The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-19
DEATH SIGN GIVEN IN COURT
ITALIAN KIDNAPPER ON TRIAL
SCARES WITNESS WITH TT.
Accomplish Tries Twice TO summon Cour.
age Enough to Brave the Sign. but
Elects q LOng Term In Prison at Last
Some OF the andits Still at Large.

age enough to Brave the Sign. but
Elects q LOng Term In Prison al Last
Some OF the Bandits Still at Large.
While sitting in his cell in the Tombs yes
terday lgnazio di Leonardo. %kidnapper,
began to think of his relatives in Italy. A
jury had just found him guilty of kidnap-
ping seven-year-old Salvatore, son of Anto-
MO Siatta. a barber Of 255 West l26th street.
A ransom Of $40. 1000 had been demanded for
the boy. After he had been kept for nearly
two weeks in a house on Staten Island he
was turned adrift at the Manhattan end of
the Brooklyn Bridge. where he was picked
up by a policeman.
Ignazio knew hat his pal. Pietro Pom
pinellia. was being tried in the court room
he had just left, for as Ignazio heard the
jury say guilty in his case Pietro had been
brought in and pushed into the seat be had
just vacated.
Il will do penanoe." said Ignazio to the
keeper who TODD outside Of his cell. Il will
peach
Ignazio has been here long enough to
know the native slang. He also is aware
that his countrymen do not recognize
peaohing as the proper thing. But he had
been told that the Judge was harsh and
might give him fifteen years in Sing Sing
a long time. And there were his relatives in
Sicily.
Tell that little round fat man who kept
jumping at me in that big our room that |
will tell him the truth said Ignazio to the
keeper. .
Assistant District Attorney O'Connor got
the message and sent for IgnaZio. who walked
through the court room with the air OF a
penitent. As he was sworn he took the
Bible and kissed it-onoe, twice, three times.
He sat down and faced the jury. Then he
looked at Pietro. Not a word had been
spoken, but Ignazio became pale and his
knees shook.
Pietro had placed the %forefnger OF one
hand on each temple and then with a jerk
had drawn his right hand across his throat.
ItIwas all done in a fash.
He has given the death sign" said Mr..
O'Connor. He has signalled to this wit
ness"
Il saw it. " said Judge O'Sullivan.
They pleaded with the trembling Ignazio,
cajoled him and told him that he had moth
ing 70 fear. But Ignazio sat mute. and
finally he was ordered from the stand.
ONLY then did his color return.
Once outside Of the court room and away
from the presence OF Pietro, lgnazio's
courag &c came back little by little. He
asked TO be allowed to sit in the pen for
prisoners and think. He had sat there for
half an hour when he slapped his knee.
"Tell that man ! will confess all, " said he.
They marched him back to the court
room and 20 the witness chair. He did not
have 10 take an oath then, for he had been
sworn once. He Topped into the chair.
His eyes jumped around the court room
to the jury, MIR. O'Connor. the Judge and
the speotators-and he began:
'Wo met the boy, Salvatore, in front of
Public School 1871. in West I5eth street.
Ignazio stopped. His eyes were now
fixed on Pietro. II was just a fash again
forefingers TO each temple and the sweep |
ing cut across the throat. Not a word more
he dragged from lgnazio.
That is all ] will say" he muttered. |
when they pressed him hard. He was taken /
back to the Tombs and the prosecution
wen on with its case. II took the jury just
long enough 10 ballot once TO convict Pietro. |
Then Mrs. Rosina Nlartinese. said TO be
the wife of Pietro and one Of the band Of
kidnRppers, was brought in for trial. When
her case is disposed Of Ignazio and Pietro
will he sentenced. The police are looking
for two other me Of the band.
The ITALIAN in the court room said that |
the sign of death was nothing new to
than, for some of them had seen il before.