The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-07
MURDER OF FIRST DECREE
Cre,eazo Merolo Fouad Guilty Of the
Nillful Staying Of Emanuel Loro.
ON FIRST BALLOT


A verdict Of murder of the first de-
gree was brought in by the jury In
the Merolo case at 4.30 yesterday after
noon. The case was given into their
hands for consideration q little after
$50, when Judge Edwards charge was
finished. so that 1t took the jury less
than an hour to come to q conclusion as
to the guilt Of the prisoner at the bar.
The jury came to an agreement on
the first ballot. but for the sake of
appearances remained out, that they
might not be impuged with undue haste
In settling a question where a mans
| life was ut stake. There was O hustle
| and stir in court when Tipstaff Anthony
Walsh came in and informed Judge Ed
wards the jury was ready to come in.
A trivial case was on trial in the
| main court room when the twelve men
entered and were assigned seats in the
jury box to the right of the bench. The
court room quickly filled up with peo-
pie, and after quiet had been restored
the Judge asked them II they had agreed
upon a verdict. Each man nodded as
sent.
Deputy Prothonotary Myron Kasson
acting for Clerk T. P. Daniels, took the
| sealed envelope. 1t was passed to Judge
Edwards, who unsealed II. and read the
| verdict. 1t was passed to Mr.. Kasson
and he read aloud:
Gentlemen Of the jury. hearken unto
your verdict as the court hath recorded
1t: in the case Of the commonwealth
against Crezenzo Merolo, you say you
find the defendant guilty Of murder Of
hA >sztd
Verdict Approved BY Court.
At the suggestion of the court the
Jury was polled and each man in an
swer to his name replied, Murder Of the
first degree" In discharging the jury
and thanking them for the patient and
earnest consideration given by them,
Judge Edwards said this to them:
1T may be proper for me to tell you
gentlemen that your verdict is not only
in accordance with law and the EVIL
dence, but also entirely in accord with
the conscience OF the court. Your ver-
dict Is a proper one."
While the verdict was being received
Merolo was In the prisoners dock be-
hind where the jury was seated; his
head was bent forward over the top Of
anxious. He desired to hear every
thing that was going on. When the
verdict was read he did not appear
disconnected In the least There has
been no other man tried for murder in
this county who exhibited quarter as
much Indifference to the consequences.
Immediately after the verdict Merolo
was han,icuffed to another prisoner and
led by Warden Jay out to the prison
van. The curious, morbidly curious
people. who have crowded the court
since the opening of the trial, flocked
and surged around the prisoner as he
was being led out. He looked blankly
at them and never changed feature.
Mcrolo Is Very Seif-Posscssed.
The ,tolidity might be accounted for
II he could not talk or understand the
English language: but there are few
Italians in this city, even those who
have been here a number OF years,
who can understand the language bet
ter tnan he. He IL as unmindful Of
his fate as II 1t meant only a month in
jail instead Of hanging.
Mr.. Martin resumed his address when
court opened yesterday morning. He
held that the commonwealth had not
made out the Identity Of the prisoner at
the bar as the murdered of Emanuel
Loro. And as long as even reasonable
doubt exists as to the prisoners identity
he must be acquitted.
Mr.. Jones reviewed the testimony Of
the numerous witnesses for the COM
monwealth to refresh the minds of the
jurymen on the evidence OF the pris-
oner's Identification. Detective Nc
Sweeney's story was that when the
murderer was arrested In Boston he
gave the name Of MerOlO and afterward,
when the excitement attendant upon
his apprehension had left him, he cor
rected himself and said his name was
MOrretti Detective Simpson swore
that the prisoner called himself Nor
retti.
District Attorneys Recitation.
Now, said the district attorney. the
prisoner here in court has adopted an
other name, that Of Frank La Bracka.
The district attorney recapitulated the
testimony Of the fourteen witnesses
from Old Forge, and emphasized the
consistent stories told by every one
Of them. Mr.. Jones concluded his ad-
dress by reciting with fine elocution.
"The Dream of Eugene Aram.'
Judge Edwards began his charge at
245. After speaking about the gravity
Of the case they have been engaged in