The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-13
Judge in Paterson Court
Sorry Punishment Was
Not More Severe.
JURORS DECIDE QUICKLY
GaetanO PetteneIIi Sent to State
Prison to Be Kept at Hard
Labor for Conspiracy and
Robbery Attempt-Bar-
ber Star Witness.

PATTERSON, Nov 13.--Ten years at
hard labor in State prison was given
Gaetano Pettenelli, leader of a Black
Hand gang, in the Court of Quarter
Sessions last evening. The jury took
but few minutes to convict Pettenelli,
whose attempt to prove an alibi failed.
Judge Francis Scott, who presided,
remarked that he regretted that the
law could not impose a more severe
sentence upon the prisoner, two of
whose companions in crime turned
States evidence.
Pettenelli's trial began yesterday
morning and the jury, after being out
only ten minutes, returned into court
shortly before o'clock. Deputy County
Clerk Morris polled the panel and called
for the verdict.
Guilty as charged in both indict-
ments," announced the foreman.
Let the defendant stand up!" said
Judge Scott.
Pettenelli, who, a few years ago,
went through the ordeal of trial for
murder without showing the least sign
of nervousness even up to the moment
that the jury acquitted him, seemed as
one bewildered, realizing as he stood
before the court that his sentence
would be a severe one.
I'm this case the court regrets" said
Judge Scott, addressing the convicted
man, that it is permitted to impose
only three years punishment for the
crime Of attempted robbery and only
seven years for conspiracy. However
impose the full penalty on both con-
victions"
''Will the terms run consecutively
or together?' asked Assistant Prose
cutor Ralph Shaw, who conducted the
case for the State.
"0onsecutively, of course; ten years
in ALL" answered Judge Scott, with
avidity.
Former Judge John F. Kerr, Petite
nelli's counsel, interposed no objection,
nor did he plead with the court to
have the sentence reduced The con-
stables handcuffed Pettenelli and re-
moved him to the county jail. He will
be taken to Trenton as soon as possi-
BILE, the authorities seeking to make an
example of him that shall serve no
tice to other members of the band
which delights in terrorizing their un-
offending countrymen, that punishment
will come swift to them in this county
George SportelN and Santi Fasoni,
members of the Black Hand gang of
which Pettenelli was leader, were put
on trial with him yesterday on indict-
ments for attempted robbery and con-
spiracy. Shortly after the opening of
court Peter ]. McGinnis, of Ward &
McGinnis who APPEARED for Sportelli
and Fasoni, got them to plead guilty
to the indictments and also to appear
as witnesses for the State in the case
against Pettenelli. Lawyer McGinnis
also assisted Assistant Prosecutor
Shaw in conducting the States case.
Sportelli and Fasoni testified for the
State, as did Joseph Fasoni, brother
of one of the accused men; Captain
John Taylor, Detective Sergeant Will
lam Lord and William Strong. The
star witness, of course, was Frank a.
Paterno, a barber of 1877 Beech street,
TO whom the gang sent series OF
Black Hand letters threatening him
with death if he refused to make them
a present OF 5000.
Paterno identified the several let
ters sent him, telling how he feared that
he was marked by the band and of
how he begged the police to help him.
Captain Taylor and Detective Lord de-
scribed how they lay in walt at Market
street and Twenty-frst avenue at the
hour appointed for Paterno to give up
his hard-earned cash. They had Pa
terno hand an envelope to one Of the
men. There were six in the gang. The
captain and detective gave chase and
caught Sportelli and Fasoni. Pettenelli
was arrested later In Jersey City. Pet
tenelli's defense was an alibi. His
counsel called couple of witnesses in
an effort to prove that on the night
Pettenelli was supposed to have been
with the gang to secure Paterno's
money he was at work in one of the
North River tunnels None of them
was able to swear to this. Several
other witnesses called did not appear.
The only evidence in Pettenellfs behalf
was his own denial of guilt.
Pettenellrs record has been black
one. While he was acquitted on the
indictment, the police have always be-
Iieved that Pettenelli deliberately muir
dered Angelo Blonde, whom he shot
during a row on Beech street In the
early part of 1906. Pettenelli admitted
he was engaged in the row, but claimed
he had shot Blonde in self-defense.
He had bullet wound in his leg, and
this, he claimed, was inflicted from q
pistol in Biondo's hand. The police
have always contended that Pettenelli,
realizing that he would be charged
with the murder. shot himself to make
the theory Of his defense seem more
probable.
BRUISED BY FALL FROM CAR.