Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-06
FIRST DECREE MURDER


The introduction Of testimony concerning
the killing of Elizabeth ". Dodge, seventeen
years Of age, September 13 last. while on
9Th street northeast between D and d
streets, for which Joseph Paolucci, young
shoemaker, Is on trial in Criminal Court
No. 2 before Justice Barns-rd. was COM
menced today about noon. The first witness
was Mrs. Elizabeth 8. Dodge, mother OF
the deceased.
The first two hours Of today's session of
the court was occupied in securing the
jury and the opening statements Of counsel.
The following were impaneled as jurors:
Frank A. Gibbons, VIM. l.. F. King, Alex
ander jackson, Benjamin F. Rives, Charles
A. Mckinney, George J. Nolte. Edwin w.
Smith. Richard D. James. William D. Jar
Wis, William p. Campbell, Alfred j. Biz
mingham and William A. Mellen.
Assistant United States Attorney Turner
made the opening statement to the jury,
outlining the proof the government ex-
poets to produce, that Paolucci, Jealous OF
deliberately shot and killed her. Should
the proof bear out that suggestion, Mr.
Turner told the jury, the government would
expect verdict Of guilty Of first-degree
murder.
Attorney Thomas c. Taylor, for the de-
Tense. informed the jury that he expected
to prove that Paolucci. enraged beyond
control by the statement of the girl that
ton. effected shortly before the homicide.
shot the girl and attempted suicide. Coun-
sci said he expected to show that the de-
PENDANT at that time was incapable of de-
liberation or Of forming the intent to muir
der, required by the statute to sustain a
verdict of first degree murder. He init
mated that the defense will be satisfied
with a verdict of second degree murder,
carrying as a maximum penalty life I'M
prisonment
Mother First Witness.
The first witness, Mrs. Elizabeth s. Dodge,
stated that the deceased was. seventeen
years and three months Of age, and that
she and her daughters had been introduced
to Paolucci at a neighbor's house in Feb
ruary. 1906. They were accustomed, she
said, to meet Paolucci at that house about
twice a month July IA last, she stated
she and her daughter accompanied the de-
PENDANT to River View, after Paoluccf had
visited her house on two occasions After
the visit to River View, she said. the de-
PENDANT was frequently received at her
home as friend, but not as sutton for
her daughters hand
The night before the shooting Paolucci.
witness said, visited her store and asked
her to go with him to a carnival being held
at 18th and H streets northeast, whittier the
daughter had gone with several friends.
She could not go. so entered into CONVEX
Sation with PaOlucci, In the course of which
he inquired If the witness was satisfied
with him sutton. She then told him,
she stated, that she left that to her daugh-
ter. The daughter returned from the en-
tertainment about 10 o'clock and went into
the sitting room adjoining the store with
the defendant.
Mrs. Dodge then told of the quarrel be-
tween Paolucci and her daughter. and
stated that when Paofucci left he gave the
girl heI ring, which he had been wearing.
and said:
II will be back tomorrow and give you
all you want. You will be sorry for this"
On the day of the tragedy Mrs. Dodge
said she saw the defendant about noon.
He spoke to her and passed on. Later he
returned and inquired for Lizzie; he treated
several friends who happened to be In the
store and complained that Lizzie had treat
ed him dirty"
Paolucci then left the store, and she did
not see him until the shooting, which oc-
CURED about 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon.
She had sent Lizzie to lock up the house
from which she had removed. Hearing two
shots she rushed to the door and saw the
defendant fire the third shot. She heard
fourth shot, she declared. She ran to her
daughter as the latter fell She pushed the
defendant aside, and, picking up the pistol
which he had dropped, gave it to a police
man. She carried her daughter into the
sitting room Of her home. 437 5th street
northeast. The daughter was then dead
she declared, having died instantly on re-
ceiving the pistol wounds.
Attorney Taylor was cross-examining
Mrs. Dodge when The Stars report closed