The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-10-23
CLAIMS STATE WITNESSES LIED
Convicted Murderer Makes Dramatic
Appeal TO the Court After Motion for
a New Trial has Been Deniea -sher.
iff Requests Immediate Sentence.

Leonardo DeCarlo, convicted of MUIR
der in the first degree in the circuit
court on Thursday afternoon, was sent
enced to a term of life imprisonment
just before the adjournment Of the ses-
sion of the circuit court at five 0 CLOCK
Thursday evening and he left Kenosha
this afternoon for Waupnn to begin
his life sentence. The sentence Of the
convicted murderer had something of
the tragic connected witt, it. The con-
victed man, who had sat calmly through
the hearing OF the charges against him,
gave way to rage and waving his arms
he made a dramatic address to the
court when asked if there was any rea-
son why he should not be sentenced.
He declared that the witnesses who
had been called by the state had lied
in regard to certain incidents connect
ed with the case. He declared that
the revolver with which Costanza was
shot had belonged not to him but to
another boarder at the Costanza house
who had occupied a room with him.
The jury had reached the verdict Of
murder in the first degree practically
without division. The defendant had
shown little emotion when the verdict
was returned and he was removed to the
county jail After he reached the Jail
he gave way to his anger and fearing
that he might do himself bodily harm
the sheriff returned to the court and
reported his condition to Judge Belden.
In the meantime Judge George w.
Taylor who had defended DeCarlo, had
made a motion for a new trial. The
motion was not argued at length and
it was promptly denied by the court,
who held that DeCarlo had been given
every possible consideration in the
case On the suggestion of the sheriff
the judge directed that DeCarlo be
brought back to the court room. The
crowd which had been about the court
room during the trial had dispersed
and when DeCarlo was brought in for
the last chapter of the tragedy there
was no one in the court room but the
court officials. Even Mrs. Costanza who
had been present every minute of
the trial had gone home believing that
DeCarlo would not be sentenced until
some time next week. In sentencing
DeCarlo the judge declared that he was
satisfied of the guilt of the italian and
Of the fairness Of the trial which had
been given to him. DeCarlo after his
show Of anger and outbreak took the
sentence coolly. He had been advised
that if convicted Of murder there
would be but one sentence and he
was prepared.
The best that DeCarlo and his attor-
ney had hoped for was verdict of
second degree murder. The Instructions
of the court had been very plain as to
murder in the first and second degrees
and the court also submitted an in
struction as to manslaughter in the
fourth degree. The jury considered
only the first two instructions and on
the first ballot found DeCarlo guilty
Of murder in the first degree.
DeCarlo will go to prison under the
charge of Sheriff Achen and deputy
He is regarded as a be 4 man and no
chances will be taken with his making
an attempt to escape.
The jury in the circuit court has
been excused until next Wednesday
and at that time the court will take up
the hearing Of the case Of the state VS..
Peter Javaltos. Javaltos is charged
with the murder of Otto Langenbach.
Attorney George ". Taylor will have
charge of the defense in this case.