The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-14
PIpPI'S DEFENSE
IS FLAT DENIAL
ALLEGED SLAYER Disclaims
All Charges Made by
Two Women.

lWO w OIlIClts
Flatly denying the stories told by
Mrs. Marie Champagne and Mrs. Elsie
Dusabeck. the states star witnesses,
Pellegro Tippi. Italian immigrant, yes
terday testified in his own defense
against charges of white slavery.
Pippi's testimony came at the end
of the third day of the trial in Judge
A. L. Duncan's department of the dis
trict court. Upon it the alleged SLAYER
and his counsel. c. c. Sorenson and
G. A. Russell, will chiefly rely, 1t IS
believed They closed their case I'M
mediately after and the evidence was
concluded within an hour following the
presentation Of q few rehuttal Wit
nesses for the state.
Arguments Come Today.
Fred X. Ansevino. county attorney
and the alleged white slaver's defen-
ders will argue the courts instructions
to the jury this morning. and the arsa-
ments will then be delivered. The
state. according to Mr.. Angevine asks
only the statutory instructions. Russell
and Sorenson had not completed the
preparation Of the instructions they
will submit.
Pippi at Last on Stand.
Pipp took the witness stand nom
chalantly, and throughout his eXaml-
nation displayed a half smiling cool
ness. He utterly denied every impor-
tant assertion of states witnesses. He
declared that he:
Did not tell Marie Champagne
to come from Spokane to Nissoula
to rustic
Did not pay the womans railroad
fare:
Never took money from either
Marie Champagne or Elsie Dusa-
beck;
Never threatened either women;
Tried to get rid of Marie Cham
payne, who was living at the Eu-
rope hotel as his guest.
Thought Men We're Visitors"
Indeed, Pippi gave himself a some
what naive appearance. He Thought
the women took men to their rooms to
drink with them" and didn't know
they We're prostitutes, though he ad-
mitted his own unconventional rela-
tions with Mrs. Champagne.
Cross examination also revealed the
fact that John d'OrZi. "A prominent
Italian business man of the city, holds
the license for the Europe hotel, where
Pippi presided and has no arrange
ments with Pippi whereby the defend
ant might have shared in legitimate
profits from the place.
Holds Firmly to Story.
The witness held firmly to his Sory
in the main, yielding little under cross
examination. He did not attempt,
when pressed by the county attorney,
to explain why he tclegra phcd for $50.
with which 10 buy Il coat for Marie
Champagne four days after he tried,
according 70 his testimony, to put the
woman out Of the hotel. And when
the prosecutor asked him why he tele-
sraphed Come at once" to Marie
Champagne if her visit was not com
mercial,- Pippi replied merely, We'll,
had TO say something"
Judge Examines Witness
Judge a. l.. Duncan provided one OF
the eXcitements of the day when he
cross-examined Primo Rossalni Of TIA
coma, witness for the defense Ros
salni had been called to repeat a con-
versation with one of the states wit
nesses in the courthouse corridor in
which, he declared, the witness had de-
MED the truth of his testimony. County
Attorney Angevine had disclosed the
fact that Rossalini was being paid for
interesting himself in the case
Once in Italian Consulate.
You say you expect to be paid for
coming here from Tacoma. At whose
instance did you come" the Judge
asked.
i came for Pippis brother. I've
worked lot OH cases like this"
Are you connected VITA the Italian
consulate? the court asked
Russell, counsel for the alleged
SLAYER, jumped up.
j object TO that question" he said
The judge slenced him.
Il was connected With the consulate"
the witness answered but ! resigned
Two or three months ago"
We'll, at whose instance did YOU in
tercst yourself in other cases like
this said Judge Duncan.
Private individuals" was the an
swer.
This flarc-up and Pippi's testimony
were the outstanding events of the day.
Other witnesses called testified on