Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-03
TIE LENTINI CASE.
THE EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION
ALL IN, AND THEY REST.
Salvatore Troai on the Witness Stand
all Day-ee Tells all About how
his Wife was Murdered.

The Lsntini case was resumed at 9 a. N.
yesterday. The first witness examined was
Salvatore Troi. Said he knew John Lentini.
His place was eight miles east Of the town of
Calf He resided there in February. 1882
On the 22i of that month-don't know the
exact time of the day, but late in the aftei-
noon-saw John Lentiui and Pete Csrrolla
coming in a wagon. l went into the house.
! They drove up by the windmill and stopped.
| | then went cut to the windmill, and being
sick With the rheumatism, sat down on a
gang-plow. John made the lines fast on the
brake and climbed down on one side of the
wagon, Peter getting out on the other. He
| said, "Halloo, and 1 said, "Halloo." John
came up to me and said. what do you
mean by halloo?" Told him to 60 away
with his God and let me alone. He
asked me, "Where ia my baby; you
| told me it was sick" Told him that yester-
day had gone to Gait and brought home my
wife and his baby, they having come up that
day from Stockton. Lsntini then caught hold
of me and struck me three times in the breast.
! tried to ges away from him, and told him to
| quit. My woman seeing the fight, came run.
| ming from the house, and said: - Pete, why
don't you hold John? Sam ia sick-he has
| the rheumatism" She asked Pete the same
thing two or three times, and then Pete went
behiod John and pulled him away. Lentini
held on TO me so hard when Pete pulled him
of that he tore off the lapel Of my coat. My
wife told me to go in the houte which | did,
while she remained by the windmill in cor
versation with Pete and John, When LeL
TIM got on his wagon and drove off, | went out
to the windmill, where my wife and Pete were
still standing. Pete remained ten or fifteen
minutes, aud then walked off in the direction
of Lentinis place. Wife and L then went
into the house, and | sat down and took the
baby GA my lap while she was preparing sup.
per. After a while my wife laid there was no
water in the house. [ said, Gan right:
bring the bucket, and L will go bring some"
She got the bucket and said, Never mind, [
will go and get it; and 1 replied, IAN
right; if you want to go, you co. She went
TO the door, bucket in hand, and exclaimed,
Jesus Maria, here is John coming with
gun" l Immediately jumped up, and my
woman started to run toward the bed
room, turned partially around, when the gun
was discharged. | saw she was hit and asked
if she was hurt and she replied, " Not much. "
| ran out of the door and cav John running
awsy in a stopping position with gun in his
hand. l returned Immediately to look after
my wife, and found her lying in the back
yard, three or four feet from the house. l
called to her "Margareta Msrgareta T" but
she gave me no answer. | then pulled back
her cycles, but they closed again immedi-
ately, and / saw she was dead. In q second
l was in the house and back with pillow
placed it under her head ard ran toward
Mrs. Gaffney, calling Mrs. Gaffney Mrs.
IF hot 80 Ill
Mrs. Gaffney and the schoolma'am on the
road They asked, Whats the matter! ?"
and 1 replied, John has killed Margareta."
They came with me, and [ showed them the
body. Mrs. Gaffney felt of Margareta's
breast and said she was dead. l then ran
excitedly all the way to Whites calling,
" Mr.. White Mr.. White come help me
John kill my WIFE" Mr. White, his wife
and boy came Immediately. The body was
lifted by those present into the house and
placed on the bed. It was about dusk when
Lentiui shot my wife. 1t was after sun
down, and an hour or so after Lentini drove
by my house.
Cross examination-Wa born in Syracuse,
Italy, in 1920; left bis native land for Mel
bourne in 1919, and came to the United
States q few years later; came to California
and TO Sacramento the yeac they commenced
building the State Capitol at one time lived
in jackson, Amador county was married to
a Swiss lady several years ago in Stockton /;
he and his wife always lived happily together |
ne loved his wife, and all his acts toward her |
were those of kindness he denied having |
had conversations with his Deighbors in which |
it was asserted he had threatened the life of
his vile; he declared positively that he |
never had any trouble with his |
wife at any time or on any occasion. |
John Lentini was his brother-in-law. Len. |
tini's little girl was something over four years |
old. Lentini often called st Troai's place and |
sat at his table. He denied ever having had |
a conversation with certain parties in regard |
to a difnculty with his wife. Lived few |
years ago for several months at Liberty, a |
place about two miles from Gait. Never |
offered his wife $500 if she would leave him. |
Witness described the rooms in his house, the !
position of the bed, stove, tables. etc. He |
never talked with Belle Gsffney about abus.
ing his wife. A great many questions were
asked him by Mr.. Edgerton in regard to his
whipping his wife, testimony that had been
given in his examination before the commit
ting magistrate, all of which he denied. He
lived with woman in Syracuse before he
came to the United States Was not married
to her: has not written to her since he left
there has sent her no money nor presents.
Judge Holl objected tc further examination
in that direction, and the objection was sus-
tanned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Cross examination of Salvatore Trosi re-
sumed-A great many questions were asked
witness about wife in Italy. Sam said that
four years before he was married TO Msrgareta
the woman helivsd with in Italy died. This in
formation he obtained from his older brother,
Bastiano, who came from the old country
years ago. Bastianoisn q resident of Lima,
Peru. Had known Lsntini since ne married
Mrs. Trosi's sister. Trosi obtained the IL
cense for Lsntini and was present when they
were married. For the first six months of
their marriage Lentini and his wife
lived with Troai. John Lentini
plowed oncs about an hour for Troai
Lentini called at Trosi's place quitefrequ ntly.
The fight between John and Trosi lasted less
than five minutes. Troai only defended him.
self, one arm being useless on account of
rheumatism. Lsntini was leading q horse
behind his wagon. Mrs. Troai kept Len.
tinIs little girl about two years and half.
Troai was home all day the day of the homi,
eide. Mr.. Edgerton had Troai repeat the
statement ne made in his direct examination
regarding all the Incidents attending the MUIR
der. He never told any one that the little
girl was shot IN the arm at the same time
that MaIgareta was killed.
Mr.. E1gertoa offered TO read the testimony
given by Salvatore Troai at the Coroner's in
quest
Judge Holl objected to its being introduced:
said ct the time the evidences was taken before
the Coroner's inquest there was no official re-
porter present; that Troai understood and
spoke the English language very imperfeetly,
and was not furnished an interpreter. JUDGE
Holi was willing that it should be used as a
memorandum, but in no other way.
The objection was sustained. Afterwards
it was agreed that the evidence spoken of
should be read to Trosi in the Italian Ian
guage by the interpreter. Each of the in
terpreters was given copy of the document,
and sf5er long parlsy beswean them, Judge
Holl, in order to expedite business, Withdrew
his objection, and Henry Edgerton read the
document to the jury.
Timothy Lee was put on the stand to Drove
that the place of the homicide was in Sscra-
meuto county. State OF California.
Frank Tresi also testified to its being in
Sacramento county.
The prosecution rested their case and the