Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-02-28
Indicted for Arson.

~. S. Barney, James Cook, Geo.
Lucot, M. Glavieh, j. ID. Mason,
Fred Werner, A. j. Bonham, Frank
Soracco, Il. II. Cook, g. A. Stirna-
man, John A. Phipps, Alexander Orr, |
Geo. A. Upton, M. w. Ford, 7. a.
Chichizola, Jas. Meehan, A. Gin
occhio, W. A. BENEFITS, and d. Il.
Kerr were the ones drawn Monday TO
comprise the grand jury, James Nee
han being appointed foreman. The
purpose of their meeting was to look
into the burning of the Summit house
on Feb. 9Th, under very unusual
circumstances. d. b. Spagnoli APP
peared as counsel tor the two Borellos
and Domenico Manzo. A. Caminetti
appeared for &. Lepori, all sof whom
had been arrested on suspicion.
Before the jury retired for delibera
ton in secret, ID. b. Spagnoli moved
that the court instruct the defend
ants present as to their rights under
Section ID of Article of the state
constitution, wherein il says:
No person in any
criminal case, shall be compelled to
be witness against himself.
lie stated that the defendants were
not citizens of the United States, and
were entitled to be informed of
their rights in this regard. That the
testimony of any defendant in these
cases would be tantamount to testi-
mony against the defendant witness
himself. The court overruled tho
point.
All of the defendants were present
but Leproi, who is out under Sl0,-
600. No challenges we're made TO
any of the above men acting as
grand jurors. After the court had
instructed them as to their duties,
the jury retired to their room, and
remained in session during the
greater part OF that day. Tuesday
morning they met again, and remain
ed in secret session until after three
O'Clock In the afternoon, at which
time they filed into the court room.
The foreman James Meehan presented
four indictments to the court, one
against each OF the above named de-
PENDANTS, charging them with arson.
The indictments show that in the
case of Augustine Borello, W. L.
Connors and Carlo Giovannoni were
called as witnesses U. S. Gregory in
the case of Giovanni Battiste, Marco
Borello and Domenico ManZo; and in
the case of g. Lepori, Giuseppe
Poinelli, Augustine Borello, Domenico
Manzo, Giovanni Battiste, Marco
Borello and U. S. Gregory we're eX-
amined.
After presenting the indictments to
the court, and there being nothing
further to report, the grand jury was
discharged temporarily.
The evidence upon which the de-
PENDANTS we're held Is reported to be
complete chain, but we can say
nothing definite in regard thereto.
According to common talk one OF the
parties told that he was offered 500
to set fire to the premises; that he
did burn them, but did not receive
the money; that he was arrested so
soon that he had no opportunity to
secure the reward. We cannot vouch
for these reports, and give them
merely for what they are worth. 1t
seems to be admitted generally that
the destruction of the property was
due to incendlarism. The character
and standing of Lepori is such that
his friends cannot credit that he
would be involved in such con-
spiracy. 1t is said that the defend
ant, Lepori, has been LAID up in a
sanitarium ever since he returned
homo from jackson, after giving
bonds. That he is IA very sick man,
and the worry over his arrest is the
principal contributory cause Of his
| illness.