Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-31
JACKKNIFE ASSUMES
| VI PORTANT PLACE
IN MURDER TRIAL
Defense Claims That Dominic Aruzza Drew 1t
And Threatened Michael Aruzza Before the
Latter Stabbed His Cousin With the Shears,
AS Is Alleged-Michael Momoni Kissed Dead
Man And Went Home

During the cross examination Attor-
ney Brown asked:
when Mike struck Dominic Domi-
mic was going right toward Mike with
the knife in his right hand wasn't he?'
yes"
Momoni testified in the cross exam
inatjon that FIVE bottles of wine were
drunk at the home Of Joseph Denovo
by the party, that there was no ugly
talk between the two cousins until
after this wine had been taken, and.
in fact, not until the railroad track
had been reached on the way home lie
said that there were no lights on the
path leading from the Denovo house
to the railroad track. and very few
along the track itself. while there were
hardly any on Hickok street until they
reached the corner where Dominic was
stabbed.
Frank Stramintino testified that he
had walked with the other members
of the party until they all reached the
railroad track, where the two Aruz-
zas stopped to talk. The witness said
that he was tired and went on ahead
at this point. He knew nothing more
about what happened until it was over
with.
Police officer John Mctiraw of the
Ninooski force told of being called
to the scene of the stabbing and of
finding the body. He was the one who
found the knife beside the dead man
and who delivered this knife to Chief
Barber of Winooski. This was Il black =
handled knife with one corner torn off.
The long blade Of the knife was open.
The dead man was lying off the curb,
with his legs in the gutter, the feet
near the curbing. A woman was kneel-
ing beside he body, with the head in
her lap.
officer McGraw took both Stramin-
tino and Michael Aruzza into custody
and put them in the jail. He noticed
that Aruzza's clothes were in bad con-
dition. the shirt and trousers being
considerably torn. He searched Aruzza
and found in his pocket the shears with
which it is claimed that Dominic was
stabbed.
Other witnesses were Caternia Aruzza
the slain mans wife, Mrs. Amelia Mon
geon. Alfred T. Mongeon and Louis Mon
geon, who filled in details OF the State 6
case.
Chief c. A. Barber was called to the
stand again and identified the Jacknife
| and the shears on exhibit as those which
had been delivered to him by Officer
McGraw directly after the stabbing. Chief
Barber also testified as to the torn and
disorderly condition of the clothing OF
Michael Aruzza when he appeared follow
| ing the stabbing.
! The State closed it's case with the read
ing by Attorney General Archibald of the
/ testimony Of Michael Aruzza. the accused
man, at the inquest The story told by
Michael Aruzza in the first part Of the
| testimony was a tale of a stranger whom
| the party encountered on the railroad
| track while returning from the home OF
Joseph Denovo This stranger. according
| to the testimony, took Dominic Aruzza
aside to talk to him. and while they were
| talking. Michael saw his cousin staggel
| backwards and fall, while the stranger
ran, jumped over a fence and disap
peared Michael said that he followed him
| but could not find him.
| Later in the testimony at the inquest
Michael said that the story about the
| stranger was not true, and he confessed
that he had stabbed Dominic himself will
a pair of shears which he had taker
away from his small child while the,
were at the home of Denovo. Michael.
later story agreed in most points with
that told by the other witnesses, espe
that his cousin Dominic. had tried t.
strike him with knife at several differen
times on the way home. that they hat
hot discussion. and that finally in self
defence he had struck Dominic the blow
which had killed him.
Two witnesses. Edna Morgan and Ce
ellie Niens, two sisters who live near the
scene of the stabbing on West Hickol
street and who witnessed part of the af
fair. were on the stand for the defense
yesterday afternoon. Their stories tailed
In most points
They were attracted by loud talking anC
first saw the three men on the railroad
track The girls watched the men come
from there down Hickok street TOWARD
West Lane street The largest OF thu
three men walked ahead. Near theii
house, this man stopped and sat on th'
fence. The others came up near him ant
also stopped.
A little later. they all went on, the larg
est of the men still going ahead Wheel
this man had crossed West Lane street
and before the other two had gotteI
across this street. the man in the LEAF
turned and came back. When he came vi
to the other two men, one Of these trie'
to push him aside but after being pushed
aside. the big man came back. There wa
more pushing, then the big man staggered
across The street and fell The other tw'
men started back up Hiclkok street, thei
one of them returned and tried to rails
the man who had fallen, but without sue
cess, Both of the other men then Wen
up Hfckok street.
Neither of the witnesses saw any blow
struck. One OF them said that the mel
we're "all mixed up Just before tn
man staggered into the street and fell
The defense will continue its case to
day. 1t Is possible that the case will g
to the jury sometime this afternoon. al
though it is more probable that it vii
take until tomorrow to get in the re
mainder of the evidence and give the law
| y II 10, q IN iL4.ir ulnna