The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-22
STATE MENTIONS CONFESSION
Mr.. Boardmaii's Statement Includes
Allusion to Admission of Crime.

Allusion to Admission of Crime.
Self-contained and with expression
less features, Antonio Calderone yes
terday afternoon listened stolidly to
County Attorney F. Fl. Boardman's
opening to the jury in. which the prose
cutor fercibly and directly accused
him of the cold-blooded murder. of his
friend, Salvador Battalia. No word
seemed to escape the prisoner, yet
neither did any of the statements have
the slightest visible effect upon him.
Mr.. Boardman's opening was simple,
strong and direct. He detailed
without rhetorical f1ourishes but with
states theory Of the Battalia murder
and the means by which the prosecu-
ton intended to prove Calderone
guilty Of murder in the first degree.
He recounted the finding of the
body in the middle of the Franklin
avenue bridge about IL o'clock the
night of Nov. IS, the official investiga-
toward Minneapolis, then back across
the bridge, up thru Prospect Park and
to st. Paul; of the bloody handker-
chief marked with Calderone's initials
and Of the long, slender, blood
smeared knife found on the river bank
below the scene Of the killing. He
told again Of the Italian gathering at
-"
Italia and Calderone were the night Of
Nov. IS; how Battalfa left with the
avowed i~tention of going to see a Mr..
Simons on Thirty-first street and how
Calderone later changed his clothes
and left the place to which neither of
the men returned that night. He then
sketched Calderone's hiding in St.
Paul. his later giving himself up to the
sheriff; the finding of a loaded re-
volver and a wallet Of money in Bat
talia's pockets, showing that he had
attempted no attack and was not muir
dered for money; and lastly Of the
prisoners confession of murder
r. Defense Objects.
81 object to the use of the word
confession unless the county attor-
ney intends to prove a genuine con-
fession," interrupted Mr.. McGhee.
II will inform my learned friend"
replied Mr.. BOardman, that we do
most certainly intend to produce an
absolute confession and prove that it
is SUCH"
Mr.. McGhee's request to have all
witnesses excluded from the room
caused some discussion, but was as
scented to finally by the county attor-
ney.
You know your witnesses and
will please notify them to leave the
room" ordered the court.
well, 1 think" suggested Mr.. Nc
Ghee, that if Mr.. Boardman will ex-
clude his witnesses he will exclude
all Of ours.
Piazzo Called to Stand.
Leonardo Piazzo, a. friend of the
dead man, was the first witness
called by the state. He swore to the
Italian party at 1901 Western ave
nue. on the evening of the murder and
testified to Battalia's leaving the place
and fifteen minutes later Of Calde-
rone's going away after giving an en-
velop containing $40 and addressed
to his parents, to Philip, and asking
some Of the party to accompany him
down town.
In examination Mr.. McGhee
did not bring out any new facts. He
introduced the envelop containing the
money in evidence after proving its
identity by the witness.
rs this the envelope given by Cal
derone to Philip" he asked.
Are. you sure? Now, don't let me
fool you
You won't fool me, because am
telling nothing but the TRUTH re-
| torted the witness, and he was ex-
cused.
William STOPPER, deputy county sur
Eyeyor, was sworn and introduced a
floor plan Of the Franklin avenue
bridge, showing 1.-The location of the
pool of blood where Battalia's body
was found, and the trail of blood
| made by the escaping slayer. No OBJ
| lection was made to the exhibit.
Deputy Coroner DR.. Henry Irvine
testified to being called to the scene
lof the murder the night of Nov. IS,
of finding the body and taking it to
| the .morgue, where an examination
was made, showing twenty-four knife
wounds. any one of four Of which
would have proved fatal. He pro
| duced a chart of Battalia's body
showing the position and size of the
wounds, and this was readily admit
ted as evidence. Mr. McGhee made
| ilo9 cross-examila Oh. - IS