The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-20
Submits 10 Rigid Cross-Ex-
animation By Prosecut-
ing Attorney.
IELLSSI0RYI0E MURDER.
DECLARES THAT HIS SHOTS
MISSED AIN, AS He IS POOR
MARK sMAN. .

Samuel Palma. on trial for murder
In the first degree testified In his
own behalf In Circuit court today, and
although subj ected to merciless rap
Id fire cross examination by Prosecut.
ing Attorney Tusca Norris, the hand.
gone dark haired defendant left the
stand without having contradicted
himself in any material particular.
Under direct examination he told
the story of the shooting and the
events which receeded and followed
II. He acknowledged that he had
fred his revolver tive times but de.
clared that he had not even taken 1t
from his pocket until he had fallen to
the ground with a bullet wound in his
shoulder.
Palma declared that every shot he
fred missed not only because he Is
O Door marksman, but because his
right arm had been weakened by the
shot which had struck him in the
shoulder. During his examination OH
the witness stand Palma was extreme.
iy nervous and Stugged and twisted his
fingers continually. NJ. L. Sturm and
w. d. Morris are hopeful OF q verdict
favorable to their client.
All the evidence had been submitted
to the jury by noon and the afternoon
was devoted tothe charge to the jury
by Judge w. IS. Raymond and to the
arguments by the attorneys.
The crowd In the court room was
smaller today than yesterday. The
. beyy OF Normal school girls had dwin-
died to- o scant half dozen.
Attorney w. u. Morris, for the de-
Tense, conducted the direct examina-
tion Of Palma.
"pid You have 9 reyolyer7" asked
ayes, . s. q 81 revolver. replied
Palma. 3.S Y! 8,
WHO went with you from Enter.
prise tokKilarm Christmas eve e, Z.
There were three men 40 steps
'Did you see the trouble at Kill.
arm"
'syes.p "A
%Tell the Jury about it."
u meet Charley Rando outside q
few steps from the house and some
other boys followed behind. Then
Charley invited me In and 15caught /
sight Of three or four men hiding In
the house behind a door. Then three
or four men came out, accompanied
by Rando and Leonard Fecina.
sThen Rando's boarders and my
boarders shot at each other. Fecina
shot Raschella then turned to shoot
me-
sHow!did you get shot?'
u turned and just as started to
run o bullet struck me in the back
and / felt.n z. n .5-
Then what ihappened?"
My back burned with the shot and
I pulled my gun and fred Ave times.
i won't tell % slie-I fired i've times
but did not hit anyone for can't
shoot very well and my arm was
weak anyway because Of the wound
in my back
"rhen what 4happened?"
eIn about six or seven minutes the
shooting stopped. j ran and met Mia
olo, Fellone& and Torcha into the COM
pany store.n
When did sTorcha begin shooting?"
Just after sFecina shot"
did Fecina or 5Raschella or anyone
besides yourself fall"
'IdidI not see anyone fall"
did you have your revolver out
before the shooting began"
mo. 7 didn't have it in my hand.
! had 1t In myIpocket."
Did you point. your revolver to
Fecina'sl lbreastibefore he shot at you"
mo, sir; = did not"
Did John Torcha ever tell you
about expecting ,trouble?"
mo. ~
Did Charley Rando tell you about
expecting trouble :"
mo. but q few days before the
shooting, Randot wanted me to collect