Bridgeton pioneer., 1896-12-17

afternoon. But one man, Tony, actually
killed the father. He rained the blows
upon the old mans head, and then when
life was extinct the fellow walked about
and about the prostrate individual The
club was presented and identified by
Wilde; 1t was an ugly looking weapon,
made of hickory, about three feet long,
and was about three inches in diameter.
MIR. Wilde was of the opinion that all
the boys were implicated in the killing,
but he did not see but one boy strike the
old man.
The best story of the killing was given
by William Camp, who lives nearby.
He implicated all three of the boys, while
Tony was the man who actually struck
the last blow. 1t was plain, unvarn-
ished story, and gave in horrible detail
all the particulars as given in the PIo-
NEER.
The story of Camp was corroborated in
every detail by Mrs. Camp, wife of the
previous witness. Itwas really unneces-
sary to give further detail concerning the
death, for both Mr.. and Mrs. Camp gave
every particular that went to show how
poor old Jorio met his horrible end.
But Coroner Halsey was determined to
present all the facts, and John Cosman
was called. He was another eye witness
to much of the tragedy, and while he
gave no details he made it evident that
the murder was committed by the three
boys, and in just the manner so well de-
picted.
Mrs. Cosman added nothing new to the
story, although she was an eye witness to
the crime.
Constable Nickerson graphically des-
cribed the capture of the three boys and
the old lady. This officer brought Tony
Jorio to the lookup. On the way to the
prison Tony was asked who killed the
old man. Tragically Tony replied, strik
ing himself upon the breast,
"Me kill him, 1 done it.''
"Why did you kill him? was asked.
''Me speak by and by" replied Tony.
With the conclusion of County Physi-
clan Thompson's easily understood testi-
mony. concerning the nature of the
wounds as he found them upon examina-
ton of the body, the inquest was over
excepting the testimony of Mrs. Jorio,
the widow of the murdered man, and
mother of three boys.
There was quite a commotion in the
room when she was brought from the
lookup by two big constables. She came
in the room clutching her we'll worn
beads, muttering something to herself,
and was seated near the jury and Coroner
Halsey. She was woman appearing to
be fiftyfive or sixty years of age, a
coarse, repulsive creature, clad in dirty
dress and coat, her head wrapped in a
black handkerchief. There was no trace
of grief, and she told of her husbands
death without any emotion.
| The woman can understand but little
English, and her examination was aided
by an interpreter. Every body was silent
as she told her story, and contrary to all
expectations she kept nothing back, but
seemed to be free with every detail.
She said she had lived in this country
about six years, and had been a year in
| Vineland. She was married in the Old
country and after telling her husbands s
name, and giving his age as sixty years,
she said she was the mother of four chill
dren, one of whom was dead, dying last
August. She continued her story by say
ing that her husband was a laborer.
"Where is he now?" asked Prosecutor
Logue.
| HE is dead" was the ready answer.
/ hot Iol
the Prosecutor.
Then followed long story. She said
that the boys and the old man had been
quarreling for some time and three days
ago he left the house, and remained away
until Monday. Then he came back and
Mrs. Jorio told him to come in, and when
he hesitated, assured him that nothing
should harm him. Then he came in and
she went down in the cellar. The old
man had brought home some tobacco for
the boys, and said that he wanted to be at
peace with them, but quarrel was soon
in progress. Mrs. Jorio wanted to come
up from the cellar and stop the quarrel
ing, but the boys would not allow her to
do so.
While the jury was deliberating, the
PIONEER reporter visited the maniacs, if
such they are, in the lookup. Tony Jorio
was in a cell by himself, while the other
two were together in another cell. The
! old lady was in a separate apartment.
! A prominent Catholic in conversation
with the reporter, afterward said, that
there was no doubt of the insanity of all
the boys. He gave an entirely new ver-
sion of the cause of the tragedy. He said
that some months ago one of the boys
claimed to have had communication with
the Virgin Mary, and was ordered to
cease all work, and prepare for great suf-
fering. Then came the death of the
brother last August, and this sad event
was followed by the religious demonstra-
tions that has caused so much excitement
in Vineland for couple of months. All