Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-14
TILT IN
GRECO CASE
The Acknowledgement and Counsel
for the Defence Are Con
testing Vigorously.

The trial Of Peter Greco, accused OF
assauting Mary Lapsey with criminal
intent, began in the Court Of General
Sessions yesterday afternoon before Judges
Boyce and Conrad and jury. David J.
Reinhardt was prosecutor and j. Frank
Ball counsel for the defence Early indi-
cations pointed to a spirited legal contest
While Attorney-t General Reinhardt was
outlining the case to the jury Greco eN-
hibited nervousness and often shook hIs
head in dissent
Mary Lapsley aged 81 years and re-
siding Mt No. II Water street kentmere
was employed in the cigar factory at
Ninth and Walnut streets November -
1917, on which day the Indictment alleged
the assault was committed She testified
that she left the factory early IN the morn
ing to go home, alighting from Delaware
avenue car at Clayton street about 71j
O'Clock, and walking thence 10 Brandy
wine Park. Under the bridge at the Clay
ton street entrance to the park she heard
footsteps and partly turning around saw
n man. but did not think he was following
her. One hundred yards farther on the
man grabbed her from the rear, held over
her mouth a sponge saturated with
lia,lid having n sweet odor and threw her
to the cement pavement. a struggle
ensucd, during which she attempted to
pull pin from her hat, but the man pre-
vented She struck him three times with
her fist, however, and he kicked her down
steps leading to toilet. lie followed and
tried 10 drag her into the toilet, nut she
fniIed him by holding onto an arbor
After the man had gone up the steps she
ascended 10 tho pavement, and he struck
her on the hend She screamed, and he
hpfnrR hr-
cause she was too excited The man tore
her clothing, and her hand was bleeding
CHANGING ut Greco, seated between the
dock and the witness stand, she identified
him ne her assalant His black hair,
bushy eyebrows, black eyes, peculiar nose
and yclIowish complexion enabled her TO
identify him.
On cross-cxamination Miss Iapsley
said she had lived at kenfmcre one year
and 1t No. Sl0 West street previously
Jesse Jones testified that while he was
500 feet distant he heard Mlss Lapslcy
scream and saw mnn strike her. She fell,
and when the witness went TO hor assist
ance the assallant fled. Attorney icnerai
Reinhardt asked Jones Of what nationality
was the assallant Attorney Ball objected
but the objection was oveTruled, and tho
defence noted AN exception Jones SAID
from n rear wow he thought the man was
m Italian.
Fred Seal corroboratcd Jones.
Detective Sergeant King testified con-
cerning IN interview with Miss l.apsley
at night on November n Attorney
General Rcinhardt asked whether she gave
him description Of the asssilant At
torncy Ball objected, but the objection
waa ovcrrlIlcd and the defence noted an
exception KING said Miss Lapsiey de-
scrlbcd the assallant, and Greco was
arrested the next day, after she had idcnti-
fed the defendant photograph GRECO
had fresh scratch on his face when
arrested Ills photograph was admitted
IN evidence
Detective Fairchild corroborated KING. !
Marie Brennan. residing at No 1880 /
West Eleventh street. next was called 10 /
the witness stand and identified Greco /