The Washington times., 1906-05-15
Josephine TerranovaFree
From Self-Conviction
of Any Guilt.
SEVEN JURORS SELECTED
Defense viii Appeal to Un-
written Law to Save Girl
From Electric Chair.

NEW YORK, May 15.-With the Sc
lection OF five more Jurors today the
jury that viii try Josephine Terranova.
the Italian child-wife OF seventeen
years. who killed her aunt and uncle
because they robbed her Of her honor
and her husband will be completed.
and the prosecutor VIII outline the
States case The girl appears to have
no comprehension Of her position and
seems happy IN the thought that she
has avenged her honor and that her
husband has forgiven her. She was
the same Indifferent figure IN court to-
day.
Assistant District Attorney Ely. in
trying the girl for murder OF her aunt,
has endeavored 70 rob the defense Of
its strongest card Had Josephine been
placed on trial for Staying her uncle. as
was expected. the defense would hava
rested its entire case on the justiAca-
tfon Of killing q man who had robbed
her OF her honor.
While John Palmierf, counsel FOR. the
girl, viii try TO show that Concetta
Riggio. the murdered aunt. aided and
abetted her husband. Gaetano Riggio.
IN every way 10 debase the young de-
fendant. 1t IS realized that this point
wiz be very hard to prove beyond
doubt 70 the jury An important oues-
ton will thus be raised in the minds
OF the Jurors Gould a wife be so de-
based that she would aid her husband
IN accomplishing the ruin Of her own
nieceZ"
Appeal to Unwritten Law.
The questions put to the taIesmen to-
day and yesterday show that the trial IS
70 be fought oU- on sentimental lines
and that the detsaEe Will make every ef-
fort % bring the eawrlttsn law 70 the
aic OF the girl Assistant District At
Orney Ely VIII. however, DO al IA his
power 20 prevent the unwrftten law from
subvertiug the legal issues
The defense has engaged several
alienists, who viii endeavor TO show
that the girl, outraged BY the RnowIedga
that her honor was gone and thar be-
cause OF her debasenent her husband Of
only three days, the only person shs had
ever known in her narrow life who had
made life happy and worth while. had
left her. became temporarily insane and
in her frenzied condition slew her Sc
ducers-
Bright ard fresh. with the pink glow
OF youthful health in her cheeks. the
girl began the second day Of her trial.
eager now 10 90 on with the ordeal. be-
lieving that every day brings her nearer
freedom.
Father VIII save me-" she said be-
fore she left the TOmbs for the court
room
The appearance Of the first seven men
selected 10 try her. and decide whether
she shall 20 free OF 10 the death chair.
had cheered her greatly. and she was
confident that men with daughters Of
their own would soon send her back
10 her husband and her mother.
Slept Soundly All Night.
The girl slept soundIy all night IN her
cell in the TOmbs. and seemed TO have
no fear whatever Of the outcome Of
the trial When she returned TO the
TOmbs last night after the adjournment
OF cont. she had a long talk with
Berthe Claiche. her only woman friend
among the Tombs prisoners
To the Claiche girl she told her I'M
pressions of the Jurors and the Judge.
ana said she was satisfied they were
good. kind men. who would do what
was right. and set her free
They have daughters. and when
tell them what I had 70 go through.
and how I was compelled TO kill my
wicked uncle and aunt. they Will not
want 10 harm me- said the cOnhding
girl.
AS soon as the rest OF the twelve
Jurors have been selected, the prOsecu-
ton will put in evidence all the formal
and undlSputed facts regarding the kill
ing of the ReggiOs- II is not expected
much time Will be taken UP III present.
ing the side Of the prosecution. as the
facts OF the killing are not denied.