Waterbury Democrat., 1901-11-21
LAUDANO GUILTY.
New Trial Asked for Policeman Me
 Kenn's Murderer

New Trial Asked for Policeman Nc
 Keon's Murderer
 New Haven, Nov 21.--In the criminal side of the superior court yesterday af- ternoon jury found Andrew Lau- dano guilty of murder in the first de- gree. Laudano has been on trial for about two weeks, charged with shoot ing to death Policeman Hugh McKeon about midnight on July 31. Levi N. Blydenburgh. for the defense, made q motion for new trial. The arguments will be made on Monday Sentence was deferred.
 Immediately after the opening of court yesterday morning Judge Rora- back began reading his charge to the jury. "The accused has been before this court and put to plea, and he pleads not guilty. It is your. duty to find whether he is guilty" Judge Roraback then dwelt on the duty of the jury in considering the evidence, and on the question of reasonable doubt, which the speaker said was So much mentioned in all trials. In turn the judge took up the degrees of mur- der, considering the facts necessary for conviction in each degree, and 1lso the subject of manslaughter. He spoke further on the meaning of mall 'ce, under the legal definition, and its connection with the conviction of mur- der in the first degree
 Counsel for the accused have asked me to give you certain instructions.' said the judge. and I give them to you as presented to me-" Judge Rorn- back accordingly read the instructions, which related to the rights of a man in his own house. in so far as lie has l the authority to keep others out. sIf the officers on the night in question en- l tered the house for the purpose of IT, | resting Nellie Slater" directed the l judge, solely because she was dressed | i'll mans clothes, then such an en- | trance was unlawful"
 | Judge Roraback next reviewed the claims of the state regarding the move ments of the accused on the night of July 31. If after considering the evi- dence." continued Judge Roraback, you find that Hugh McKeon died on l August l from wounds received on tic night of July 31. while he was in the act of arresting Nellie Slater, with the power of the law. and that the accused deliberately shot the officer in order to prevent her arrest then you must find the accused guilty of murder in the l first degree" Judge Roraback read 1 then the rights of officers in making arrests by authority of the state. Or referring to the story told by Laudano l the judge said: If this contention is | true you must find a verdict of not guilty'' Tn conclusion Judge Rora back reviewed the facts necessary fol l verdicts of manslaughter and of tht two degrees of murder.
 Judge Roraback finished his charge at 11:15 o'clock, just m hour and { quarter after the opening of court. H. then directed the jury to retire for : consideration of the case. Soon after l ward the exhibits of the state and oi the defense were sent to the jury room Included in the list were the revolver! of the policeman and of Laudano l pieces of the ceiling and the door which were hit by bullets, trouser, worn by Laudano when he was shot lamps upon which had been tested tn effect of revolver shots, and cartridgD
 shells found in the house at 12 Prindl
 alley.
 The names of the twelve men il
 whose hands the fate of Laudano wa
 left, follow: Joseph H. Hill. Madison
 Charles E.. Johnson. Oxford; Everet
 l.. Dudley, Guilford; Cornelius A Hamond, Seymour; George l.. Ford
 North Branford: Sidney s. Plat
 Southbury; Charles s. Fem. Prospect
 William l.. Stone. Guilford; Edwin $
 Baldwin. Milford; Joseph NJ. Peei
 Cheshire; Wallace L. Scranton, Mad
 son: N. Jay Melton. Oxford.
 The verdict was returned late in tn
 afternoon.