The Portland daily press., 1895-09-19
FREEPORTS ITALIAN,
The Boys Have Been Having Fun With
CaYangnarO.
He Drew a Knife on Constable Morton,
and Hence a Case in Court.


and Hence a Case in Court.
Wednesday afternoon Judge Robinson
in the municipal court, heard the testi-
mony in case THAT has caused consid-
cradle excitement in Freeport.
The complaint was made by Constable
Elisha e. Morton of Freport, and is
against Charles Antonia Cavangnaro,
an Italian, who keeps fruit store on
Main street, Freeport.
The complaint reeites that Cavangnaro
assaulted Morton with deadly weap-
on, knife.
This grows out of an affair at Freeport,
on September 10th, when Constable Nor
ton went into the respondents store to
quell a disturbance.
Mr. Morton was the first witness, and
related the circumstances of the affair.
He was cross questioned at some length
by Carroll W. Morrill,, Esq, counsel for
Cavangnaro.
Mr.. Morton testified strongly and spe-
cially that he showed his badge to Cavan-
gnaro and explained at the first that he
was constable.
DR.. Addison r. Smith, physician Of
Freeport, who was near when the dis
turbance occurred, was next called. He
got to the store just as Mr.. Morton was
put out. Crowds have been won't to con-
gregate in front of the store The wit
ness also saw the respondent take knife
from behind the counter and approach
Mr.. Morton menacingly and threatening
with language. Witness could not say
whether it was butcher knife or a
cheese knife.
MIR. Cavangnaro often gets to feeling
we'll, and is quite entertaining with
stories, ETC. This has drawn about
crowd of boys; and for some little time
there has been little trouble, the boys
throwing things at the shop.
Joseph R. Gould of Freeport, was also
present, his attention having been at
tracted by the crowd and noise. Cayangn-
arc was walking back and forth through
the crowd, swinging his arms and sing
ing and making merriment for the crowd.
Then witness saw Cavangnaro strike
some one 1t was a small boy. Later
Constable Morton went into the store to
quiet the italian, and was struck and
knocked out the doorway by Cavangnaro.
Then when Mr.. Morton went In, the
Italian seized knife and threatened to
kill Morton. Later he threatened also to
shoot.
Antonio Cavapgnaro, a stout italian of
middle age, who had appeared to be
much amused as the testimony had been
given against him, was next called. He
said he had on various occasions been an
noyed by the throwing OF stones and ap-
pies through his windows. On one oc-
casion he had run out to ascertain the
offenders, but had been stoned. He told
them they were towards to treat an old
stranger SO.
On Tuesday. the 10th, he had been an
noyed and struck by a young man. After
he had got into his store man came in
and ordered him to close his store.
He drove the man out. and there was
cry of ''mob him" Then he seized
something, it may have been knife, and
defied them, opening his coat, and saying
81 am born to die; shoot me if you will,
but leave me in peace. ="
The witness delivered this portion of
his testimony with uplifted right arm
and umch oratorical fervor
When Constable Morton showed his
badge finally, he welcomed the officer and
asked protection.
Cayangnaro denied that he struck any
body. He was also not certain whether
he took knife up. But he would attack
anyone who came into his place to mob
him. He never owned pistol and never
would. The knife was a carving knife
used to cut his food, wrapping paper and
other articles.
Cavangnaro went to Freeport year
ago last May. He did not know Mr..
Morton was constable.
Mr.. John r. Oxnard of F'reeport, was
next introduced by the defense He said
that on the night ID question he saw from
so to rs persons about Cavangnaros S
store. Witness went down and found
Constable Morton trying to close the
store. Cavangnaro was much excited.
Witness advised him to close the store,
and assisted him in doing it. Witness
did not see any knife. The crowd were
quite boisterous and were shouting
"NIob him, mob him."
Constable Morton recalled, said that
when Oxnard came into the store he
put his hand onto his shoulder and told
witness that he had no business there
Mr.. Morrill,, in his argument, claimed
that Cavangnaro had been hectored and
plagued by the boys, and being excitable
had been made the object of sport 1t
was the duty of the constable to quiet
the disturbance in the crowd. rather than
close the store. 1t was evident that the
boys of Freeport were hectoring and
badgering the poor foreigner. An 1tal-
ian is rare bird in Freeport, and when
he is excitable andTa little intoxicated
and the boys get him to dancing for
the public pleasure, it is the duty OF the
to attend to the crowd.
Assistant County Attorney Webb called
the attention to the fact that Consta-