The Washington times., 1906-05-22
Josephine Terranova On
Stand Declaring Her
Innocence.
SISTER -N-LAW'S STORY
Declares Uncle Tried to Pre-
vent Girl From Going
to Confession.

NEW YORK, May 22.-ShortIy af-
ter noon today Josephine Terranova,
the Italian girl on trial for murder
ing her aunt and uncle, took the
stand to tell the story of her wreck
ed life.
Before she was called TO the stand
she said to her counsel, former
Judge John Palmieri.
Il am inocent; they cannot con-
Wet me. and they will not. because
the Lord told me to do what I did"
Born in Italy.
She took the stand at I2:I5.
II was born in Italy" she said. 'g
stayed there until 7 was eight and a
half years old. I lived with my mother. -
Did you ever 90 TO church,
'Yes, I was a Catholic"
AT what age were you when your
father died?"
-Four years old"
"Do you remember coming to
American"
Eyes. came with an aunt"
What happened to you on board the
ship7"
I remember feeling faint one day, and
i2lling down When ! woke Up I was In
bed IN the ships hospital. s,ayed there
three days. 1 felt all broken up"
When you arrived at Ellis Island.
who came TO take you2''
My aunt and uncle, the Riggios."
hat did they say when they came
My uncle said they would give me A
home ard send me 10 school" "
How many times did you go. 10
I went OF and on about thirty-four
Did you go TO church,"
came 70 America"
When did you stop going 70 church?'.
The same time / stopped going 10
school. After that. 1 did not go to
church for seven years.
Why didn't you go?"
=, L tried to go I wanted TO go. But
they wouldn't let me-"
What time did you get up IN the
About O'Clock. but never got N
bed before u. did all the work. wash
Ing, ironing. everything I did ali the
work up to the time got married. One
hlght L swept the hoor at 10 o'clock"
Horror of One Morning.
Then in pitiful detail Josephine told
Of the horror OF that cold winter morn
ing when her aunt sent her 20 her
uncle's rom. The poor little girl begged
to be allowed TO tell this part Of her
story in court.
WAS your uncle a strong man?"
Eyes"
Did he hurt your
''Yes."
what did you do?''
I told my aunt. and she said to me:
oh. that's nothing; that's nothing"
Did you feel bad that week?r
/ was sick, and I had a heada che.
When 1 laid down I heard voices in nv
ear. Sometimes I heard a voice calling
Josephine. but when l turned TO look
there was no one there
While Josephine was telling her torrf
Die story, Miss Margaret Hubbard Aver
was so overcome that she tainted. and
mad TO be carried out Of the court room.
Sister-in-Law's Story.
Mrs. Maggie FernIo, sister of GuIsegpe
Terranova, husband Of Josephine, threw
more side lights today or the unhappy
life of the young defendant.
AS II was the intention Of the defer se
this morning TO call Josephine to the
stand today the court room was crowded
with women eager to hear the dark de-
tails of a defled life
Mrs. Fernlo said that after her brother
became engaged to Josephine she went
10 the Nggio's and in the presence of
the girl asked the uncle Ii she could
take Josephine to confession. Old Rfggio
Wocld not g-Se his consent and said to
JOSE phine:
''ulon't you confess. The priest will
IeaSh you PAD things Come here, Jose
prime, and III confess you"
Gas 81.
pnlne 10 the church, however, anG the
old uncle followed them and hid near
the church The witness said that the
priest after talking TO Josephine would
not give her communion.
Spurned by Church.
What did the priest say?'' asked the
counsel for the girl.
He said that he would NOT eiva bor
the communion" said Mrs. Fernlo. .'be.
cause she had no religion and djdn't
know who God was --i
Mrs. Fernlo said she called on loco
prime In her fiat after her husband baa
left her because Of what he had learned
The girl was Historically weeping and
aIteT remaining with her for some time
IF this jury Of fathers does not set
me free, have nothing left to live
This was the stirring statement made
today by Josephine Terranova as she
was preparing to leave the Tombs for
the courtroom, where she is being
tried for her life.
Freedom or Death.
Il do not want TO live unless they
say that 1 have told the truth. and that
may go. The sunshine will be out of
my life, and it might as well be death
if they do not give me freedom.
II know I did right, because Gods
voice told me what 10 do. and why
should they want to punish me- 1 want
to go free. so ! can &C into the con-
vents into Gods house. and live a good,
IlIIrallifa- If they Vii r,nt Lei M Il,