Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-01-17
Yfw }9areu 9ailg a9goruiug ynrual aud Gonrier.
GUILTY OF mANsLAuGHrRR.


GUILTY OF MANsLAUGHTRR.
verdict In t6e Rossi Case Brought In
By the Jury At 7:45 Yesterday Even.
ing-Recommendat for Mercy-I
Sentence to be Passed This Morn |
Ing
The case of Giscomo Rossi, the young |
italian who has been on trial in the supe-
rior court for the last week for the murder
of Thomas CochrAne ON July 8, 1892, went
to the jury at 4:15 yesterday afternoon.
At 7:45 they brought in the verdict of
guilty Of msnslaughter, with recommends
ton for mercy. The sentence was deferred
until this morning at 10 o'clock, when It
will be passed by Judge Wheeler.
When the verdict was brought in the
court room was deserted by all save few
lawyers. The prisoner received the verdict
with . nonchalant air, not betrayipg any
evidences of emotion.
On account Of the indisposition of State
Attorney Doolittle ex-Judgs Blydenburgh
represented the state, and Attorney Will
liam O. Case was counsel for the prisoner.
They each presented their respective sides
in the morning. The fact that William G.
Case WAS to plead for the prisoner attract
ed large attendance.
Elk Judge Blydenburgh made tie argu-
mont for the state first.
sWhether the act of the prisoner which
caused Tommy Cochrane's death" said
Mr.. Blydenbnrgh, twas justified by pre-
vious happenings is for you to determine,
gentlemen, but If such an act can be COM
mitted even If there was some provocation
1t means that danger constantly surrounds
us, our sons and our daughters. Here In
this staid old commonwealth IL q man can
in an instant act ss judge and executioner
as Rossi did, We are living in perilous
place"
Mr.. Blydenbureh then warned the jury
against being carried away with the srgu-
msnt of the prisoners counsel, and in SO
doing paid Mr.. Case glowing tribute.
Before beginning his review of tho case,
Mr.. Case presented Judge Wheeler with .
copy of the requests that the defence asked
then began mis- defense in which he spoke
| in part as follows:
"The incident that brings us here to-day
| occurred on Sunday afternoon, July 8,
| 1892, the day before the glorious Fourth.
On that day party of young men col
| lected on Grand avenue and started out In
| quest of amusement. They strolled around
| through Wallace street and there saw the
prisoner sitting quietly on . door step with
q friend. One Of the party deliberately
picked quarrel with the prisoner and
then, when reinforced by his companions,
received q wound that caused his death
/ hr0noht tho hOv hara CHARGED wifn
murder. I say, gentlemen, had Tommy
Cochrane minded his own business on that
| eventful afternoon, he would be alive to
day and we would have been spared tbs
trial and it's expense. He sounded the
first stroke of his own death knell, wher
he. without reason, pitched into THU
boy. The thought that comes to the mine
of everybody that has heard the case is tina
had not Tommy Coohrane provoked tn
quarrel that ended fatally he would be aliv
to-day. It Ia q conspicuous thought. am
there IL not one of you gentlemen that j
not aware of 1t.
"Now, the first question for you to con
slider is, was this murderi It was homi
eide, we admit that; but homicide 10 no
necessarily q crime. Homicide may be
crime You are to take the case as 1t
presented by the state, and 1t is for you t.
decide, from it's presentation of the case
L Wuolu0I IL WIS = CEluuluA1 uOullCtu0 vi
are to remember that the prisoner, by tn
Oldest and first principle Of law, is protect
: ed by the shield of innocence. He is In
. nocent until proved guilty and 1t is for tn
] | state to penetrate that shield and prove this
he is guilty.
1.-THE state has not shown who were th
aRgressors in the ARRAY, but they kno'
who was. I don't mean to be understoo
8 that Mr.. D oolittle knows; not he, but thos
six young toughs have wilfuily suppresse
. that which would show their own conne
i ton with the trouble. The self eau
q toughs started out for amusement for Il
:. Fourth of July, filed with rum and pa
> | riotism, and after insulting women "a
II across the prisoner and pitched into hin
: And yet they all say that not word vi
. said. Think of 1t, gentlemen. That ne'
Grand avenue, one of the noiaiest section
on Gods footstool, the battle between Ir
land and Italy was waged in absolute {
lenoe. Do you believe that, gentlemenv'
"rm always losth to assault any persc
who testifies in q court of justice, b
these six toughs who came In here ar
told their story are every ons of the
Is guilty of falsehood."
}, Mr.. Case then went to work and car
,. fully reviewed the evidence, reading mut
g of it and pointing out the fat contradi
- tons of the "Cochrane gang"
?. Mr. Case concluded his argument at
E O'Clock. After ecess Mr.. BlYdenburi
|. began the closing argument for the stat
u which occupied the time until about 3:s
d Judge Whee!er's charge then followed 81
70 the case was given to the jury.
;, At about 7:45 the jury returned al
brought in the verdict as above me
toned.