The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-12

Two murder trials are on this weeks
criminal court list. They are the cases
of Edward Moran, of Providence,
charged with killing his neighbor,
Thomas Gilligan, and Rafael Passara,
alias Philip Passara, indicted for the
murder of Joseph Sanford, at Lacka-
wanna.
The first crime occurred Saturday,
Sept. II. Giligan and Moran frequent
ly quarreled and early in the evening
Of the day in question met and renewed
their quarrel. A friend interfercd and
sent them to their respective homes.
Several hours later in the night as
Moran was returning home, he was
overtaken by Gilligan and. it is alleged.
was assaulted. He drew a pocketknife
and stabbed his adversary in the left
arm.
Disengaging himself he started back
the way he had come, Gilligan follow
ing him and throwing stones at him.
Moran attempted to take refuge in a
house, but while trying to open the gate
Gilligan came upon him. Just what
happened after that no disntcrested
witness has as yet told, except that the
men grappled, fell to the ground and
rolled into the gutter with Gilligan who
was the larger man, on top.
MORAN WAS on TOP.
When Patrolman John Saltry, who
was sumOmned from his home nearby,
reached the scene, Moran was on top.
pounding Glligan. Both were placed
under arrest. Before taking them to
the station house. Patroman Saltry
thought to dress the cut on Gilligans
arm and for that purpose took him in
to his (Saltry's) house. AS they We're
entering the yard Gilligan complained
of being sick and started up the garden
path. Before he had gone many PAGES
he collapsed and fell to the ground. An
examination revealed that he had also
been stabbed i'm the heart, though he
himself was not aware of it, He died
while being carried to his home, a block
and a half away.
Two knives were found at the scene
of the second encounter. A small
black handled one Moran admitted to
he his. 4 larger one with a yelloWish,
bone handle can not be accounted for.
Moran denies that it was his and the
relatives of Gilligan state positively
| that he was never known to possess
such a knife. The blade of this second
| knife was not open when it was picked
! up.
Moran will make a plea of self de-
| fense. His attorneys are O'Brien and
| Kelly. The Gilligans have engaged At
! torney James Shea. of Wilkes Barre.
| as private counsel.
LkCKAWANNA MURDER.
The Lackawanna murder was COM
| mitted Monday, July %. 1t was ono
| Of the most brutal and blOod-thirsIy
| crimes ever committed in LaCkawanna
county. SantOro and a man vino is
supposed to be Passara We're walking
north along the Delaware, Lackawan-
! ma and Western railroad just aboI q
LaCkaWanna station. Suddenly Pas
| sara's companion stepped back. drew
! a small AK from beneath his coat and
| dealt him "a blow in the back. He
| followed this up with other blows and
| when the body was found the nca
| was almost severed.
Passara was suspected mainly be
| cause of his jealousy of Santoro and
| when an investigation revealed few
| incrimnating circumstances he WGs
| placed under arrest. The developments
! SO far do not make out a very strong
! case against the accused. but County
Detective Leyshon, who is prosecutor
| in the case. AYERS that he has some
| strong evidence against him. Taylor
| and Lewis are attorneys for Pass2ra.