Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-01
Defense Is Opened
in Gunn,an's Trial


over from New York more frequently
he would learn of many laws he had not
| heard OF.
PENNSYLVANIA laws were made IN
China" Mr.. Keir asserted. But further
criticism along that line was stopped
by Judge Baldridge
Attorney Keir made a very brief open'
| ing address to the jury before calling
any witnesses for the defense. HIS eN-
/ planation OF Costello coming to this city
4 was tho same as that offered in the case
Of Jacob, alias Butch" Mascia, the man
who did the actual killing f Policeman
| Eppley and who is now serving mint
mum term Of fifteen wears In the East
crn Penitentiary, with q possible maxi
| mum of twenty years, depending upon
| his good behavior.
| Kcir said Costello and the other seven.
| teen members of the gang or alleged
eunmen were nothing more than a crowd
of boys from the Bronx district. VINO
| had grown up together. members OF poor
families. and none of them had ever been
any considerable distance away lroIn
home to see anything of the outside
world, Consequently when the sugges-
| tjon was made to them that II they
would be willing to come to Philadel
phia on primary election day to help the
police in guarding the polls and in main
tanning peace and good order, all their
expenses to be paid and they to receive
generous pay for their services, they,
with the spirit Of adventure OF all youths
Of their class. jumped at the oHer'
Eeir endeavored to impress the jury
with the belief that the young men were
not notorious "gunmen," but poor
honest. working fellows. who joined in
the expedition to this city more as
lark than anything else.
<eir said that 1t was unfair that the
| gunmen should suffer for consequences
which men like Senator Penrose and
McNichol were responsible for,
This brought a sharp rebuke from
the Court and vigorous objections from
Mr.. Taulane. Keir was cautioned
against making such statements.
Keir added that Costello and his COM
panions were the ignorant tools OF in
fluential politicians.
COSTELLO TAKES THE STAND
Costello was then directed by his
counsel to take the witness stand ano
tell his own story
Costello corroborated all that his
counsel and Mascia had said. adding
that he and his friends had been gen
erously supplied with liquor at the
Deutsch Club and they were all pretty
wen plNNltu Nhth thts sNai etu out ioi
the clubhouse on election morning tC
visit the different polling places ito see
that no one was being assaulted and tina,
good order was being maintained
When they reached Sixth and De Lance,
streets there were a few people about
and everything was quiet, and his atten
tion had been attracted by girl wht
had passed by and who seemed inclinet
to firt He had turned to look aftel
the girl and speak to her il she shoult
encourage him, and II was just ther
that he became aware that while hi.
back was turned a fight had started
Before he knew anything he was in tn,
midst of fighting mob and he wa,
obliged to draw his own blackjack ant
defend himself In order to fight his wa,
out. He was struck I'm the mouth and s
number of other blows We're aimed a
him before he attempted to strike back
In the midst of the confusion the tw,
/ pistol shots rang out and there was :
general scattering of the crowd, and tn,
next moment he found himself undel
arrest.
Costello said that he had never bee,
arrested or in any trouble before in hi.
life.