The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-09-19
VALLENTI THOUGHT
HAYDEN WOULD
KILL HIM
italian Claims That He Acted in
Self Defense.
MURDERER'S STORY OF CRIME
Says That the Deputy Did Not ES-
plain Fully What Was Wanted
OF Him.
AURDERER'S STORY OF CRIME

Rutland, Sept. 19.-ln broken but
ineligible English, frequently sob
bling and swallowing as he told his
story, Antonio Vallenti, the Italian,
who is on trial, charged with the muir
der OF Deputy Sheriff Frank A. Hay
den, at Mount Holly, on the morning
OF July IS by assaulting him with an
axe, told his story of the events which
occurred from the time he left his
house in the morning, until he had es-
capped from Hayden and Thompson.
whom he claims were trying to kill
him. At intervals during the story
which lasted an hour, Vallent would
have to be stopped so that the report
er could get his testimony, the wit
ness becoming excited and talking fas-
ter than It could be recorded with his
broken English. Yesterday. when he
took the stand, was the first time dur
ing the trial that he has seemed to
take any interest in the case or ap.
pear as If he understood what was
going on. During both days he sat
in his chair beside his counsel, never
raising his head or speaking except
Nltll NutNAiblfu W lilb NbNHotis Afo-
terday when he took the stand he
faced the entire court room, looking
about as If taking everybody in and
then facing the jury and TO tell his
story.
There was not a sound In the crowd
ed room, outside of his voice while
he was testifying In his statements
he claimed that he did not know the
mortgage had been transferred from
Blanchard to Hill; that he did not
know he owed Hill money; that his
house had been entered a week before
the assault by two black hand men +,
that he did not know Hayden was an
officer; that he offered TO go with Hay
den TO Ludlow or to his house and
then accompany him TO Rutland or
pay him the money demanded, and
that during the entire time he was
| struggling with the two other men
they were begging each other to kill
him. His story was not completed at
| 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon when a
recess was taken until this morning
al 8 o'clock.
Vallenti described how Hayden and
Thompson came and of Hayden's tell
ing him he would have to pay S5S OF
90 to prison.
Then / began to cry, because
offer to pay him in a little while
Don't let my wife die, say to him
Don't let my baby die. | told him thai
only a week before two Black Hand
men came into my house at night anC
If did not go home my wife would
think had been killed and would die
Do me a favor, don't let her die, bu
take me to my house and let MI
change my clothes and then will tel
her where | am going and will com,
with you. Tell my wife not to worry
With these words Hayden change,
color, turning red and black, and said
No, you will have to come with me
and | began to cry as hard as | could
He motioned TO this fellow who ha
been in here (meaning Thompson
and he had his hand on his pocket
with his revolver most out so coul
see It. / thought he was a roug
come after my money Hayden the
tried to get hold of me and his RICH
hand was on his gun. | said to my
self he'll kill me sure as the world
so | raised the axe and hit him nc
to kill him but to keep him from &c
ting his gun.
HE raised and tried again to &c
his revolver and hit him again, thi
time on the leg, did not want
kill him as have a soft heart but
struck him to keep him from KILN
me with his revolver.
Hayden then says, Let me go
! hadn't ought to take you that way
! All this time | was crying and the