Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-22
CECER|ELLO GIVES
EMPHATIC DENIAL .
TO LAUD|S| STORY
Declares He Called Police When
Wife Failed to Return
Home.
COURT ORDERS PRISONER
TO USE ITALIAN TONGUE
Too voIubIe in EngIish-Denies
He Rubbed Finger Tips on
Concrete Floor.

Emphatic denials that he had killed
his wife or that he had made any
confession that he had done so to
Alfonso Laudisi, convicted murderer
and fellow prisoner in "murderers'
row. at the county jail, were made
today in the Court of Oyer and
Termlner before Judge william p.
Martin by Angelo Ceceriello, on trial
since last Monday for the murder of
his wife, Mrs. Alvina Ceceriello, in
Chester avenue, Bloomfield, on the
night of May 20 last.
Ceceriello was called to the witness
stand late yesterday afternoon, and
under questions by Frank M McDer-
init, his counsel, proceeded to tell of
his movements on the night of the
murder
He said his wife had left horne A
few minutes after 8 o'clock, saying
she was going to get some ice cream,
and that when she had not returned
by midnight he called up the police of
the Fifth precinct and told them his
wife was missing.
Prisoner Too yoiubie in English.
Ceceriello, who understands English
and speaks the language fiuently,
started to give his testimony In Eng
lish, but proved to be too voluble in
that language for the court, counsel,
jury and stenographer, and Judge
Martin finally told the witness to an
swer the questions In the Italian
tongue.
Today Ceceriello resumed his testi-
mony at the point where he left off
last night. He said when his wife
left his home on the night of May 49,,
she had over 5000 in her possession,
$93 of which was her own money.
Ceceriello at times would forget
about using the Italian tongue and
would relapse into English. Finally,
Assistant Prosecutor Wilbur A. Mott
objected to the witness using two
languages and asked that Ceceriello
be compelled to answer entirely N
English. This request was acceded
to by Judge Martin.
Mr.. McDermit then led Ceceriello
TO the alleged confession he Is said
to have made to Laudisi in the coun-
~ Jail.
The Emphatic DeniaIs.
In answer to every question, Ce-
teriello made an emphatic denial that
he had made any statements to
Laudisi.
Did you ever tell Laudisi that you
killed your wife?" asked McDermit.
mo, sir,' was the emphatic reply.
Did you tell him that you used a
hatchet and not pistol to kill your
wife, because you were afraid the
noise of the pistol would be heard?"
Again came the emphatic reply,
"No, sir
1t was the same with all the other
statements made by Laudisi, in which
he had said that Ceceriello had con-
fessed the crime to him. At times
Ceceriello was so anxious to answer
mo, sir" to the questions of Mr.. Nc
Dermit that he would not even wait
for enough of the question to be pro-
pounded to make it clear. He was re-
peatedly warned by Mr.. McDermit,
bun to little effect, as Ceceriello per-
sNtently gave his mo. SIR" answer
Ftfore the question had been half
finished.
4 did you ever say" McDermit
fwould start a question, and he would
get no further when Ceceriello would
interject his "No, SIR" answer. He
denied in passionate tones that he
had ever quarreled or had trouble
with his wife
He also denied the statements made
by Laudisi that he had rubbed the
tips of his fingers on the floor of the
Jail in order to change the impress
sions that would be made by his
fingers.
Mr.. McDermit then handed Ceceri-
clio the blood-stained hatchet with
CONTINUED on Page 8. Column IL