The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-08
Hackensack Woman Giyel
Until March to Have New
Evidence In Her Favor
Presented
NEW LIGHT ON The cRIMI
IT IS CHARGED SONIA HAD 50
PROSECUTED THE ToILAi
THAT THEY WE'RE ABOUT II
FLEE.

IhENION, FEB. 3, 19O6--Complyini
with the request of the Court Of Pardon
Governor Stokes last night granted re-
prieye until March Y to Mrs. Antoinett
Tolla, who was to have been hanged a
Hackensack tomorrow. The reprieve wa
granted in order to allow the womana
counsel to apply for new trial upon thl
ground of newiy-discovered evideuc
since her conviction, or take such othe
steps as they may deem proper under TIL
circumstances.
In the resolution adopted by the cour
Of Pardons yesterday it was stated tha
evidence had been submitted to the Par
dons Court showing that it was materia
to her defense and that If it had beer
presented at the time OF her trial it wonlt
have undoubtedly affected the jurys yer
dict. The fact that the Court Of Erreu
and Appeals was not unanimous in giving
decision was also urged as a reason
why a reprieve should be granted.
Lay Judges Bogert. Gray, vreden
burgh, yroom and Dill voted for tn,
resolution, while Chaneellors Magic ana
Green strenuously opposed it.
Mrs. Mary Clinton Quackenboss, 0.
New York, who had undertaken to de
fend Mrs Tolla in the event of her re
ceiving new trial, appeared before the
Court of Pardons yesterday and pleaded
earnestly for a reprieve- She presented
the affidayits Of three physicians showing
thar Santa was not shot in the back
as was brought out by the prosecution
at the trial, but that the 6rst bullei
struck him in the. corner of the eye and
that the other bullet wounds were caused
while he was trying to dodge the wo
mans attack.
Other affidavits were produced show
ing that Sonta's wife gave Mrs. Tolls
the money to purchase the revolver with
which she killed Sonta and thar this fol-
lowed a persecution on the part of Sonts
covering period of more than six
months. On one occasion, it was stated.
Sonta came to Tolla house having a
revolver in one hand and money IN ths
other. He showed these to Mrs. Tolla
and threatened to accomplish his pur-
pose by one or the other means.
Other affidavits were submitted show
ing that the Tollas. before the shooting
took place, had taken house in New
York and were preparing to leave Kings
land to escape Sonta's persecution. It
was further charged thar Sonta had gar
nished the wages of Tolla. Gaining that
he owed him money, and that this was
accomplished through the influence of
railroad section boss with whom he wac
intimate. The inference sought TO be
conveyed by these affidavits was thar
sonta was conspiring to force the Tolla's
to remain in Kingsland
The majority of the Court of Pardons
decided that # these facts had been
brought out at Mrs. Tola's trial they
would have undoubtedly caused the jury
to render a verdict in lesser degree Of
murder
Mrs Quaekenboss annouced later that
she would apply to Justice Garretson for
a new trial in Mrs Tolla's behalf, basins
her argument upon the affidaysts pre-
sented to the Court of Parlons. and in
the event of its being refused, she would
again appeal to the Pardons Court for
a Communication of sentence She felt
confident. however, that new trial
would be granted and that she would he
acquitted on the ground of justifabbs
homicide.
Michael Tolla, the condemned wosnan's
husband, was in the corridor of the State
House while the Court Of Pardons was
dehberating over his wife's case. and
wept for joy when the result was an
nounced. He thanked Mrs. Quackenbesa
for her efforts in his wife's behalf by
kissing her hand repeatedly.
The news of her reprieve was convey.
ed to Mrs. Tolla last night by sher;r
Mercer in the Hackeneack jail She ex-
pressed her thanks and said she rati.er
expected it. although she had prepared
herseslf to meet her fate in the event Of
an unfavorable decision beibng rendered.
Executive Clerk Edward D. Fox VIII
serve the reprieve papers upon Sheriff
Mercer to-day which will act as ssas
Of execution until March II.