The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-11
DOSCHlNO DENIES IT ALL
He SWOre He Vas at Home When the
Murder Mas Committed.
NEVER CARRIED A REVOLVER
His Testimony Is Directly Opposed to
What Was Sworn TO by the Witnesses
Ofthc Commonwealth Case viii
Not Go to the Jury Unti! Tomorrow.

Murderer Boschino realizes that his
life is most precious to him. and either
the witnesses of the commonwealth or
those of the defense are not telling the
truth.
1t has been widely commented upon
by those who have been present in court
from the beginning that this is one of
the moS astounding murder trials in
the history of the courts of Lacka-
wanna county.
First came the witnesses of the pros
ecution with their positive story that
Boschino did the killing and now the
main witnesses of the defense are being
heard and they swear that Boschino
was at home when the shots were fired
that are supposed to be the ones that
Confortis body was the target for.
In arriving at it's verdict the jury
will have no alternative but to be-
lieve the testimony of the common
wealth's witnesses or rely on the Verac-
ity of those of the defense.
If the jury is convinced that the muir
der was committed by Boschino, no
other verdict than that of first degree
can consistently be rendered; on the
other hand should the witnesses of the
defense be believed the verdict can
not be otherwise than, acquittal. Every
witness of the defense has rendered tes-
timony that effectively establishes an
aiibi.
When the trial was resumed Saturday
morning Fred Petrocelli was the first
witness called Squire Scott, of Dun
more, summoned him as juror at the
coroner's inquest. Coroner Kelley
thought that Petrocelo might be biased
and he rejected him. The witness told
what articles We're found in the pockets
Of Conforti: these We're an open pocket
lnifa. a pack OF playing cards, and a
watch and chain. The point of the
blade of the knife was bent and Dis
lict Attorney Jones exhibited the
weapon to the jury and offered it in
evidence.
Mrs. Oschino Recalled.
Mrs. Boschlno was then recalled to
he stand. In her former testimony she
Swore that among others besides her
husband who were in the house when
| the shots We're fired. her 1S-year-old
| brother was there. District Attorney
Jones asked her why the boy had not
been brought forward to testify; she
said he is sick and cannot leave home.
At 945 o'clock Boschino went upon
| the stand. Judge Gunster instructed
| Attorney Horn to ask the defendant
some questions in English to see if he
could carry on his evidence in the Amer
| lean tongue. Boschino did not prove
| that Ne knew enough of English to
speak to the jury and Interpreter Cas-
sese was obliged to strain the story.
Boschino was born in Italy "a years
ago. Forest City was his first abiding
| place in this region, to which place
he came in 1884. He lived there seven
years and then moved to DunmOre
| After year he moved back to Forest
| City and last March he rented house
| in Bunker Hill.
on the afternoon of the date of the
murder of Conforti Boschno said he
left his home at o'clock and went to
Lallis hotel. There he drank several
glasses of beer. Imbriano, Conforti and
Salvatore came in while he was refresh
ing himeslf. The others went out be-
fore he did and he started for home
three-quarters of an hour afterward.
The next place he met Cohforti was
at the railroad bridge. The murdered
man was standing there in company
with Imbriano and Salvatore. He asked
them what they We're waiting for and
suggested that they ought to go home.
They walked along together and near
the foot bridge Conforti caught hold
of the defendant and playfully wrestled
.x.ith N a N
| had a good laugh over their tumble.
Salvatore and His Gun.
Just then Salvatore whipped out a
| revolver and pointed it at the defend
ant. Boschino asked the reason for
| such an action on the part of SALVATORE,
| wanted to know why he pointed the
| revolver at him, and without waiting
| for a reply he started home. Imbria-
no wanted him to wait, but he did not.
The defendant swore that he had no
revolver or razor and did not fire any
shots at all.
| When he arrived at home he asked
his wife for handkerchief to bind up
the wound on his leg, which, he said,
was caused by the toss he received
| in his fall on the bridge when
| wrestling with Conforti. Boschi-
no showed the scar to the jury.
While his wife was dressing the wound
| Boschino heard two shots fired. Mora
ri and Pintenello were in the house and
| they went out. Three shots We're after
ward fird.
Boschino denied having killed Con-
forti and swore positively that he was
| in the house when the shots were fred
But after the murder a crowd gathered
at his house and began to threatenven-
geance. At the suggestion of his wife
and the two men Boschno went out
| by the backdoor and left for Carbon