Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-25
MISTAKENIsJDENTITY
DRUGGIST ACCUSED OF CRIME HE
DID NOT COMMIT.
Diff
Witnesses Had POSITIVELY Recognized
Him as Assailant Of James
n. TaHaerEo.

day in the case Of Fralcis Petrola, Drug.
gist at 653 Pennsylvania avenue southeast.
who was on trial before Judge Scott and
jury In the Police Court on a charge Of
having assaulted James H. Ta1iaferro the
Sth of this month, in front of a drug store
at the corner of 18th and G streets north
west.
Accordins. to the testimony presented by
the prosecution at the beginning Of the trial
yesterday Taliaferro was standing on the
corner OF 1lth and q streets northwest the
evening of the day mentioned. when sudden
" he was struck terrific blow in the fore
head and was rendered unconscious. He
stated, however, that he caught glimpse
of his assailant as he was struck. Talfa-
ferro was carried into the drug store. where
his wounds were dressed. and when he was
revived he stated he had been assaulted by
a strange man. For some time the case
was surrounded by as much mystery as the
ceIebrated question, WHO struck Billy
Patterson" and no clue could be obtained
as to the identity of the assailant
By reason Of a certain circumstance tho
name of Mr. Petrola was suggested in con-
nection with the assault" Taliaferro there
upon went to the druggists place or Dusl-
ness and positively identified Mr.. Petrola
as the man who had struck him.
At the hearing yesterday Mr.. Talaferro
and two ladies' who were standing on the
corner of 18th and streets when the as
sault was committed. testified positively
that the accused was the man VINO COM
mitted the assault The defense brought
forward seven witnesses who declared that
at the time the assault was committed Mr..
Petrola was at his place of business In
Southeast Washington
Another Phase of Case.
The further hearing in the case was post
poned until this morning and during the
night Attorney Loving, for the defense, OBJ
tanned information to the effect that Thos.
n Atkinson proprietor Of the drug store
at the corner Of 18th and g streets. might
give some interesting testimony with re-
gard to the affair. Mr.. Atkinson was SUBJ
poenaed as a witness and Attorney Loving
placed him on the stand at the opening OF
the trial this morning
The witness admitted that he did have
some Information In regard to the case
in fact that man had confessed to MIN
that he assaulted MI, Ianaterro. ,; MT AZ AT,
been made to him in confidence and ne
did not wish to give the name of the party
who made the confession. Finally, however,
after extended arguments by both Mr. Mui-
lowry TO rthe government and Mr.. Low
ing for the defense with regard to the al
| INSTABILITY of the testimony OF the wit
| ness, the court ordered, Mr.. Atkinson to
answer the questions put TO MIN.
Witness then stated In substance. tnat
Ernest Bregazzi. who resides at 10 iStn
| street northwest, had confessed to him
that he struck Mr.. Talfaferro. and stated
| his motive for SO doing a subpoena was
Immediately issued for Bregazzi, and Of
/ fcer Lake found him al. bis place OF EN-.
| ployment, and had him In court inside Of
a few minutes. The resemblance between
| the man on trial and Mr.. Bregazzi was ap-
parent at once. - g.. -.
Admits He Did It
Mr.. Bregazd took thu stand and volun-
| tarfly stated that he did strike Mr.. Talia-
ferro on the evening in question. In ex-
planning his motive for so doing he said:
'The 30th Of May was down at Chesa-
peake Beach. While there saw Taliaferro.
who was with party Ct ladies' a and
me eand Thought WASH speaking to tne
ladies, for he stepped over tonne. and hit
| me in the jaw. I made up my mind that
! would get even with him, and when saw
| him at the corner OF 1ith and G streets
| the evening of June 8, I walked up to him
| and told him was going to hit him. lie
| backed away and wouldn't take his medi-
cine like man. so I struck him and
knocked him down. I hit him because he
had hit me and believed was justified in
| doing So"
There was considerable commotion in the
court room while the proof of mistaken
| Identity was being introduced. Being ex-
cused from the witness box, Mr.. Bregazzl
politely asked the court II he was needed
any longer and upon being informed in
the negative he left the room and returned
to his work. Mr.. Petrola had been thor
oughly indicated
Taliaferro was then placed on the stand,
and he stated in confederation of Bregaz-
zfs testimony. that he was at Chesapeake
Beach the Both Of May, and he remembered
that gentleman in his party did strike
another man while at the resort.
The jury was Instructed to return YER
| dict of not guilty, which was done.