The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-21
HEARING Of MALTA
MURDERERS STARTS
Gang Is Brought Before
Justice Where Evidence
Is introduced.

The preliminary hearing of John
Alossi, George Maelio, John Torchio,
Paul Fagone, Sam Palmo and Nick
Jardino the six alleged members Of
the "Mano Nero Society," who are
charged. with the murder of Leonardo
Frescino, who was killed in the melee
which took place near Kilarm on
Christmas eve, was started this morn.
ing at ten O'clock before Justice n.
Leigh Fleming in the room where e )
sions of the county court are held.
It was een before the hour of the
hearing that the s. R. o. sign wouln
be needed. Every seat in the room
is occupied and the aisles are crowd
ed.
Sam Greece. was the first witness
examined. He, spoke through Mrs. VI.
L. Caldara, the official interpreter, He
said that he had been at Charley Ran.
dos house the place where the trag.
edy occurred. He left tile house with
Dominica Zegare. Tony Zegare ana
Leonardo Frascino about s o'clock.
AS they were leaving they met George
Maioio, Paul Fagone and another man
coming to Rando's home with a has.
ket. The witness did not, remember
who carried the basket nor did he
know what It contained.
He told OF his visit at Guy SCOTS
with Tony Zegare and Dominica Re.
gare and Leonardo Frescino. They
left Guy Scott's house about s o'clock
and went to Charley Rando's house.
They got to Rando's house about ten
minutes later. They found in Rando's
house Raphael Bercasto, Antonio Der
caste. Angelo Mortgages, Elviaso
Clusro. When they returned the men
who came with the basket had gone
from the Rando home.
About nine o'clock Jim Rachell0
came to the Rando home. Rachello
shook hands with all and then told
Charles Rando to come outside. Char
les Rando. Tony zagare and Leonar-
do 3Frasceino went out Of the house.
Rachello's words were, Come out,
Charley, l have something to tell
you" The witness remained in the
house. Then Jim Rachello and two
other men came into the house
through the kitchen door. He did not
kno weither OF the men with Rachel
10. They stayed in the house q short
time and left the house by the same
door by which they came in. They
were In the house about a minute or
two. One OF them wore a cap and
the other n wore a hat. The shoot
ing began in a few moments after
Jim Rachello and Charles Rando
went out. Soon Jim Rachello came
In the door on his hands and knees.
The witness found Charles Rando in
Zappone's house. Later he was
brought into his own house. When
the witness got back he found Leon
ardo Frescino in the house, wound.
ed. Frescino was begging for a doc.
tor or to be sent to q hospital. The
witness went for DR.. Keister. When
he got back to the house Rachello
and Frescino were dead.
The State tried to establish the
identity Of John Alossi and Nick Jar
dino as the men who came to the
Rando house with Jim Rachello, but
failed.
nario Chiera was the next witness.
He talked through an interpreter. He
had known Jim Rachello in Italy. He
was a boarder at the Rando hons
and was helping to get supper when
Jim Rachello entered the Rando
home. Rachello told Rando to COME
out, I have something to tell you.s
Two men followed Jim Rachello into
the Rando home. They shook hands
and went out. Immediately after
Rando's and Rachello's going out the
shooting occurred. The witness stay
ed in the house. Mrs. Rando cried
out that he husband had been killed
Soon Leonardo Frescino came In. say.
ing that he was dying, and soon jim,
Rachello came In, moaning in the
same way. The men died about three
minutes apart. Leonardo expired first.
The witness stated that John Alossi
and Nick Jardino looked like the
strangers who came to the Randc
home with Jim Rachelio, but the wit
ness could not positively identity