Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-08
IS ACQUITTED.
Jury Returned Verdict of "NOt
Guilty" for Antonio
Colangelo.
APPLAUSE IN COURT ROOM
Day Spent In Argument and Charge by
the Judge-Jury Had the Case AZ
Minutes-Printers OF Montpelier
Do Not Strike-Serious Ac.
cident in Barre.

North Hero, May Sat sos O'Clock this
afternoon the jury which had been con
sidcring the case against Antonio Co
laugelo for the murder of John Julian for
a. minutes rendered "a verdict of mot
guilty. The verdict was received by al
burst of applause in the crowded court
room and Colangelo, who has been in
custody since December 49, 1860, is now
free man. 1t was not learned tonight
what he will do but il is not likely he will
remain here.
Ihe argument for the prosecution was
op ned by states Attorney Collins. He
ma IL the brieiest kind of a statement re-
galdng the case and what the state mad
aimed to prove. In all, he spoke 10 min
utcS.
The defence was then opened by H. Nj.
Mott. lie made an eNceilcnt address,
speaking over an hour. He stated the law
governing the different degrees of murder
and mansldughter and showed that the
burden of proof rested upon the State and
not upon the accused de then reviewed
the course Of Colangelos life in this
country and showed how the evidence
corroborated his evidence in every par
ii, ular. lie dwelt upon Coiangelo's good
reputation that he and Julian had been
Cl Sc friends without ever having trnu-
bic, the improbability of such friends kill
ing each other, and the value of past
good character as compared with circum-
stantial evidence. He then showed how
Julian had spent his money, that he was
the one who had bought the revolver and
spoke OF Colangelos actions after the ac-
| ciuent showing that no murderer would
! have acted as the respondent did in sstvin &
! himselt up. Mr.. Mott thought that the
| Pittsburgh evidence should not be used
against HIM, as he was frightened at the
! time, besides not being under oath.
| The second argument for the defence
was advanced by Counsel Felix w Nc
| Gettrick of ST. Adams. He reviewed the
case in greater detail than his colleague
AMI showed how every particle of the
prisoners plea in the North Hero court,
! had been sustained by the evidence and
pointed out the improba bility of satiStac-
tory rebuttal being advanced by the State.
lie demanded that justice should be done
and that prejudice might not avail In so
gr.>e a case; that the prisoner should be
tried as an American boy in Sunny Italy
would desire to be tried referred to the
mothers anxiety over the welfare OF hti
innocent son; and demanded that the testi-
|muny OF the nine-year- old girl be stricken
lout so that she might not feel, when ar
rived to maturer years, that she had been
the means of aiding the death of friend.
Mr.. McGettrick deeply affected both crowd
land jury. one woman tainted.
In thc closing argument Tor the State,
Col. Harrington divided the subject mat
statement at Plattsburgh the ground
taken by the defense the first three days IN
court, and the entire change of base adopt
ed later.
At i1attsbureh the respondent made vol
luutary statements. that the state spent
time and money in attempting to discover
the truth or falsity of these statements ana
found them absolutely false. Then having
proven the falsity of these statements, the
defense changed completely confessing the
former statement to be absolutely untrue
and stated that the shooting occurred by
an accident. Mr.. harrington then PROVED
that the bullet entered Julian Skull
little to the left and that ColanBelo was
he hind him when he claimed ne iell SC
that the bullet would have to travel IRON
his right hand. which held the revolver
| around on the left side of Julian to XII
him as it did. He showed that the con
structiun OF the revolver was such that II
could not go off in any other than the reg
ular manner excepting by such n jar as
would break the internal mechanism ol
tho niece lie reviewed the cold hearted
ness of Colangelo'S leaving Julian, one Wh'
WAS more than Il brother, upon th'
track to he run ever by the next traln. ahl
the care which the respondent took tina
} his "chid-l<e wcaried sleep" should b.
, upon the Canadian side of the border. ll'
reviewed all these things carefully ant
then left it for the jury to decide upoi
the truth, not falsity, that had been sub
mtted to them.
Judge Tyler then gave his charge to TN
ury and they Immediately retired Atte
= waiting A2 minutes the jury announced
they were ready to report and coming mt
l the court room they formally announce
q that their verdict was not guilty Colan
r. golo was dismissed from custody ana cour
} adjourned.