The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-08
THE Defense BEING heard
Testimony for the Prosecution Closed
Yesterday Afternoon.
ATTORNEY WEDEMAN OPENS
Mapped Out the Line of Defense That Will
BE Followcd-A Number of Character
Witnesses Examined - Trying to
Contradict the Commonwealth.

The fourth day of the trial of Joseph
Boschino for the murder of Frank Con-
foru witnessed the close of the testi-
mony on the part of the commonwealth
ana the opening of the case for the de-
fense. Attorney Wedeman, of Forest
City, made the address to the jury for
the defense.
There was large attendance all day,
but the crowd at the afternoon session
was particularly dense and many had
to be denied admission to the court
room, The accused and his wife sat
side by side during the trial and took
deep interest in the proceedings, but
neither displayed any outward evidence
of fear as to the outcome Of the trial.
James McGrail. of Dunmore, was the
first witness called by the common
wealth after the morning session
opened, He described Conforti's posi-
ton ON the ground after he was shot.
Fred Klein, watchman for the Penn
sylVania Coal company. said that on the
evening of Nov. II he saw three men
crossing the bridge over the Roaring
brook. They We're intoxicated and
when in the middle of the bridge one
of them fell and the others took hold
of his arms and dragged him across the
bridge.
About three minutes later" con-
tinued Mr.. Klein. Il heard two shots
fired, and then | went around under
the bridge and up on the Delaware,
Lackdwanua and Western track. Soon
three more shots were fired, and after
that | heard some one crying with pain
and saw 4 man running up the path
toward the Erie and Wyoming Valley
railroad"
John Myran's story.
John Myran said that on the night of
the killing he heard persons quarrel
ing at the bridge and with Louis VAL
vanno, Frank Chiprianno and Joseph
Delalio went To ascertain the cause and
found Rocco Salvatore. Frank Conforti
and Tony Imbriano. Soon they separ-
Gted, Delalio, NaNanno and Chiprian-
no walking ahead. Witness and I'M
briano followed and when about 200
feet from the scene of the quarrel they
walked ahead and caught up to the
other men and witness walked back
in front of him who fired three shots.
Witness then darted into the bushes
and struck the patch at the place whore
Conforti lay dying. Myran was posi-
tive that it was Boschino who fired the
five shots.
Justice of the Peace Robert Scott,
Of Dunmore. testified that Myran did
not testify at a hearing held before
him. ImbriarO was recalled by Mr..
Horn for Cross-eXamination, and said
his wife sold his revolver to Boschlno
last May. An adjournment was then
taken for dinner.
Opening for Defense.
Mrs. PhilOmena Umbriano was the
first witness called in the afternoon
She cwore that she sold her husband $
revolver to BoschinO last May. Here
the commonwealth closed it's case, and
. e. defense recalled Umbriano md SAL
yatuti for further crosS-eX1mirGt'On
After Attorney Horn finished with
them, Attorney L. p. Wedeman, of
FerestC City, addressed the jury in open
ing for the defense.
fIc ingeniously argued to the jury in
favor of the murderer AM COmpli-
.nelgcd them several times on tEeir in
-alruence. BCschfno. he said. was born
T., Saiarno ItaIv. thirtv-thrna Years
ago. and came to America in 1855. Mr.
Wideman then went on to tell the Jury
that it was not Boschino who COM
ritted the murder. but some other per-
son. Judge Gunster allowed the de-
fense to start out with putting charac-
ter witnesses on the stand, in order to
accommodate several Forest City busi-
ness men who were subpOenaed.
Thomas Brown, engaged in the mer-
camille business ON South Main street
Forest City. was the first character
witness examined He knew BOschino
seven years when he lived in that town
and from the speech of the people the
murderer was always looked upon as
a peaceable. law-abiding citizen. Mr.
Brown had never heard anything
against him. John F. Gallagher also
lives in Forest City. For the past
eight or nine years he has been en-
ployed as outside foreman at the Forest
City colliery. He has known BoschinO
for seven years, who worked under him
as fireman and watchman. After
Boschino committed the murder at
Dunmore, Mr.. Gallagher heard several
Roschino committed the murder at
people comment on the crime and Won
der why a man who was looked upon
as such a peaceable citizen should be
guilty of such crime.
Certificates of Character.
n + Pentecost, a Forest CITY mer-
chant knew Boschino for several years.
Mr. pentecost was at one time deputy
postmaster and afterward q Justice of
tbe peace. He never heard a word
against Boschino. District Attorney
Iones cross-examined the witness and
asked how If was that the name of
Roschtno had been brought M for dis
cussion Mr.. Pentecost said that there
were onlv a few Italian citizens at that