Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1914-06-24
Prisoner Scored by Judge DAILY
in Passing Sentence-Case
Sensational; SIasheT Jumped
" Bail and Victim Disappeared.
THINK THAT She MAY Be DEAD
SpectdI to the EVENING NEWS

New Brunswick, June 24;-Pbilip
Labasco was found guilty yesterday
afternoon by jury of atrocious as
sault and battery, with intent TO
| Kill, upon Rosie Tomasco in Wood
IS ! = risra iissse- February 5, last, and was
Immediately sentenced by Judge
Peter F. DAILY, who had heard the
evidence, to states prison for a term
not exceeding seven years, and not
less than TWO years. Labasco was
nustled to Jail by Constable Thomas
heVollnsky, where he will be con-
nned until taken by Sheriff Appleby
10 trenton. Labasco slashed Rosie.
MS common-law wife, with razor.
cutting her face from ear to ear.
Inc wound was a frightful one, run
nlng from the right ear and over the
Woman's nose to the lobe of the left
ear. She was near death at the time
from loss of blood caused by the
severance of aAteries in the nose.
Evaded Authorities.
This Woodbridge man has eyaded
the authorities for the last three
months, not only skipping his $1,000
ball bond but failing to answer to
the call of his name in court on sew
eral occasions His action toward
the administration of Justice made
: 6ooHtin inty-Wide discussion. and was re-
ferred to by Judge DAILY in passing
sentence. AS the case ended yester-
day, the state failed to produce the
complaining witness, Rosie. who had
been spirited away by friends of the
defendant, it was hinted. Assistant
PROSECUTOR Joseph e. Stricken, of
Perth Amboy, told the court that
the prosecutors office had used every
possible effort to keep In touch with
the woman. 1t Is understood that
she was traced by the prosecutors
detectives into the CatskiIl noun
talns, In New York State, where all
trace was lost. One man, high in
authority In the county, believes that
the complaining witness was killed in
the mountains, and the body dis
posed of, by friends of the defendant.
Detective Richard A. Peltier led the
unsuccessful search for the Tomasco
woman.
Labasco Pleaded Guilty.
Labasco when arraigned in court
pleaded guilty to the Indictment SO
lar as the assault was concerned.
kill the woman. Just to mark her.
was the way he put it. The evidence
of this plea was submitted yesterday
at the trial by Prosecutor Stricken
and allowed by the court after objec-
tions and exceptions by counsel for
the defense. Judge Daily entered a |
plea of not guilty at the time, and |
the man was freed on 1000 bail |
The trial was later called but no de- |
fendant appeared. The bail was de- !
.clared forfeited, but Labasco was
Later arrested in New York and |
brought back again for trial. He ex-
planned his absence by saying he had |
suffered from pneumonia during the
time when his case should have been
before jury Then the Tomasco
woman disappeared. In his remarks !
in passing sentence, Judge DAILY said |
that the defendant was one of the
type Of men who consider they can
escape punishment by paying a cash |
sum equal to the $1,000 bail. Be
fore sentence was imposed, which
followed the fifteen
minute deliberation of the jury,
Lawyer E. A. Hayes made a plea for
his client. Lawyer A. V. Schenck
was also counsel for the man.
Razor Cut Across Fsce.
On February 5, Labasco went to
the home of Eva Lepenta, In Wood
bridge, to interview Rosie, who was
visiting her aunt, Mrs. Lepenta. They
had dinner together, after which the
man and woman retired to an adjoin-
ing room, to discuss the proposition
of living together again. Within a
short time. screams were heard issu-
ing from the room. and the aunt en-
tered to find her niece lying on the
bed with razor cut across her face,
and her lover gone. 1t was during
the meal that Labasco entreated Ro-
sic to return and live with him. They
had lived together, 1t appeared, for
eleven years, without any marriage
ceremony. Rosie had borne Labasco
several children, 1t seems, but was
put out of the house, according to +.
the defendants testimony, because of
intimacy with a negro. 1t was after
he accusations concerning the negro,
that Labasco appeared and asked i.
Continued on page ~ II