Evening journal., 1892-05-11
SCHOONER LONGS CRIME
Put On Trial for the Murder OF An
tonic BassO, the Italian.

Trying 60 Prove AntmuB IN ne sopArh,
EvIdencs-minor Matters.
Lawrence, alias Schooner" Long was
this morning placed on trial in the Court
of Oyer and Termlner for the murder Of
Antonio Basso. the Italian, with beer
glass In Patrick McMahons saloon. No,
227 Tatnall street, on November II, 1890
This is the crime for which James Carr
who was q companion Of Long, Is now
serving sentence for manslaughter.
Judges Grub. Cullen and Houston
were upon the bench The state was
represented by Attorney General Nichol-
son. lie wis G. Vandegrift, his rival for
the attorney -generalship, by a singular
colncldent, represented the prisoner, so
that all persons who attend the trial will
have an opportunity 20 Judge Of their
relative merits as criminal lawyers.
The prisoner was marched In at 10 as
o'clock by the two tipstaves. he Is a
young man, good looking, with light hair
and moustache and blue eyes De was
neatly dressed in a dark suit and wore
white shirt, stand up collar and cravat,
Deputy Clerk Of the Peace Eliason
read the Indictment. and when asked
II guilty or not guilty the prisoner re-
piled:
Not guilty"
How will you be trisd97 asked the
clerk
by God and my country
May God send you safe de-
liverance.
The prisoner then sat down and Attor-
ney-General Nicholson called the names
of a number of witnesses They did not
respond and there was some delay.
Fur lco1r aA Ia ortN
his face worked with nervousness. He
had fallen away very much since Detec.
tives Hawkins and Hatton arrested MIN
in March in Lancaster county.
Pa, near the rendezvous of the
Abe Buzzard gang.
coLOBED JUROR TURNED DOWN
After delay of twenty minutes the
attorney general announced that the
state was ready. Toe work OF drawing
the jury began. Forty-one ta'esman
were drawn before the jury was secured,
as follows
The iurY-Francis B. Stevens, foreman
William Johnson, william w. Naylor.
Frank A. McOloskey, William w. Stuck
ert, William 7. Hall, J. F. Deakyns, Pur.
nell s Daniels, Philip Reybold, Robert
Sindall Alfred Johnson, John w. Frame
u.
the colored juror; Thoma G Porter
Theodore Hanf, jefferson Downhsm
Thomas q. Walker. Jonas Kai ser. Francis
Il Lattomus, Elihu Talley, Newton L
Grubb. Winfield Lsttomus, Sylvester, G.
Downes, John r Lyman, Nathaniel
Lewman, Albert Woolleston.
Challenged by the state.-James Crum-
lish, Samuel Moore, Councilman Peter A.
Pagan, John AspI.
Expressed an opinion Thomas P
Lyman, Alexander Baxter.
conscientious scruples-John L. Sui
livan, Walter Sonthgate, ArDold n
Padberg, John B Manlove. Thomas
Frazer, Jr., William Anderson, Daniel 7.
Mitchell, Henry Jacobs.
Absent-Joseph N Warren
The last juror drawn exhausted the
panel. There probably never were so
many jurors excused because of con
scientious scruples against capital pun
ishment
Deputy Clerk Eliason read the lndict-
ment TO the Jurors, the prisoner eagerly
listening to every word Of the lengthy
document that placed his life in ieoD-
ardy.
NICHOLSON BEFORE THE JURY.
Il was In the saloon playing pool with
two men. Three Italians came in and
went to tho bar to get a drink Long,
Carr and Bullen came In and went
to the bar The little Italians did some
Jabbering, did not understand what
was said. Tue next thing | knew the
two small Italians were knocked down.
With the aid Of ths bartender the ?
escaped through back doorway.
After they escaped Long picked ap
beer glass that was upon
the bar Basso's head was turned
from him. He was watching the two
little Italians escape. Long struck him
on the side of the head with the glass.
The blow turned him around AID he was
struck again. The prisoner and Carr
then chased the Italian into q corner OF
the room near the card tables Carr fell
or was knocked down. The bartender
helped the big Italian out did not see
the big Italian do or say anything. de
did not have any trouble IN getting out. '
TRYING TO SHOW ANIMUs
Tie attorney general turned the wit
ness over to Mr.. Vandegrift who found
him very short-mlnded on everything
that was in the prisoners favor.
Vandegfift-"Who was In the room2'
THE bartender. three Italians, Long
Bullen, Carr, two other men who were
playing pool and myself"
Who we're the men playing pool with
,yOuH"
Attorney General John R Nicholson
opened the case for the state. de ad
dressed the jury, defining the degrees o.
murder with much ability and clear
ness. BE stated that malice and wicked.
ness OF heart must be proved In thil
case, as the charge was murder Of the
first degree. He informed the jury thai
they could find him guilty Of murder il
the first gor second degree or of man
Slaughter II provocstion is shown. HI
said:
Antonio, Greco and SRlerno.were in 4
saloon drinking Long aud his companioni
came In knocked two Of the Italians dowr
who, as soon as they reco Eered their feet
fad. Longthen advanced upon Basso
struck him twice in the head with
heavy beer glass. followed
him up, knocked him down aud did not
release him until the bartender pulled
him away. Basso vent to the house Of Z
fellow-countryman and from there was
taken to the hospital where he dice
several days afterwards.
WILLIAM e. SPARKS TEsrIFIEs.
William K. Sparks was called to tn,
stand and sworn. His testimony wa:
very damaging to the prisoner. E'
said:
81 did not know either OF them.
have learned since that one Of thew 1.