Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-05-08

refused to be tried or speak because
he was dressed as a convict. He
said
4 refuse to be tried unless | an
dressed as gentleman
/ After much coaXing he was induced
II appear. but he still refused to speak
or answer questions while dressed as
la convict The judge who is presiding
used persuasive argument to convince
| the brigand that the matter of clothes
would have no effect on the jury.
That is all very well" replied
Musoline. "but if you were dressed as
farmer no one would take you for a
Judge"
He finally consented TO make a
sDeech on condition that the judge
would not interrupt him. This was
granted. but the judge inadvertently
made an observation. and Musolino
sternly and sharply said to him: DO
not interrupt and proceeded to give
striking history OF his lawless life
which was full of a rough sort of
POETRY that appealed strongly TO the
Jury and the people who applauded
and Wept.
Musolino declared that with the ex-
ception of traitors he never killed any
one unless attacked. The only car
abineer he ever attacked was one who
fred twice at him. His explanation
C. his treatment of man OF the name
OF Crea was a typical one. He said
Crea told the news of his whereabouts
to the police and had even determined
&c shoot him. Musolino continued:
He leveled a gun at me. | frighten-
ed him, seized and took away the gun,
took the cartridges out, reloaded the
gun with shot, and told him to walk
away. When he had gone a little
distance I shot him in the legs to give
him a lesson. l did not like to kill
him because he was the father of a
family
Such touches as this last aroused
sympathy among the people in the
court room and sometimes enthusiasm.
But now and again the brute in him
Overcomes the hero.
There have been undignifed scuff1es
with gendarmes in which Musolino
has often had temporarily the upper
hand, for he is immensely strong. On
Tuesday last eight stalwart gendarmes
with difficulty held him down when IN
moment of fury he had attempted
to strangle a woman witness who had
addressed him with disrespectful
words. 1t is a curious fact that a.
though there are dozen families who
have had some of their members
killed or wounded by Musolino, one
father, Gardiner, is the only one
who has come forward on the prosecu-
TONS side. The others, who are
Calabrians, regard the case as family
vendetta and private affair and re-
fuse to soil their honor by going to
law. But if he escapes they will try
to shoot or stab him unless he shoots
or stabs first.
1t is only in keeping with the
records Of such cases that MusOlino
has received thousands Of letters and
kilograms and addresses expressing
sympathy, of which he is monstrously
prOud-and he also boasts that a
number of women have written him
throwing themselves at his feet One
letter has been published in the news
papers signed by "a hundred women
Of decent position in Florence saying
that they pray for his acquittal and
look forward with pleasure to his
porSOna1 acOuaintance Thoy oou
Guide by declaring him to be the
chevalier of humanity.
Musolino has declared to news
paper men that he is confident of
achieving his liberty, and when he
has done so he will realize the ambi-
ton of his family by making a visit
to America.