The Washington times., 1906-05-18
Driven to Kill by Brutal
ity of Her Aunt and
Uncle.
JUDGMENT OF ALMIGHTY
Ex-Judge Palmieri Makes
Opening Presentation
in Murder Case.

NEW YORK, May 1s.-Ex-Judge John
Palmieri made his opening address to-
day TO the jury that is TO decide the
fate Of Josephine Terranova, the young
girl wife charged with the murder of
her aunt and uncle, Gaetano and Con-
cetta Reggie. Before Mr.. Palmieri be-
gan Juror Donghurst handed letter TO
Justice Scott, which he had received in
the morning mail, but 1t was not read.
The letter was written on the Hotel
Martha Washington paper.
Opening by the declaration that he did
not want the Jury 10 acquit Josephine
on sympathy. Mr.. Palmieri said:
las an individual. I would say that
the people have not established their
case Don't you believe that her uncle
and aunt. who testified yesterday, were
keeping back a secret, the greatest Sc
cret Of this girls life. Don't you believe
they could have told US. had they de-
sired 10 tell the truth.
The prosecution have chosen TO try
this girl on the charge Of numbering
her aunt, but the crime Of that aunt, in
her treatment Of this girl, was blacker,
far blacker than the act OF this girl in
killing her. This woman opened the
door through which this young girl was
sent 10 her doom. So IL is a case of
NOHldH against woman, DOth OF whom
were human monsters.
Struck Down by the Almighty.
In the course of this trial I shall not
even object to having appear the last
words Of her uncle as he was struck
down, not by the hand Of this girl. but
by the hand OF God. yes. by the hand
Of Almighty God"
Mr.. Paimieri then told how in Jose
nh ~E-FT =.
70 her mother from Gaetano Reggie,
asking that she come 10 New York 10
live with him. Before Gaetano had come
phine's Godfather.
When she came 10 live with Reggie"
contlnG ID Mr. Palmieri, she was made
10 slave. She made the beds for twelve
men and did the cooking for twelve men
And when she was taken III with fever
and weakness from this slavery she
and said:
I can't do this work any longer. I
can't do this work any longer. Why
snouid do the work of three women -
Then her aunt turned upon her and
struck ner in the face, almost breaking a
cheek bone. as l shall prove by physi-
clans who attended her. But this is
rot the only crime that l shall tell Won
OF ] shall tell you Of many crimes you
will hear from this girls own lips; hor-
rors that you never drea-Ged Of.
Vilely Abused by Uncle.
why. one day. after this girl had
slaved and slaved her aunt surprised her
by telling her TO go to her room and
go TO bed, and her uncle was in that
room. In a short time this girl came
running TO her aunt and told her what
had happened. And this aunt replied:
Why, that's nothing You must do
what your uncle told you to do"
Then Mr. Plamieri told Of ;lnSDe7ka rla
crimes and abuses TO which poor little
Josephine was subjected. He told how.
strong brute her uncle was. and how
Josephine had told doctors, friends. and
her mother about her vile treatment IN
the Reggie home.
Her mother went to the Reggie home
TO demand her daughters return. The
door was closed and locked. When Rer-
gio opened IL, he asked:
What do you want?'
mother
ou can't have her. said the uncle.
ana ne slammed the door IN the face of
Josephine's mother.
ana think. gentlemen. that this girl
was only twelve years old when she was
forced TO live that life of horror"