Norwich bulletin., 1912-09-18
FARACI TURNS STATES EVIDENCE
Tells of Talk With Other Italians Before They Held Up M L. Mason in Niantic-Clams Bruno Asked Him About Man With Money-Mason Identifies Serrato One Who Had the Revolver

Turning states evidence and start ingto tell the details of what he knew of the assault and attempted highway robbery of Melvin L. Mason of East Lyme, Philip Faraci one of the ac- cused in the case, was the sensation Of the day in the superior court here on Tuesday. The prisoners testimony came late in the afternoon and when court adjourned he was trembling with excitement and in evident apprension of meeting his fellow prisoners in the pen again
 He was not put back there in reach of them but was seated in another part of the court by the side of Deputy Sheriff Draper, who also took him to jail alone and not in the chain gang with the rest of the men in the pen.
 Faracfs evidence was only partly completed. but he had told of previous conversations with Frank A. Serrato, Joseph Alfielo, Joseph Bruno and Mike Demaria about doing the job" on Ma son. It is Serrato that Mason identi- fled in court as the man who carried the revolver in the group of five whQ attacked and shot him in Mantle on the early morning of Sunday, August 4th. Bruno is the one who first suggested a holdup, according to the testimony Ol r CIdCls llC ACCO OI DlOuCy to pay his board being suggested as possible reason since Bruno had lost his job.
 The trial of the case of the state vs. Philip Feraci, Frank Serrato Joseph Alfieldo, Joseph Bruno, and Mike Maria was begun about noon. MeGrath Trial Postponed. Court came in at 10 a. m for the aa m nf tho trial nf tho Mo Grath brothers and others for the all legged highway robbery of gypsies in Lebanon. As Attorney Desmond, counsel for the accused was i'll, and unable to attend court, Judge W. s. Case excused the jury until Tuesday of next week.
 Jury Chosen.
 After a long recess the court came | in about noon and various matters were disposed of before the following | jury was called for the case against the five Italians:
 l Frank A. Robinson, Norwich; G. A. Holden, Preston; John O'Brien, Col chester; Joseph B. Blakeslee, Charles H. Briggs, Lebanon; Malcom E. Thompson, North Stonington; John Sweeney, Bozrah; Charles N Pratt Voluntown; Stephen D. Moore, Daniel Preston, Clinton c. Eldridge, Fred erick Tyler, Norwich.
 Attorney Clayton B. Smith of New London represents Feraci and Attor- neys J. J. Lawless and Richard P Freeman appear for Serrato and the others. Demaria has not been captur- ed since the alleged assault.
 Prosecuting Attorney Hull first put on Civil Engineer George E. Pitcher who explained two plans he had made of the location of the alleged assault upon Melvin L. Mason in Mantle.
 Melvin L. Mason Testifies.
 The civil engineer was followed b. MT. Mason who told of leaving hi home in d team about 4 o'clock ol the morning of August 4th with Will jam J. Messinger in the team with hin and of the attack made upon them Il He identified Serrato as the maj who had the revolver on the night o the attack, and he also told of havini had soda water in Mrs. Brockway' on the night of July 20th with Ferac and a stranger. This stranger he sail wore a blue suit and was the sam man who had the gun on the night 0 the attack.
 Heard Demand For Money.
 He told of the circumstances of tn assault saying that the prisoner il the blue suit jumped out from behin a pile of bushes and five shots wer fred He was sure the man in tn blue suit had the gun. The witnes also heard some one demandin Money Money" but didn't hear an voice he recognized. Only one she that fired took effect. He saw f1v men in the hold-up party. four stand ing back of the one in the blue sui who came forward towards him an got within four feet of him SO tha he was able to see the color of hi clothes The man shouted Hands up and MT. Mason jumped off the tean
 brushed up against the man and start
 ed to pick up rocks to throw, It wa after that that the man shot at hin After the assault the witness said
 walked to Dr.. Atkinson's and then t
 Dr. Darts. This was after 4 o'cloc
 and at Dr. Atkinsons lamp wa
 needed, but at Dr. Darts it was neal . ly daylight.
 The witness was crossexamined |
 Attorneys Lawless and Freeman. H said that two men grabbed the hors by the head and he heard the voiC 2 demanding Money, money, money - all at the same time. He didn't ret