The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-04
FRANK PAYL|A
STABBED RR|CO
FOR VENGEANCE
Such Is Alleged at Trial of
italian Case Which Began
In the Circuit Court This
Morning.
BECAME ENEMIES AS RE-
SUIT OF CONTROVERSY.
State Claims Murder Was At
tempted by PayIia Because
Of Argument Over a Trif-
ling Debt.

Frank Paylia, the Italian who tried
to murder his fellow countryman, Joe
Rrigo. because the latter refused to
pay a dime Paylia alleged he owed
him, is on trial today in the circuit
court. He is charged with assault
and battery with intent to kill. The
prosecuting witness, Rrigo, very ema-
ciated and yellow, sits in an invalids
chair and glares Indignantly across
the room where his enemy, a small,
sturdy built man with a bullet shaped
head, sits at the side of his attorney,
W. H. KELLEY.
By the side of the witness chair sits
Cologero Mercurio, proudly important
with his position as official court in
terpreter. A number of awed. black
eyed Italian laborers, witnesses in the
case, sit either close to the defendant
or the prosecuting witness. AS each
witness for the state took the chair
this morning Mercurio interpreted the
questions of Prosecutor Jessup, then
after listening to the rapid fire, quaint
sounding iabber of the witness. inter
preted in excellent English the testi-
mony to the jury, which is the regu-
lar petit jury, all members being ac-
cepted by both sides of the case al
most without questioning. IAN inter-
prefer in this case is most important
Prosecutor Jessup assured Judge Fox
before Mercurio was sworn into his
new dignity, because it is probable
that some members of the jury do not
understand Italian"
In presenting the states case to the
jury Prosecutor Jessup stated that
some weeks prior to the cutting affray
Peter Rrigo at the c. c.. & l.. camp
sent a telegram, costing thirty cents,
to his brother Joe. at Cincinnati tell
ing him that he and his chum Paylia
could get job at the c. c. & l..
camp. Both men came.
The foreman in short time became
dissatisfied with Paylia's work, the
prosecutor stated, and threatened to
discharge him. Paylia avered that the
Rrigo brothers were back of the move
to get him fired. They denied this
charge but Paylia continued to dis
trust them. A few days before Pay.
liza voluntarily gave up his job, Peter
Rrigo gave out the ultimatum that his
brother and Paylia each owed him fiji
teen cents to pay the cost of the tele-
gram that was sent to Joe at Cincin-
natl. About this time the Rrigos re.
ceived a letter from home and as
neither can read they asked Paylia to
perform this ceremony. He did sc
and then asked to be paid ten cents
for his services. The claim was refus,
ed and continued quarrels ensued
Peter demanded fifteen cents from
Paylia and the latter demanding ten
cents from Peter.
On the evening of August Is Joe
Rrigo went to Richmond to do some
marketing and Paylia followed him
The prosecutor states that Paylia ov
ertook Rrigo near the c. C. & L.
bridge and that, knife in hand, he de
manded his ten cents. When Rrigo
refused Paylia knitted him five times
Rrigo was eventually removed to the
hospital and his life was dispaired OF
at first, but he is now practically re
covered.