The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-02
WITNESSES TELL
Of THE KILLING
Details of Shooting of Joseph
Vatrella Are Given in
Court.
GOOD PROGRESS Is MADE
in MAZZA MURDER CASE
Bulk of the Testimony Is Being
Given Through an In
terpreter.

Fair progress Was made before Judge
Armstrong and jury Wednesday I'm the
case of Frank Mozza, charged with muir
der In the first degree for the killing OF
Joseph Vatrella in this city, September
g. 1905. This. too, in spite OF the fact that
tho greater part of the testimony has to
be given through an interpreter. When
court met Wednesday morning the work
OF securing three additional Jurors was
taken up and, shortly before noon. twelve
men satisfactory TO the prosecution and
defense had been sccured.
Jurors in the Case.
Tho jury as sworn TO try the case COM
PriseS John j. Devine. Joseph Il. AleXan-
der w, H Dye. Willard B Richards, Jo-
seph H. Graham, Fred c. Dern, Albert
T. Brady, F. l.. Sheets, F c. Underwood,
William Fairbourn. George F. Despair
and John A. Butler. As soon as the jury
had been sworn, the Indictment was read
and District Attorney Loofbourow made
his opening statement
Mr. Loofoourow said he expected the
testimony to show that Vatrella had had
some words with Mrs. Mazza on the even-
Ing OF the killing and that Mazza, when
Informed OF tho occurrence, went across
the street TO the home OF VotrelIo. called
MIN out and shot him, after saying; This
VIII teach you to use better language"
Na:rolla, Mr. Loofbourow added, had no
weapon In his hand at the time or the
shooting and had made no assault on
MaZza-
Statement Of Defense.
Mr. Newton, for the defense, said that
the testimony would show that Vatrella
had frequently grossly insulted Mrs. MAJ
ga. using language to her that the attor-
ney would not repeat to the jury. on
added Eatrolla had again insulted Mrs
Mazza and she finally told her husband
after much persuasion, At the time Mrs
Mazza told the story her husband found
a gun In her bosom. which she had placed
there. the attorney further said for the
purpose of defending herself against Va
trella
Called Vatrella Out.
Continuing, Mr.. Newton said that Maz-
"a, after learning OF the insulting lam
guage used by Vatrella to his wife, took
the gun went over to Vatrella's home and
called him outside. There an alteration
took place. Eatrella admitting that he
had insul;ed Mrs. Mazza and adding that
Ing to the attorney, then started toward
Mazza In threatening manner, and Mnz-
"a being in fear OF his life. shot and
killed Vatrella.
Widow on the Stand.
Two interpreters were then sworn and
Mrs. Ranala Vatrella, widow OF Vatrella
was called to the witness stand Mrs
Natrella testified that, upon the evening
In question. Mazza came across the street
and called Vatrella out OF the house The
NaUcllas and two boardcrs were eating
supper at the time and Vatrella did not
respond Immediately to the command of
Mazza; When Yatrella finally went out,
the witness said, she ACCOMPANIED him
MAzza and his wife were on the sidewalk
In front of the house and when VatreIla
reached the gate Mazza said: Joe. why
don't you learn TO talk more better2"
Two Shots Are Fired.
According TO Mrs. Vatrclla's story,
Mazza then shot at Vatrclla. the second
breast. inflicting a wound from which the
victim died two weeks later Mrs Vn-
trclla said that her husband had no wea-
pom In his hand at the time OF the shoot
said In conclusion. Mazza and his wife
ran away and she helped her husband into
the house
Had Been Drinking.
On cross-examination Mrs. vatrelln ad-
mitted that her husband had been drink
preceding the killing. and that he was
feeling pretty good" when he came
home. Joe Saracino. a boarder at the
VaGella home. testified that when Va
trella went out to the gate Mazza said: |
ny don't you talk better to my wifcT'
after which the shots were fired.
Ranine Tells Story.
james Ranine, commonly called Jim
Riley. heard the men talking at the gate, |
but could not understand what was being |
said. Ranlne admitted that he and Va |
trella had been drinking during tho after |
noon
James Love. who was on the opposite |
side OF the street when the shooting oc- |
CURED, said he heard Mazza call Vatrclla
out of the house. but did not hear the |
subsequent conversation,
Mazza Was Frightened.
Capt Burbidee OF the polIcn deDar+p,o,,
was the next witness and testified that
be brought Mazza back to the city from
Boulder Colo. In the Jail at Boulder.
the Captain said. Mazza told him that he
left Salt Lake on the night of the shoot
ng, going TO Lafayette Colo, by way of
Ogden and Cheyenne. Mazza also said
at that time that Vatrclla had insultcd
MS woman and that he didn't want any
trouble with Vatrella, but that he killed
him, En- route home the witness CON
inued. Mazza asked him what he might
get here, and the reply was that he might
get hanged. Mazza feared he would be
killed upon his arrival at Salt Lake and |
was afraid to lenve tho train.
Miss Burt Testif1es.
Miss Sadie Burt who notified the police
IF the shooting. said she was across the
street when the trouble occurred She
Mazza and his wife cross the street
and heard Mazza call Vatrella out There |
was some loud talking preceding tho |
shots, but she could not distinguish what
was being said.
Upon the conclusion OF Miss Rurt's tes
-imony adjournment was taken until 10 |
D clock this morning.