Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-01
THE LENTINI CASE.
SOME STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS SAT-
URDAY.
Salvatore Troafs Statement at the Cor
onsr's Inquest Borne Out by the Tes-
timony Of Three Witnesses.

The trial of John Lentini for the murder
of Mrs. Troai was resumed in Department
Two of the Superior Court Saturday at 9
A. N. The first witness called was w. S.
Rawlius. He remembered the circumstance
Of the murder of Mrs. Troai. On the day
after the homicide he went to Troai's place
in company With Frank and Laura Troai.
He saw blood stains on the floor. His testi-
mony vas repetition in many particulars of
that given by Mrs. Robertson on Friday.
R. T. Scott said he resided six and half
miles east Of Gait. Heard of the murder,
and went over to Troai's place the next day.
The entire examination of this witness, both
direct and cross, was in regard to the blood
stains be observed on the floor. He said the
blood was Fpriukled in drops around the
room. He also described the wound on the
body of the deceased, and said it was about
the size of his hand. He saw shot taken
from the wound; thought it was No. g. but
did not claim to be an expert on size of shot.
Henry Scott said he was farmer, and re.
sided about seven miles east of Gait. Re-
membeIed the circumstance of the killing of
Mrs Troai. Went TO Troai's house the evening
of the murder between s and O'Clock.
| While there observed blood on the hoe- of
the house. The first drops he noticed were
within about two feet Of the door. He traced
them across tie fl Dor, but did not know the
number of spots. They presented the same
appearance that drops of blood would from
nose bleed. Was there when the body was
undressed. The clothing of Diseased was
| bloody. Stayed there until the next morning
about daylight. There we're quite number
! of people at the house during the night. Re-
turned to Troais the next day. Have visited
| the premises twice since that tins. Was
there in June last. The reason witness
looked for the blood wss because Troai stated
thst his wife was shot in that room. He said
ia his Characterization that on the night of
| the murder be hAd positive conviction as to
who was the murderer. Afterwards for S
moment he had changed his mind, but had
since returned 20 his first belief, and now
had positive opinion as to who committed
the murder. Ga cross-examination admitted
! that he used tobacco.
! John White, farmer who resides eight
miles east of Gait, said ne was acquainted
with Sam TrOai, and recollected the circum- !
| stances Of the murder of Mrs. Tfosi. His |
place is half mile distant from Troai's. On |
the evening OF the murder, shout o'clock, |
Troai came over and informed him of the |
homicide and we went 80 Troai's place. Be- !
fore Troai came to his house, about twenty or |
twenty-five minutes, he heard the fling of q |
shot, and immediately heard some one crying, !
Ia loud voice, &" Murder :" When he heard |
the shot he Stood still perhaps a minute be. |
fore he heard the voice. When he arrived at
Troai's he found the body lying near the |
steps in the back yard. Witness and his |
Httle boy took hold Of the arms If Mrs.
Troai, while Mrs. Gsffney and HIS wife took |
hold OF the feet, and che was carried into the |
house and deposited on the floor. Afterward, |
by the assistance of Troai, the BODY was
lifted from the floor TO the bad Should !
judge by lifting the body that it would weigh |
100 pounds, perhaps more. Saw blood on
the floor the evening they carried the body in
He located the bed IN the northwest corner
Of the room, instead Of the northeast IS ties.
tilted to by other witnesses.
Mrs Zurilds E. Hancock said she lived
east Of Calf, about two miles from Troais
place. Went to Trosi's about II o'clock on
the morning OF the 23d Of February and re-
mainsd until II or l o'clock in the night;
helpsd IIndress the body; examined the
wound, and would say that the shot had seat
tered so much that mans hat would about
cover it. The main wound could be covered
with ones hand. Some shot were in the
shoulder and some below the elbow. There
was but very littls blood on the body, and,
excepting enc skirt, the clothing was not |
very bloody. Witness described the-an.
dressing Of che body and the. clothing Of the
deceased. Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Daniel and Mrs. /
White assisted witness in undressing the
body. Tbs attention Of the witness was
called to thu blood spots on the floor, which
she described as had preceding witnesses.
Miss Marcia Seaman said she knew Sam
Troai. La February, 1882, she was residing
with Mrs. Gaffney, whose plaza is about
qusrter Of a mile from Troai's. RecOllected
the circumstances of the murder. On that
evening che was about 900 yards north Of Ssm
Troal's house at dusk. She was about 400
yards from Mrs. Gaffney's. While there,
heard g gunshot, and in about ten minutes
later heard Ssm calling for Mrs Gsffaey,
and coming towards Mrs Gsffney's place.
The folks me. him and went with him to his
house. Saw the body Of the deceased. Wit
ness description of the position ia which
TIE body lay was the same e. shst Of Mr..
White. The bed stood north snd south.
When she frat heard IroaTs voice was 600
yards from Tro7Ts place on her way home.
Could sea Troai's house and Mrs Gsffnsy's
also from the position spoken Of.
Cross exarninatica-Was teaching school
n the nsighbCrhood st the time, snd was
boarding at Mrs. GatfneY's The school
house was about mile distant. Have bsen
TO Oregon since, and returned few days
since by steamer. Read an accouat of the
Tr0si examination in the RECORD. UNION
while in Oregon. Resi the testimony Of
Mrs. Gatfney as reported 10 thst paper.
Tae prosecution objected to the examina-
lion in that direc lion, and Mr.. Edgerton said,
Very well"
Mrs. Barton Daniels said she lived six
miles east Of Gait. Was at Troai's the next
day after the murder. Was there when the
| Coroner arrived. Washed the body Of the
deceased. The wound was in the arm and
right breast. There were some scattering
shot IN the arm. The wound vas rot ragged
or torn. Tbs principal wound was not much
more than an inch in diameter. The main
wound was in under the breast All of the
shot we're bstween the elbow and shoulder.
On the body the shot covered place about
thTee inches in diameter. Did not see anv
shot on the shoulder or bslow the elbow,
or any that passed through the arm. Saw
the Coroner take some shot from the wounds
| The shot had the appearance of small siugs
Witness, with a small pisce of square paper,
described the shape aud size. But very little
blood was on the body, and that mostly on
tbs arm. The clothes were not very bloody.
The wound did not bleed any while bsing
washed. Think Mrs. Troai would weigh
| about It's pounds.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
Antonio Mattasio said he lived on ranch
about mills and half from Stockton. He
has resided there twenty-one months. Lived
| there Ia feOrusryi 1857, First saw John
LentiDi 10 Modesto, about six years ago.
Saw him three or four miles from Stockton
about four years ago. One evening" Just be-
! fore dusk, in the month OF March, 1882, he
observed Lentini standing near the barn, and
he ssid, Good evening" Lentini, eyeing
him very closely, said, Don'5 yeu know
me?" Witness replied that he did "Aave
you heard anything No; have heard |
nothing; what's the matter% Lantini then |
said that fIw days bsforsshe had been at |
Sam Troai's house; that he and Troai had q |
difficulty, end IN the struggle he attempted |
to wress from Troai's hand gun, when |
it was accidentally discharged, the |
charge taxing effect il the body |
of Mrs. Tfoai, and that she was dead. |
LsRtini stopped Of witness plscs sbout two |
weeks. He staid ia the stable all the time, |
excepting once or twice for moment be vent |
into the house. Witness carried provisions |
to Lentiui while be sssid in the barn. Len
tini's excuse for hiding was because he was
afraid some one would see him. During the |
daytime he would hide in the hay. Some |
times in the evening he would come out from |
his hiding place. Witness did not recollect |
whether Lentini had coat on or not, but !
was certain be had hat. Did not know |
Irr-ba I .-. ToFk 7 - D.