Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-19
STATE HOUSE.
A Pardon Is Granted 10
Angelo NoceIIi.
Tell Pardon Hearing Is Con-
tinued TO November.
Council Orders Competitive Bids
For the Book Printing.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Thursday, Nov. 81, at 10 A. M.


The Council recommended to Cover
nor Plaisted at the session, Friday, a
pardon for Angelo Nocelh of Jay. who
is serving an eight-years sentence in
the State prison at Thomaston for
assault with intent TO kill Michael
Rossi, a fellow workman. During a re-
cess Of the Council Governor Plaisted
informed the wife OF Nocelli who was
present at the State House with her
sir children, that her husbands par
don had been granted; and in order
to be sure that Nocell would reach
his family at the earliest possible mo-
ment the Governor ordered Warden
Wiggin of the State prison, who was
present at the Council session, to lib
crate Nocelli, the first thing, Satur-
day morning. without waiting for the
official papers. The case of Domenico
Teti, whose pardon petition was also
heard at this meeting. was continued
until the November meeting to give
the councillors time to read the evil
dence in the case.
The seventh attempt to obtain the
pardon of Samuel ID. Haines, who has
been confined in the State prison at
1homaston, since Sept %. 1873. for
the murder of Patrolman Robbins of
Rockland was made, Friday, by the
presentation of another petition to the
Governor and Council. which will be
assigned TO the December meeting.
The Council voted $11 800 for high
way Improvement and $1,000 for tenn
porary repairs upon the Old Town and
Milford bridges. pending the construc-
ton of a new structure.
Attorney General Rattangall. rep
resenting the Waterville Sentinel
Publishing Co, informed the Council
that the company did not wish to
continue the book work under what
he called 1.-The present tentative agree
ment and an order was passed au-
thorizing the printing committee to
advertise for bids for the book and
pamphlet work for term ending,
July 1. 1914. -
Order was passed approving bills t.
the amount of $500 for repairs upon
the buildings at the State prison.
The Teti Case.
The Council at 1920 A. NJ. took up
tItt DdfdOii I1cdI iIS III lLt 1dSt VI
Domenico Teti of Rockland, who is
serving a life sentence in the State
prison at Thomaston, for the killing Of
Raffaele Conforto at Rockland Jan. 10,
1907. Hon. l.. NJ. Staples of Wash
ington appeared for the petitioner and
argued that a great wrong had been
done in his conviction. Teti had
saved up by his industry and frugal
ity $1400. which he paid to an Italian
lawyer of Boston. one Zotelli. who
a abandoned him in the middle of the
case He believed that if Teti had
employed an American lawyer versed
in our procedure he would not have
been convicted of murder. He al
luded to the charge of Chief Justice
Emery which neglected to instruct the
jury to bring in any verdict other than
murder. Had the jury been so in
structed manslaughter would undoubt-
eddy have been the verdict.
Atty Staples related in detail the
story of the shooting, which occurred
in the Italian quarter at the North
End, Rockand. A quarrel had started
in the house of Vito Montisano, where
a party of Italians had been playing
cards. Shots We're fired in the yard
after the party came out of the house
and Conforto was hit and killed.
There had been quarrel between Vito
Florentino and Vito Montisano in
which epithets had been exchanged
before leaving the house. Montisano
having called him "Cornuto," man
with horns, the most insulting term
that one Italian could apply to anoth-
err. Counsel agreed that Florentino
fired at Montisano. but instead hi
and killed Conforto, who very much
resembled Montisano. He admitted
that witness had a receiver and fred
two shots and afterwards threw away
his revolver and fled to Boston.
Testimony showed that four shots
were heard and that Teti fired two
shots at Florentino after he thought
F1orentino had killed Montisano, his
boss. for whom he had great regard.
"Florentino was the man; Domenico
Teti never fired the fatal shots" in
sisted Atty. Staples. IF the man had
had a fair trial verdict of guilty
would never have been rendered.
Domenico Teu is Just as innocent of
the crime as ! am"
Letters We're presented from eight of
the II jurymen in the case and clerk
of courts of Knox county Clifford b.
Butler recommending the pardon.
The respondent had been in prison
for five years. as much as he would
have got if a verdict had been brought
in for manslaughter by criminal
negligence in the use of revolver;
he was a good citizen and there was
no enmity between Teti and Conforto,
argued Atty. Staples.
No one appeared in opposition.
The petition for the pardon of Will
liam II. Eldridge of Edinburg was