New Britain herald., 1917-10-03


 road tracks. Then she said she heard three shots and saw man in gray suit running away. That was all she remembered, Miss Johnson said as she ran across the street with Miss Dacey.
 Taxicab Man Testifies.
 Another witness, Lawrence De Rosa, of Meriden, told of the capture of the two murderers. He said that on the night of September 25 he at the corner of Coloney and West Main street, Meriden. He said the two men offered him $32 to take them to New York, but as his tires were bad he took s5 as his pay and turned the job over to Andrew Scalzi another jitneur.
 He said he first saw the two pris- oners on West Main street, Meriden. He said he took a man names Joseph Quinn with him and at New Haven Quinn suggested getting some coffee. While he and the two murderers were getting refreshments Quinn dis appeared and returned with a police man. Dugone told the policeman he lived in Meriden and worked in the Westinghouse shop. Later the New Haven and Meriden police took charge of the accused.
 John H. Curran of Meriden, another taxicab man, told of seeing the two accused leave Meriden with Scalzi. He said Scalzi asked to borrow a gun for fear he might be held up by his two passengers. Later he said he called up Lieutenant Mclaughlin of the Meriden police and told him of his suspicious. On advice of the lieu tenant he got his car, picked up Ser geant Thayer and another policeman and started in pursuit. At Walling- ford the police borrowed another car and continued the pursuit, but first notified the Meriden police to call up the New Haven police and have them stop the New York bound jitney. Sergeant w. D. Thayer of the Meriden police testified that he received his information from Curran and started for New Haven. At New Haven wit ness said he found the accused under arrest in front of Polls theater. The sergeant said Dugone refused to talk but that DiVanZo admitted firing two shots into Simonelli because fifteen years before Simonelli had killed his mothers brother in Italy. Sergeant w. 1T. Deskin of the New Haven po- lice said that at 11:10 D. m., Septem- Der 25, he went to Church street where he found DiVanzo and Dugone and searched them. The prisoners were handcuffed and taken to head quarters. Dugone told the sergeant he belonged in New Britain and Di- VanZo said he came from Meriden. When asked why they shot Simonelli,
  ing this man (Dugone) for I shot him myself. He had nothing to do with it.' The reason the policeman said, was that Simonelli had killed his uncle in Italy fifteen years before.
 Captain T. w. Grace of the New Britain police testified to receiving notice of the murder at 6:1O D. m., September 25, and receiving a de- scription of the two men at 1:3O a. m. DiVanzo and Dugone were brought back to New Britain where DiVanzo admitted shooting Simonelli He said he came from New York Sunday and on Monday noon said he met Simonelli and in the course of their conversa- ton learned that he could not return to Italy. At o'clock the two met again. when Simonelli told his name. The prisoner then said he got mad and shot Simonelli and fled, taking a trolley car to Neriden. Dugone, the captain testified, said that DiVanzo shot Simonelli twice and they both fled. DiVanzo told the captain he bought his revolver in New York but Steve denied having a gun at all Both men said they were old acquaintances from the old country. Lawyer Holden cross examined Captain Grace and l.o1 tended that he wanted to buy store in New Britain. The captain also said that Dugone denied knowing who Si- monelli was, and likewise denied talk ing about Simonelli with DiVanzo
 Captain Robert T. Hurley of the state police told of visiting the mur- derers a week ago today. He said that last Thursday, with DiEanzo and Sergeant Richardson, he went over the supposed route of the murderers after the shooting. A pistol found by State Policeman Wheeler was la ter identified by DiVanzo as his, the. witness said. Upon being cross ques. toned DiVanzo finally admitted that Steve had fired two shots and he only one Confronted with this confession Dugone led the police to the place where he had thrown away his .3S calibre gun. A further confession made by Dugone was that DiVanzo shot first and then he shot twice as Smoneli fell. Steve told the cap- tain that he had never before seen Simoneli till he shot him and as the result of a chance conversation with Simonelli he learned his true identity. signed statement by the accused was introduced.
 Chief w. J. Rawlings told of going with Steve Dugone last Thursday and visiting the scene of the murder. Steve finally led the police to Rocky Hill avenue where, near the Town farm, Policeman Wheeler found Dugone's .32 calibre gun. Dugone also told the