The sun., 1906-02-25
GIRL WIFE'S TALE OF REVENGE
JOSEPHINE TERRANOVA SAYS
UNCLE WRECKED HER LIFE.
Betrayed Her when Child and Revealed
Her Disgrace to Husbands Family
stabbed Aunt for Not Protecting
Her-I.iyed on Cars Since the Tragedy.

Stabbed Aunt IOr NOt fTOttctH6
Her-I.lyed on Cars Since the Tragedy.
Josephine Terranova, the sixteen-year-
old wife who stabbed her uncle, Gaetano
Rippio, and his wife on Thursday night
at their home in Williamsbridge. was ar
rested esterday as she was about to enter
the home of her mother. at 124 herif
street The girl was told that the cha rge
against her was murder, as her uncle had
died in the Fordham Hospital few hours
before. She also learned from the police
that her aunt was lowering between life
and death as a result OF the wounds in her
'Aomen that Josephine had inflicted with
%. dig knife.
All this information failed to move the
girl in the slightest degree. To Detective
Sergeant Price she told all about the butcher
ing she did. She also told of happenings
in the past that seemed to her to justify
her act. With careless toss Of her head
she declared to the questioning detectives
that her uncle had paid no more than he
owed.
She said that when she was little girl
her mother had consented to her going to
live with her uncle. as the latter had pros
porous bakery and good home.
uncle did to me- said the girl. Then
when he learned that was to be married
he went on like mad. He was jealous and
tried to prevent my marriage. Failing to
do 80 he went to my husbands people
and told them was not good girl.
Il realized that l was woman now and
could make up for what happened when
was child. thought only to wipe out the
I'D 7 did xy0
do in my country bought revolver and
knife. l stabbed him and stabbed the
woman, too, because she knew what had
suffered and did nothing to help me- My
conscience told me TO kill them
The cool recital of the girl amazed the
detectives. She took her arrest without
any show of feeling and said she was glad
that her wanderngs we're. over. AlteT
stabbing her former guardians, the glrl
said she had walked the streets with only
a thin shawl in addition to her dress to
keep her warm. She said she went in
search Of her mother so that she could get
food and rest.
The incidents leading up to the stabbing
we're more or less dramatic. Josephine on
Thursday afternoon was in her f1at IN
Brooklyn with her husband, Giuseppe
Terranova, young contractor, whom sne
married six months ago. The bride groom s
people trooped into the fiat in the early
a
the stories that Riggio had been telling.
The Young wife was denounced and held
up to scorn by the Terranovas.
Twisting the wedding ring from her fin
ger and tossing it at the feet OF her husband,
Josephine made her way to the street and
into a drug store She telephoned to an
acquaintance in Williamsbridge and sent
this message
Tell Riggio that Josephine is coming
Josephine said that before taking a car
for tbie citv ahe went into n hardware store
near her home, on Shepherd avenue, Brook
lyn, and purchased the knife and revolver
The knife was a long one that Ia used by
sailmakers in cutting canvas sheets IL
was long and sharp. Josephine had dressed
herself in her best clothes and she did not
change them. Before leaving the house
she put on her gayest headgear, a args
picture hat with long white ostrich feather
and a white veil, Her costume was not
in keeping with her errand but was such
as Italian girls wear on iete Gays, ,o,. ho,
murderous work Josephine said:
II went into the house smiling and made
out as if was going to stay there some
time. Then ! walked over to where my
uncle sat. pretending TO KISS him ana as
with all the strength l had. My aun
bounded toward me to take the knife ava,
and as she did turned and drove the blad
into her. 49,.
shots at my uncle. but my aim was bad
Before i could fire any more, one of tn
bakers. Dominick rushed in and took tn
revolver away from me. He didn't harm
me and walked out of the house"
After telling her story to the police
+. Macdonald, in The Bronx, and repeate'
the narrative. The Coroner committe
her to the Tombs to await the action o
the Grand Jury.