The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-14
Court.


IS Alto Musumeci and Giovanno Bu
d nanno, Italians. living in Philadelph
rs against whom there were three indi'
,e ments charging atrocious assault and bt
q terry with intent to kill Stephen A. Ben
it dict, living on the cranberry bog
d Edmund Braddock, at Buzby's Mills,
: Medford township; rape on Mrs. Sars
C Benedict, his wife, and breaking al
entering, were placed on trial befo
e Judge Horner, on Wednesday. Musume,
/ was represented by VIM. A. Slaughter, I
Mount Holly, and with him was associa
e ed j. Howard Morrison, member {
common council, Philadelphia. Buonar
no was defended by Blanchard Fl. White
To the indictments found against theI
each prisoner pleaded not guilty, claim
ing they were in Philadelphia at the tim
, the crime was committed.
During the progress of the trial Prose
cutor Atkinson succeeded in proving a.
the facts which were incorporated in hi
opening address to the jury, except in tn
case of Musumeci.
Stephen Benedict, who passed through
such terrible ordeal, first related his ex
perience. He knew most all the Italian
employed on Braddock's cranberry bog
On October 30, Benedict and his wifi
we're working in Braddock's berry hous,
at Medford. They arrived home about
o'clock in the evening, when the dogs
began to bark. For Heavens sake 60 in
and let the dogs out and get lantern,
remarked Benedict to his wife. Just as
he got the mules unlocked he was attack
ed by three men, who knocked him down,
bound his hands with straps and rope and
blindfolded him with towel. Before he
was conquered, however, he got up and
fought until the men choked him. One
man got his finger in Benedict's mouth,
and the latter bit down very hard. Call
ing to his wife, she replied, 81 can't help
you, some one has grabbed me-"
During his struggles Benedict partly
succeeded in removing the bandage from
his eyes and he recognized Buonanno,
who pulled the towel over Benedict's eyes
again. His wife was taken to the house
and then she was brought back to the barn
and thrown down by his side. The tallest
man of the three drew a revolver and
said: Il would like to kill you," and he
ammo, who remarked: II am sorry for
what have done and hope you will for
give me-" Benedict said he would for
give them. He told the men to go away
and he would not say anything about it.
To assuage the wife's feelings Buoanno put
fifty cents in her hands, which were tied
behind her back.
After the men went away Mrs Bene
dict was the first to free herself, and then
she loosened the straps and rope that
bound her husband. They went to the
residence of Adam Morelock, two miles
distant, arriving there at II o'clock, where
they were sheltered all night. The next
morning he drove them to Medford. Bene
dict and his wife were nearly wild in their
actions, which resulted from their terrible
experience. Benedict was uncertain as to
Musumeci being one of the men who as
saulted him. He felt positive he was, but
he was not willing to swear to that fact.
On cross-examination Benedict said:
1t was dark when we arrived home, but
It was after the lantern was obtained that |
saw and recognized the men. The man
whose finger bit has not been arrested.
I am positively certain that Buonanno
Iaved my life, as he prevented his COM
oanion from killing me"
Shaking preceptibly from a nervous
pell, and in charge of her husband and
Dr.. John J. Flynn, Mrs. Benedict was
ed to the witness chair and restoratives
we're applied to quiet her nerves Her
condition was one to elicit sympathy from
he crowded court room. She appeared
ike one almost bereft of reason, and since
he assault she has been attended by over
tx physicians.
Mrs. Benedict said that when she first
card her husband scream, she thought he
ad been kicked by a mule. "a Dago
ook the lamp from me and knocked me
own, she said, but the woman was filled
With emotion and she faltered. Suddenly
he turned to Judge Horner and shouted:
You won't let them hurt me again.
hey won't shoot me. will they y
Being assured of her safety, Mrs. Bene-
let said that Buonanno was known as
oe He threatened to kill her if she
made a noise. They were hungry and
wanted money. Joe put revolver to her
ace and asked her if she had such wea-
ION. He told her to shut up, as his name
vas not Joe, it was Sam, aud he would
ill her if she called him Joe. The men
her.
Mrs. Benedict continued: "The big
lack faced fellow came-you amt got
lin. They knew my bulldog. and that is
he reason he did not tear them to pieces.
told Joe the handkerchief was too tight
bout my neck and he loosened it. l had
he revolver on my bare flesh several
lines, and to help matters l told them
tories, saying that my father was born in
tally. One man took my wedding ring
If my finger, but another gave 1t back to
ne. Joe said he wanted to rob Braddock,
md for that reason l would not tell where
lie was. They wanted to be excused for
he assault. One of the men not under
lrrest wanted to kill all the time will
lot say positively that Musumeci was one
If the party"
Both prisoners then stood up and Mrs.
Benedict, pointing at Buonanno. exclaim-
I'd in an exciting manner: eyes, l am
positive about Joe. You were there
weren't you, Joe ?"
To this reference the prisoner answered
with smile.
Adam Morelock told of che condition of |
The assaulted pair when they arrived at
his home. The woman was hysterical,
and Benedict showed wounds on his
wrists, caused by the straps.
On October 30 three railroad tickets
were collected from three Italians, they
being the only passengers on that trip
from Camden to Medford. The tickets
were identified by Conductor Chris
Single, and they had been Cancelled with
the punch of Conductor George Collett.
Walter Stackhouse, Clement Blasley.
Edward Grain, Edgar Nixon, Charles
Holeman, William Davis, Jacob Jaraff
and Philip Schrider wers witnesses who