Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-10-28
YOUNG ROssI ON TRIAL.

Inc Cabe IOT ING Otate VlOseO ana the
Defense Begun Yesterday-Coch-
rane,s Brother Did Not Sec the Stab
bln9-The Defense Alleges That
Fossf Was Set Upon by the Cochrane
Party and Only Acted In Self Defense.
The trial of Giaeomo Rossi, charged with
murder in the second degree in causing the
death by stabbing of Thomas Cochrane
July 8, 1892, was resumed in the superior
court before Judge Prentice and jury
yesterday morning and occupied the entire
days session of the court.
The first witness on the stand yesterday
was James Sullivan, who was with the
dead man on the day of the tragedy. He
was subjected to thorough cross exam
ination by Attorney Case, counsel for the
accused, during the course Of which he
acknowledged that he could not swear
which of the two Italians did the stabbing,
bnt believed that it was Rossi.
The next witness called was Patrick Sisk,
an undertaken. He was sitting on hack
in front of St. Patrick's church ON the
afternoon in question, and saw Henry
Cochrsne helping his brother Thomas up
Grand avenus. Thomas was very pale and
leaning on his brothers arm. AS the pair
crossed Hamilton street Sisk saw the in
| iured man fall TO his knees, and Henry
| pick him up and carry him to Dr.. Luby's
Office.
Henry J. Cochrane, the brother of the
dead man, WAS next called to the stand
He testified substantially as follows:
| 81 am twenty one years old and live at
559 Grand avenue. 1 am buffer by trade,
| but have not worked at my trade lately.
am now out of employment, the last place
I worked beipg at the Branford Point
house, whore was porter. In July q
year ago lived at 70 East street. On
Sunday afternoon, July 8, after dinner I
walked from my boarding house to the cor
ner of East and st. John streets, where I
met Jack Shaw, Jim Sullivan, my brother,
Thomas, who was eighteen years and four
months old when he died. We went for a
short walk. and fetched up on
Wallsce street. When We had
gone up the street within about
fifteen feet of the corner of St. Patrick's
church I saw two Italians sitting on a
doorstep. which Ia fash with the side
Sullivan were ahead snd Daniel FiavIn
and were next and Walter Davis and
William Coughlin were behind us. When
We reached tho place where the Italians
were sitting Tommy stepped behind US and
spoke to the Italians. 1 had no idea of
what was going on or what he WAS doing
aud we all passed on. The next l knew
was somebody said Tommy ia in the
street. I went back where he was and he
started toward the curbstone. Rossi was
then standing in tho middle of the walk.
II steppsd upon the curb and stood
between Tommy and Rossi. RossI
when he got near him he made three
thrusts at him with knife. Tommy tried
to ward off the blow with his arm and
went to his assistance and separated them
When Rossi turned around l hit him on
the back of the head four or five times
He had his hat on, but when hit him II
few off. Tommy and then walked uE
the street, and when in front of St. Pat
rick's church Tommy said he WAS stabbed.
That was the first heard of it. He said
Il guess Pm gone now. Bid my sisters
Mary and Belle and the rest of my brothers
goodbye I said, hurry up, Tom, We
then and at Hamilton street fell in the
street. I asked for help and three mer
came up and We carried Tommy to DR.
Luby's Office"
William Coughlin, who now resides il
Port Jervis, N. Y, but was with Cochraps
on July 8, testified as to how the part,
went up Wallace street and saw Thome
Cochrsne stop in front of two Italians Wit
were sitting on step. The witness crossed
} Wallace street just as Thomas stopped /,
front of the Italians. The next he knew
somebody said, Tommy is in the gutter.
81 looked around" continued the witness
'snd saw Rossi with knife in his hand
saw Rossi make three or four thrusts a
Tommy. Then Henry Cochrane steppe,
between Thomas and Rossi, and the Ital
ian turned and walked away. Then Henri
struck Rossi three or four blows" d
also testified that no words were spoken b.
| any of the Cochrane party prior to tn
stabbing.
: Officer George L. Hyde testified as t
{ | making the arrest of Rossi at Chelsea o.
| October 7, 1892.
f James F. Hennessy of GAL State stree
the boy fall into the gutter. This was tn
last witness for the state.
At 2 O'Clock the case for tho defense wa
, commenced and Glacomo Giaguinto, tn
, | young italian who was with Rossi whel
the stabbing affray took place, was calle
to the stand. He testified that he hs
known Rossi ever since he came to hi
| country and was with him on Sunday, Jul
3, 1892, from early IN the morning unit
| al toi VIC nIoOolhS aAioy. oA tAo Ody /
question he and Rossi ate dinner togethe
and were sitting on doorstep on Wsllsc
street when Cochrane and his party cam
along. The two were conversipg in Italian
, when, without any provocation, Cect
t rane stepped up to Rossi and Gale
him ga dago," and apple
i | other epithets of a most insulting natu,.
At the same time Cochrane struck R o.
f several blows, five or six, in the fac
, Rossi told him to 60 away, whersupo
Cochrane again assaulted Rossi and pulIe
his necktie off. 1t WAS then that Ros
+ proceeded to defend himself, and whs
another of Coohrane's party pitched in b
only acted in self defense. The witnes
r also testified that Rossl was knocked dow
3 and when hs got up his mouth and nos
were bleeding.
Il Nicoletto DeAngelis, a pretty Italia
girl who saw the entire affair, was til
3 next and last witness for the day for tn
defense. Her testimony was to the sam
effect as Giaguinto's, and corroborated hi
in all essential details. At the conclusio
t of this testimony the court adjourned unit
1890 o'clock Tuesday morning.