The Elbert County tribune., 1908-04-30
ITALIAN CHARGED WITH MURDER
OF FOUR PERSONS
FACES JURY.
SELECTED
DEFENDANT WILL FIRST BE
TRIED FOR MURDER OF JOS
EPH MlNIcHIELLo.

Canon City, Colo.-The jurors VINO
will decide the fate of Antoine Neroni,
alias Bavari. charged with numbering
a woman and three men. dismembering
their bodies and burying them in the
back yard of his home near Florence,
were selected Monday in three and
one-half hours. Because it has been
stated that much prejudice exists
against Bavari In this section, it was
thought that the selection of a jury
would consume at least one day. and
perhaps more. and that 1t was secured
in so short time is considered re-
markable.
Neroni, or Bavari. charged with the
murder of Mrs. Frank Palmetto, Er-
cola Buffetti and Joe and Dominick
Minichiello, is to be tried for the muir
der of Joe Minichlello. the prosecution
stating that II will reserve the other
three counts for future trials should
it fail to secure conviction for muir
der in the first degree.
The trial was called at 10 O'Clock
this morning, but at that time, after
entering plea of not guilty to all four
charges, George Wilkes, counsel for
Bavari, objected to the trial proceeding
because the defense had not been
served with list os the talesmen from
which 1t was expected to select a jury.
The objection was sustained and court
adjourned until 2 o'clock Resuming,
the twelve men in the box at $50
O'Clock were accepted as satisfactory
by both sides.
The men composing the jury are: A.
c. Clark, fruit grower; Harry G. Reed.
retired; Ben Vondra, fruit grower; F.
A. Hall, ranchnan; w. R Paxton.
fruit grower: D. S. McCrory. miner;
G. S. Warner, merchant; Luther Van
Slyke, fruit grower; T. G. Sandy,
ranchman; Irwin Stockton, merchant;
A. M. McGeary. blacksmith, and II. l..
James, bookkeeper.
Bavari was brought into the court
room handcuffed and between two dep
uties. He looked around the crowded
courtroom, clutched the arm of his
chair. then clasped his hands, fire.
quently moving them from place to
place. He watched the expression of
each Juror as he was questioned by
the attorneys. He was attired in new
suit, and had clean shave and hair
cut, presenting a far different appear
ance than he did when arrested His
every move is carefully watched by the
officers. Bavari told the sheriff that he
was afraid and scared
The spectators will be limited to the
seating capacity of the courtroom and
no children will be allowed at the trial
George B. Marco of Florence win act
as interpreter. Thirty witnesses will
be called by the state.
The crimes with which Bavari is
charged occurred at Florence. Bavar
was living near Florence with Mrs.
Frank Palmetto as his houseSeeper
With him also lived Ercola Buffetti, a
man over seventy years of age. Dom
mick and Joseph Minichiello. brothers.
were friends of Bavari, and with them
Bavari was engaged in truck gardening
November 10th Mrs. Palmetto disap
peared, and Bavari said she had gone
to Pueblo. Donimick Minichiello dis
appeared December 27th. and Ercola
Buffetti December 2Sth. Finally, on
January 9Th, Joseph Minichiello disap-
peared and his widow, suspicious of the
actions Of Bavari, caused the latter's
arrest.
Within few days the bodies of
three OF the victims were found buried
in the bak yard at Bavari's house and
few days later the body of Joseph Min
ichiello was found. Bayari gave the in
formation that led to the finding of
the three bodies.