Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-12
FACES JURY IN
FIGHT FOR LIFE
ITALIAN ON TRIAL IN SUPERIOR
COURT
DEFENSE TO PUT ON WITNESSES
TODAY
Man Charged with Numbering Fellow
countryman Refuses to Aid At.
torney with Suggestions or
Evidence

Constantine Borsei, accused of the
murder of Emilio Deramo, fellow
countryman, at the United Casting
companys works at Violet and wilson
streets January 81, was placed on trlai
in Judge w. p. James department OF
the superior court yesterday morning.
Before court closed last night the
evidence of the state had been COM
pleted, all seeming to show that AFTER d
short and apparently friendly CONVEX
sation with Deramo, Borsel shot MN
down in cold blood and endeavored,
after MORALLY wounding his first VIC
tim, who died a few minutes later, 10
shoot Michaele Morando, 17-year-old
apprentice, who got out of harms way
before more harm could be done.
Even William Rex, the attorney Tor
Borsei, seems to believe he has nttle
hope of helping his client unless, III
some way, he can show he was suffer-
ing from insanity at the time of the
shooting He admits that Borsei has
been noncommunicative, even to him,
and that the Italian population OF the
city seems unwilling to do anything to
help the man who did the killing. Inc
facts of the shooting are amply proved
by witnesses. The defense will put on
what evidence it has to offer in de-
partment four Wednesday morning at
10 o'clock.
During the hearing of the evidence
for the prosecution, which was placed
before the jury through an interpreter
Borsei, who is a black-haired, black
mustached. heavy-bearded native of
southern Italy, sat at the table be-
side his attorney listening intently to
the testimony, but giving no sign OF
mental disturbance other than husn
about the temples and aiding his at
torney by suggestions not at all.
Workmen Testify
Several of the workers at the Union
Casting companys plant testified
that on January 81 Borsei, who recent
ly had returned to this country from a
visit to his old home in Italy. near Ma
pies, called at the shop of John Il. Ma
honey, an employe, asking what the
chances for work were. Mahoney re-
piled he had better see Fuchs, the fore
man, but that he feared work was
pretty slack. The man left and the
shooting occurred soon afterward. This
was corroborated by the foreman.
Thomas Lowrey, a core maker gave
a graphic description of the trouble. He
said he was at his work when he saw
Borsei come into the shop and speak to
Mahoney. He told of the shooting, say
ing he saw Borsei, after leaving Ma
honey, standing with his arm over
Deramo's shoulder in conversation.
They were speaking for a moment in
Italian and he could not understand
what was said, but an instant later ne
saw Borsei, while Deramo still had his
head turned toward his bench, draw
his revolver and fire three shots in
rapid succession at the moulder.
''Deramo started to run toward me,
and Borsei started, too. / wanted to
get out of the way of the Shots" SAID
Iowrey. II ran toward the door and
through the moulding mill. After 1
turned a corner l heard a fourth shot.
Then | saw, after we left the other end
of the mill, Deramo stumble and fall
against a pile of boards. When l ran
to the front again | saw Fuchs ana
several others binding Borseis arms.
They had him tied with a rope when
arrived.
Sees Man Dying
"Then Fuchs asked me where Dera-
mo was, and | ran back again through
the mill. When l got to where Deramo
had fallen he was lying there and just
breathing his last. That was only
few minutes after the shooting"
Perhaps the most damning evidence
against the prisoner was that given Dy
Michaele Miranda, who could under
stand the Italian language, and heard
the last conversation between Borsei
and his victim. He is an apprentice,
II years old, and was the lad against
whom Borsei is said to have turned
his fourth shot, MS three IlrSL olieo
having taken effect in Deramo's body.
Miranda, through an interpreter, SAID
he lives at 652 Mateo street and that
he was working in the foundry on the
day of the killing. He also said he had
known both men for several years
81 saw Emilio Deramo when he was
running and when Constantine fired
the last shot at him. And / saw him,
TOO, when he fired a shot at me-"
Hears Conversation
what talk did they have first. If
YOU heard it?" asked Assistant Dis
trict Attorney c. C. McComasO who
conducted the prosecution.
"Constantino went past Emilio said
the lad, land shook hands with him.
Then Emilio-that is the man who was
shot-said to him, L feel WE'LL Then
Borsei stepped back from Deramo and
/ went back to my work"
'There was no other talk at the time
of the shooting?"
None at ALL
"Then Borsei shot at you?"
Eyes"
why did Borsei shoot at you?"
1T must have been jealousy because
of the work he could not get. We were
busy" was the answer, and the lad had
ended his story.
Sentenced to Five Years
.1-rg 1l 70