read
IL gives the accused the right To testify
IN his own behalf if he makes reouest
for the privilege. '''
Tho statute settled the question
and Corso took the stand and was
sworn. "'
Corso's version was that hearing n
disturbance on deck he went up and
saw the mate threatening Oscar Mys-
trem with Delaying pin. He said
MIR. Lind, don't strike the man ,y;,h
a Delaying pin," whereupon the mata
rushed at him and struck him on tho
arm and head. lie fell back again,
sne rail and put his hand on a belav-
ing pm for support, and jast then The
oap'aih arrived and also hit him with
pm. lie tried to wrest the pin from
the Captain, and the latter dropned IL
when Corso let 60 of the Captain. and
told him that he did not come on tba
Doat 10 be hit with a behaving min
iheh the mate struck him three mora
Times with Delaying pin and knocked
nun down, rendering him almost sense.
,ess' Inc mate struck him again wbile
ne was down, "and then" said Corso
went Tor him." lie said be wa,
AFRAID oil his life when the mate NJ.
lacked him the last time with the he-
laying pin. ' '''o oe-
Corso's statement was piyen in .
plain, straightforward, eonvino;n.
manner, and delivered in tolerablu fax
English. He said he was a natiye Of
Belgium. 'o vi
James Vance was the next wi,,o,.
caiied. Vance is Tn ted States mrs.
oner, serving ont term of imnrison-
ment in New Castle for counterfeitina
lie said that over in the Jail. one daS
The mate, Lind, said to linn that if Is
had Corso out in the woods he wonid
hx him pretty quick.
This testimony was produced for the
purpose OF weakening the testimonv
OF Lind, who denied making such an
assertion. u"
A lengthy argument then ensned
upon point raised by Mr.. Vallandig
nam as to his right to prove that Lima
was man entirely devoid of Religions
belief, and did not recognize the eriss
tence OF Supreme Being or believe
there was any punishment for ner.
jury. io' per'
Mr.. Patterson said that when ~