Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-05
TIE LHNTINI CASE.
WHO KILLED mrs. TRoAI STILL an UE.
SETTLED QUESTION.
The Defense Introduce Evidence against
Troai-Medical Expert gesti-
mony-Etc.


Troai-Medical Expert Eestt-
mony-Etc.
At the opening of the Court yesterday morning
Mr. Edgerton offered to prove long eourse OF ill.
treatment OF deceased by Troai, her husband, COM
mencing as far back as 1877 and continuing to the
time of her decease such ill treatment consisting of
the application to her by him Of vile and opprobr
Gus epithets of assaults and batteries; of attempts
TO drive her permanently away from him, and by re-
peatsd threats against her life. BE stated that the
offer was made to show Troai's malice aud motive,
and to rebuff the presumption Of his innocence ariE
ing from his marital relations with deceased.
The Court stated that the offer too broad, and
that the rulings would be made when specific ques-
tions were asked of the witnesses.
MRS. GAFFNEY
Related the circumstances attending the hearing Of
the shot, the calling for her by Troai, and Of her re-
turning to his house with him. accompanied by Miss
Seaman and her little boy. She stated that during
her long acquaintance with the Troai family she did
not know OF their living happily together at any
time. They frequently fought and quarreled When
witness arrived at Troai's she found the deceased
living in the yard and described the position OF the
| body, A pillow was under ner neau anu q Wiube
| CLOTH that she usually wore on her head,
was under the body, sOiled and bloody.
Witness opened the dress OF deceased to see if life
was extinct ascertained that sne was dead and the
| bodv cold witness described the actions of all IN
til Whites folks arrived when the body was carried
into the house. deposited on the floor and after
| wards placed on the bed. Mrs. Troei was very
| short woman but rather stout; she would not
| weigh more than 1875 or 140 pounds. Troa'5 shot
| oun was found lying on the bed. Witness examined
the gun and found that the cap Of the tubes
| had been recently mashed found shot-pouch and
| powder-hask; poured some of the shot IN her hand
| and found there were two sizes; the shot taken
from the body Of the deceased the night the inquest
| was held there were two sizes, and compared with
those seen in the pouch referred to; saw no slugs
! talea from the wound Mrs. Troai and the
little girl driving the afternoon OF the murder
| examined the wound on the deceased, which was on
| the light side it was not concentrated wound,
but scattered considerably, two shot apparently
going in at the place; the shot were not deep,
| some of them being quite near the surface. Wit
ness described the clothing worn by the deceased at
| the time Of the murder; saw no blood stains
| on the floor sun Troai had, during the
| mer preceding the murder, painted some wheels in
the room where the bloodstalns were claimed to be
found The paint used Was Of dark red color. A
| few days ago Witness accompanied by Mr.. Mills and
her daughter Nettie, visited rroais house. examined
! the floor and found one Of the spots still remain
| ing It was scratched up, tasted, and otherwise
tested, and found to be paint. Troai told witness
that the little girl shot in the right ARM which
had swollen SO from the effects Of the wound that
the clothing had to be cut on When Troai started
for Whites place he wanted TO take his gun, but
witness would not let him He claimed that he was
| afraid that John would kill him.
Cross-examined-Ate supper Immediately after
| the school teacher came in, or about hall past
o'clock After supper went out to milk the cow,
| and was Just going TO commence milking when she
heard the shot Took about twenty minutes TO milk
| the cow Witness described the position of the
houses roads, distances between points, and time
occupied in walking from point to point Witness
was required to describe the position OF the body
the wound and premises, which she did the ssme as
in her direct examination. WltRess assisted in
Miss Marcia Seaman said she heard the shot fired,
and the sound came from the direction OF SCOTS
place.
A lad II years OF age, said he resided nine miles
east of Gait. Troai came to his mothers place on
the afternoon Of the MURDER and told witness that
John had torn his coat, and he going to have
him arrested He returned to his house, af'erward
came back and was met by Mrs Gaffney, Miss
Seaman and witness. They returned to the iatters
place and found Mrs. Troai lying in the yard dead.
Witness described the position and appearance OF
the body.
MISS BETTIE GAFFNEY
Said she was daughter OF Mrs. Isabella Gaffney.
On the day of the homicide, while she and her sister
were going to Gall. they met John Lentinl and Pete
/ Cosolo about half way. The men we're riding in
wagon, driving very rapidly, and the girls had to
get out of their way. The men were both very
drunk especially Lentini, who swayed from side TO
side and kept his seat by putting one arm around
Pete Am dressmaker by trade, aud have
cut and fitted dresses for the deceased,
who was 2 very short woman, and would
weigh about 1876 or l40 pounds, A week
after the murder examined the spots in the floor
ard found them to be paint Last Sunday called at
the Troai place. but the spots were all gone. Know
Sam Troai and Mrs TrOai very well. The winter
before Mrs Troai killed, Troai asked witness if
his wife had been complaining about him, and said
" By me God some time me breakee de neck OF de
woman" he said she would not allow him to go
around rs he did before marriage Witness did not
tell him what his wife had said about him. This
was about four months before the homicide.
FRED. cLoUGH
Said he knew Margareta Troai during her lifetime,
and is acquainted with Salvatore Troai. Lived in
the same house with them once for several months
Sam was at that time driving chicken wagon
Never saw him strike her, but heard him do so.
Hear, him beating her one night in the next room,
she calling loudly for help. Did not Interfere, but
let him beat her. They were OF a different class
from himself, and he did not wish to have any
trouble with them.
ROBERT CRAIG
Said he knew Sam Troai, and during her lifetime
his wife Live about a mile east Of Troars house
Was ct TT ais place the evening OF the MURDER ar
irving there about o'clock. Saw Sam. Troai that
night and heard him say that John Lentini had
shot Mrs. Troai Troai said John came up to the
house. put foot on the doorstep and fired. Was
there the next night, and WIS one OF the Coroner5
Jury. Know VIM. Raffety, and have known him for
years During the evening Of the murder sam.
Troai with a gun in his hands There was some
talk about q barrel of his gun being discharged.
Saw no shot in the house. Saw spots on
the hoor which ne &c first thought was
blood but afterwards in doubt as 10 whether it
was blood grease. Saw blood stains on TrOais
| pants below the knee
| Gross axaminaton-He know that it was blood
| from It's locke The pants were brown IN color and
the stain was bright red Did not ask him how the
murder was committed, for the reason that Tfoai
| told him as soon as he arrived. TroSi was very
much excited cried some, and in that state of mind
related the circumstances attending the murder.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Robert Craig, recalled at the request of one of
| the turymen, and asked when he examined the west
room for blood, II he saw any spots at ALL He an.
| swered that he did not.
John Wilson said he a farmer, and resided 10
mites east Of Gait. Was acquainted with Tfoai. and
| knew his wife during her life time by sight. Went
to Troas place about o'clock on the evening of the
day of the murder. The xt morning, about or
o'clock, examined the floor with Mr. Craig for blood
| spots, and the walls for evidences Of shot, but
could fluid neither. Saw Troal on the night of the
murder The latter told witness that John put the
gun in the door and fired He took o broom and
explained how the gun was thrust in the door,
Cro1s- ex imination-Thinks that the time he
speaks of Tross explaining the homicide, that the
latter was talking to Sheriff Hebron Also heard
him tell and explain the same thing to Constable
Fugett. Don't know of telling any one that he
| arnired the floor for blood aud could fad none.
Afterwards admitted having told District Attorney
Carey.
| SOLOMON KREEGER
Resides near the town Of Gait, where he has been
engaged in farming for nearly thirty years. Was
| member Of the Grand Jury that indicted John Len
TIM Tor the murder of Mrs Troai. Salvs IA Troai
was witness before the Grand Jury aud testified as
to the manner in which his wife was murdered.
! Mr. Edgertou-State what Troai testified to be-
fore the Grand Jury as to the murder or manner in
which Mrs Troai was murdered.
| Mr. Holl objected to the question on the grounds
that such evidence was inadmissble. Afterwards
| withdrew his objection.
Witness stated that Troai said his vile started to
| get bucket OF water and rs she opened the door,
exclaimed " Hero comes John Lentini with gun"
At that instant he heard the report Of the qua Mrs
Troai exclaimed, "a John, what for you shoot me 2
Troai asked her il she was hurt, and she replied,
| "No; rot much" He asked by one of the
! Grand jury why he did not shoot capture Leu
tint, when he ran out, and he replied, Ne see
| him"
Cross.examiration-Thi that is the language he
| used He speaks very broken English, and is not
easily understood by those who are not acquainted
| with him When he before the Grand Jury
his testimony was taken in Englsh-no interpreter
| was used.
/ II. SMITH
Said he was 8 resident Of the town Of Gait and at
present Chairman Of the Board OF Supervisors.
From 1879 to 1882 was Justice OF the Peace at Calf
Troai can speak FDglish toleraby well. person