The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-04-03
GUILTY OF MURDER

The jury that tried the case OF tn
I state against Giovanni Iraco, charge
s with killing Henry d. Rider, at Atsion
in October, rendered verdict of guilt,
of murder of the first degree, withou
any recommendation, and that mean
+ the man will be sentenced TO the cleo
, trio chair. The jury retired about nooI
Friday and came in at four o'clock
With the expectation that a verdic
5 was to be rendered lot OF people wen
to the court house only to hear the JURY
ask for instructions. The foreman
) stated there was one man on the jury
who, in celebrating on the case, hat
said he was opposed to capital punish
, ment and that he would never agree t.
any finding that would cause death
On this statement the jury asked to bt
discharged because of inability t.
agree. Judge Kalisch declined to &C
cede to this request. He said he die
not think the jury had been out long
enough to dismiss such an important
case SO quickly. With reference to the
statement of the juror he said that was
not matter of law but was with the
conscience Of the man. He sent the
Jury back to the room and soon after
seven o'clock the gentleman referred
TO changed his mind and the verdict o.
murder of the first degree was returned
The trial of one of the men indicted
for killing Henry ID. Rider began on
Tuesday with Judge Kalisch presiding
Judge Lippincott sitting with him.
For the state there were three lawyers
Prosecutor Kelsey. former prosecutor
Atkinson and former Assemblyman
Peacock. Henry HI. Savage represent
ed the defendant and near him sat AL
bert Hughes, of Trenton, James Cor
don Davis and Edwin G. Sommer, OF
Philadelphia, and Clifford r. Powell,
of Mount Holly. Giovanni Iraco, alias
Giuseppe Rosso, was the prisoner at
the bar. His case was being looked
after by Mr.. Savage, the other lawyers
were present to watch the proceedings,
they being engaged to defend others
implicated in the killing.
There was the usual delay in secur-
ling jury, each side taking advantage
of the challenges allowed them by the
law. Forty-three men were called be-
fore the necessary twelve were accept
ed. The jury, as finally sworn, was
composed of the following: James
Harrison Coombs, farmer, Willingboro;
John Haines, farmer, Westampton;
Clifford Ridgway. farmer, New Han
over; William G. Stokley, street COM
missioner, Burlington; Andrew Nc
Ilhenny, bricklayer, Cinnaminson;
William Sack. bartender, Riverside;
Joseph T. Coughlin, grocer. Borden.
town; Theodore F. Wolfe, grocer, Bur
| lington; George Friday, retired, Del
ran; Samuel HulIings, painter, River
side; George E. Rossell, farmer, Spring
field; John A. Eichner, clerk. Palmyra.
Prosecutor Kelsey opened the case
for the state. Owing to the great inn
portance Of this matter. the prosecutor
did not rely upon the usual manner of
making an opening, but he had care
fully prepared his statement in writing,
in order that no point might be over
looked and this he read to the jury.
He told of the murder being commit
ted on the fifth day of October, last
On that day Andrew J. Rider, who
operates extensive cranberry boys, near
Atsion, went to bank in Harmon
ton and drew 1900 with which he in
tended to pay his pickers. He notified
his foreman that he would be at the
boys on that day with the money. He
started from Hammonton in an auto
mobile. In it were his daughter, Mrs.
Elsie Smathers, who was drying the
car. at her side was Henry D. Rider
and on the back seat were Mr.. Rider
and John Rigby, an employee. On the
floor of the car was a bag in which was
the money and revolver. When the
party reached Atsion and were about to
turn toward the boys, they were con-
fronted by number of men, nearly
all OF whom were masked, and who
seemed to rise suddenly from the
ground. The men yelled ''Heyl hey!"
and at once began firing revolvers.
All of the party were struck by bullets
and Henry Rider was killed. Mr.. Kel-
sey said he would show that Iraco was
one Of the attacking crowd and having
proved this would ask for Ia verdict of
guilty of murder of the first degree.
James Logan, county engineer, was
the first witness, and he explained
maps that he had made. Mr.. Savage
objected to one of the maps on the
ground that road had been omitted
and that the map did not show the |
true situation. Judge Kalisch ruled
that the map would be admitted to
show that it was true so far as it went, |
as there did not seem to be any objec- |
ton on that ground.
Nathaniel R. Evan was called to
show some photographs that he had
taken. Mr.. Savage objected to these
and this was finally settled by admit |
ting two out of the lot of FIVE or six
that had been taken.
Andrew J.. Rider was the first wit
ness for the state on tina actual occur
renee. BE related the circumstances
as outlined by prosecutor Kelsey and
gave minute description of the affair.
He positively identified Iraco as one OF
the assailaints and said that he saw
the man with revolver which he
fired. Iraco had a mask which covered
his face to the mouth, but there was
enough of the mans nose and his
mustache showing to allow Identified
ton. Mrs. Smathers was hit and fell
to the floor of the car and witness Sc
cured his revolver as soon as he could
and when the assailants saw the wea-
pom they cried enough" and fed.
All of the people in the car had been
shot and as soon as they could get
themselves in shape they started the
car and proceeded to the bog. Physi-
clans were summoned and all went to
the Jefferson hospital, in Philadelphia.
Iraco was taken to that institution
where he was identified by Mr.. Rider.
Mr.. Rider said he recognized Trace
by his prominent nose and mustache.
which showed beneath the mask
which was worn by the man. Trace, he
said, stood quite near the automobile
with a revolver in his hand. The wit
ness was subjected to a lengthy and
severe cross-examination. He said he
was wearing spectaclss on the day Of
the murder, the same kind he had on
in court. When looking at Iraco in
front OF the automobile he took less