New Britain herald., 1919-06-27
PERRETTA BROTHERS
 DIE ON SCAFFOLD
Erasmo Makes Final Attempt to
 Commit Suicide

The Perretta brothers are no more. The convicted murderers of Frank Palmese in this city June 3, 1918, expiated their crime at the end of the hangman's rope in the state prison shortly after midnight this morning and to the annals of Connecticuts s criminal history were added two more names to the list of executions, mak- ing the total number at the prison 43. It was the first time that two brothers went to death on the scaffold. The last chapter brought to close one of the hardest battles on the part of the convicted men, through their friends and lawyers, to prevent the state from collecting it's toll. for murder. It has been stated that since the conviction of the men last October over $17,0O0 has been spent in trying to secure a communication to life Imprisonment for the doomed men.
 Scene Is PitifuI.
 The scene enacted within the gray walls off the execution house was not without incident. When the witnesses, who included the warden, prison at tendants, the prison physician and five newspaper men, entered the
 
 men were clearly audible. On account of his condition, Erasmo Peretta, the younger of the pair, was selected as the first one to die. To those present it became apparent that the brothers were to meet death in a hard manner. When the big door of the steel cage changed shut, the cries of the brothers bidding each other good bye were pit iful. Erasmo walked to the scaffold without collapsing as was feared, but the sight of the moose caused him to sag somewhat at the knees. He gazed at the rope that was to yanl1 him into eternity just as the black hood was adjusted. He entered the death cham Der at 12:05:07 and the trap was sprung at 12:05:32. Death was pro- nounced at 12:13:25.
 Joe Breaks Down.
 Joseph Peretta, who was the more stolid of the two up to the time he entered the death chamber, nearly collapsed completely at the sight of the moose. He emitted two weird yells as the guards were adjusting the straps and the hood. He was brought to the chamber at 12:3O:32 and the trap was sprung at 12:30:53 He was pronounced dead at 12:40:25.
 Erasmo a n-BcIicyer.
 Erasmo Perretta, who had refused to receive any religious ministrations during his incarceration in the prson displayed the same demeanor on his last day on earth. Rev. Patrick Daly and Rev. J. Leo Sullivan, of St. Jo- seph's church, this city, visited the ,t tIo Perretta accepted the last rites of the church yesterday, and as the black coat was opened to place the stetho- scope to his heart, a scapular was to be seen. Rev. Michael Barry, prison chaplain, and Rev. Louis Robatti. pastor of an Italian church in Hart ford, walked with the men to the scaffold. Joseph Perretta kissed the crucltlx held in the hands of Father Robatti but the younger brother would not do anything that would in dicate that he had religion in his heart, even when on the brink of the grave.
 Both Deny Guilt.
 A reporter talked with the warden last night and from him learned that the men had stolidly denied that they were guilty of the crime for which they were executed.
 EraSmo Tries Suicide.
 ErasmO Perretta made one final at tempt to cheat the hangman carly yesterday afternoon. Receiving a e ig arctic on request, he broke the paper and emptied the tobacco out of it. He then lighted the paper while the back of the guard was turned and applied it to his shirt. The flames were dis. covered and extinguished, but not ,1n til his stomach was scorched The prison steward applied liniment to the scorched part of the body.
 The condemned men were removed late yesterday afternoon to the death cages adjoining the prison chamber When placed together, Joseph tried to