The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-24
MURDER TRIAL
IS COMMENCED
ROBERT vANELLA BEING TRIED
IN THE DISTRICT COURT.
WITNESSES TESTIFY
Vince Landry Identifies Defendant 40
Man Whom He saw Running Down
Alley After LavelIe Fired Shots.
Dispositions Read.

DepoelttonS heao.
From Wednesdays Daily.
\ Robert Vanella was placed on trial
in the district court yesterday, on q
charge Of numbering Rafael Orasio,
on sOctober IL Of last year, in a little
house on First avenue between South
Twenty-tifth and Tw~enty-sixth streets.
The jury was selected and several OF
the witnesses for the prosecution had
been examined when an adjournment
was taken last night.
Louis Fava, an Italian who was in
the house when Orasio was shot, was
the first witness called. He testified
that he had known both the defend
ant and the murdered man about
three weeks before Orasio was killed.
He said that he was about to enter
the house Immediately after Orasio
was killed and met someone coming
out, who said, "stand back or you'll
get the same thing" or words to that
effect. He testified that he thought
he recognized the voice as being Va
nella's, but could not see the mans
face or whether or not ne had a gun
in his hand.
Appeared to Be Friends.
The deposition OF James Laiviatz,
also an Italian, who was in the house
when the murder occurred, was read.
In giving his testimony in the case,
according to his deposition, he told of
finding the body Of Orasio. and Of the
relations which existed between the
defendant and the murdered man,
who occupied the same room in the
building and appeared to be the best
of friends.
OHcer Lavelle testified to shooting
at Vanella or a man whom he thought
was Vanella, as he ran down an alley
and jumped over a fence back of Min
nesota venue. He also testified to
seeing Vance Landry, who told him
which direction the fleeing man had
taken. Lavelle stated that when he
shot he did not know that the man
who was running had committed any
crime beyond disturbing the peace,
and did not feel justified in shooting
to kill at the time.
Saw vanelIa Running.
Vince Landry testified to seeing
Vanella running down an alley back
of the restricted district with his coat
over his arm, soon after Lavelle fired
the shots, aud of telling Lavelle which
direction the man had taken. Landry
Is considered IN important witness
for the prosecution and his testimony
was perhaps the most damaging to
the defense, given yesterday.
w. T. Garvey, proprietor Of the
Turf saloon, testified to vanella and
Orasio being in his place Of business
the night Of the murder, and said'that
one of them appeared to be ~intoxicat
ed. He said that there were severa,
Italians In the saloon at the same
time, and q German, who he though
Vanella and Orasio we're going to try
to. rob. He said the Italians were
telling the German something about
a job they had for him. He also sait
that he thought Orasio had a larg,
sum Of money.
Deposition Of Toni Rose.
The deposition Of Toni Rose, tn,
dead man y sweetheart, was read
She told Of the apparently friendly re
lations which existed between the. tw.
men previous to the killing and
visit which vanella made to the Pal
ace, q house in the restricted distric
OF which she and Yanella's sweet
heart were inmates, zoo after tn
murder vas committed. She said Va
nella was white and acted very mel
vous and that he called his sweet
heart, Tillie Leonard, on to n sid
and talked with her. and then kisse'
her goodby. She stated In her depe
sition that she thought she hear,
vanella say, IT done it. and tina
when she asked the Leonard womal
II anything was wrong. she answere
in the negative.
At the conclusion OF the reading Q
the Rose woman's- deposition, cour
adjourned.
1t is understood from County Attol
ney Wilson'S opening statement t
the jury that witnesses will be intrt
duced today to testify to vanella's q
rest at Laurel and his actions In tha
place preceding his arrest, and Of hi
purchasing a ticket to Butte just b
fore he was arrested by Deputy She
III Burla.
TWO LICENSES ISSUED.
Edward c. Stewart Would Marry Cor
Huddleston.
From Wednesdays Daily.