Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-25
KILLED ANTOR|NO
WHEN OWN LIFE
WAS IN DANGER
Mrs. Pignatelli's Son Describes
Stabbing OF Man She Is Ac-
cused of Numbering.
TRIAL HALTED WHILE
ACCUSED SO0THES BABY
Touching Incident at Morning
SessiOn-M0ther Would Not
Part With Child.

The most important witness called
to date by the defense in the trial of
Mrs. Carmela Plgnatelii for the mur-
der of Antonio Antorino in her home
at So Willowdale avenue, Montolair, on
April 2S last WAS her 10-year-old son,
Michael Giannetti a son by a former
husband, who died seven years ago.
The young lad. whom the prosecu-
tion claims was the bearer of the mes
sage that brought Antorino to her
home on the night of The murder. told
convincing story on his direct ex-
animation by Attorney McDermit.
His story was as follows:
"On that Sunday, the day this hap
pened, my mother told me to go to
Antonino's house and ask him for
81. 40 he owed my father. Antonino told
me he would go back to my house with
me, and he did
when he got into the kitchen he
took my mother by the shoulders and
forced her into a rocking chair. She
had the two babies in her arms and
managed to get away from Antonino.
She put the babies on the bed and
then Antonino caught hold of her
again.
He pushed her across the room to a
table and bent her back over 1t, hold
ing one hand over her mouth, TO keep
her from screaming. Then he pulled
out a knife and threat tened to kill both
my mother and myself unless l stopped
crying and shouting.
Then he dropped the knife on the
FOL ~ hands
mothers neck. She picked up the knife
and hit him with 1t, and he walked
away and then fell
Prosecutor Mott was unable to
break down the testimony of Michael
Gianetti although he shot question
after question at the witness,
The cries of baby, little 7-month-old
Rocco Pignateli, stopped proceedings
early this morning.
0The child has been constantly IN its
mothers arms during the time she has
been in the courtroom since the trial
started on Tuesday morning, and to-.
day was the first time it's cries became
loud enough to disturb the court.
Mrs, Pignateli was asked TO allow
the child to be taken from the court
room. but with frightened look she
ClulClleu iilb llttlG OhAibiC VI
in her arms and refused to allow the
child to leave her. Judge Davis then
ordered a short recess until the child
could be quieted
suppressed Excitement.
out in the corridors all morning there
was q constant buzz of excited talk as
the Italian neighbors of Mrs Pignatelli
gathered in groups to discuss the case.
The fact that Mrs. Pignatelli was to
go on the stand in her own behalf to-
day was the magnet that drew voluple
italians to the Court House. even
though they knew they would not be
pern1itted inside to the courtroom.
The entire morning was taken up
with Testimony of Antonelli Pignatelll.
sister-in-law, and Vincenzo Pignatelh,
the husband of the defendant.
On direct examination by Frank M.
McDermit, the husband said he had
never known of any Illicit relations be-
tween his wife and Antonio Antorino,
the dead man. and that he had always
considered the dead man friend of
his.
Death-deaIing weapon Not His.
He also testified that he had never
owned knife such as the one found
in the kitchen stove after his wife had
killed Antor1no.
McDermit made a determined effort
to get from the witness the contents
OF statement he had made to the
Montclair police on the night of the
murder. but was unsuccessful. Prose-
cutor Mott blocking all questions along
that line by objections, which were
s,,atainad nv Judge Davis