Evening journal., 1919-11-13
FIRED, She SAID
when MAN ANNOYED
Mrs. D'AvaloS Tells Jury
Florence Entered Her
Room Unbidden
DENIES INSULTING
WOMAN PROSECUTOR


4 Trial OF Mrs. Lucia D'AvOlos, on an
indictment charging her with assault
with intent 10 commit murder on
Damaiano Florenzano on last May %,
was begun before Judge Rice and a
jury in Court Of General Sessions his
morning. Attorney General Reinhardt
prosecuted the case, and J. Frank Ball
was counsel for the defendant.
Mrs. D'Ayolos shot Florenzano Just
above the heart when he went into her
room. at No 1903 West Fourth street,
20 put up screens. Mrs. D'Avolos al
leges that the man came into her room
after she had warned him not 10, and
misconducted himself toward her.
FlOrenzanO testified that when he
FIRST knocked on Mrs. D'Avolos' bed
room door 90 ask IL he could put In
the screens In the room. she told him
not 20 come In. Afer fixing The
screens in another room, he noticed
the womans door open and again
knocked. This time. be stated, ne
thought she told him 10 20 in.
When he entered the room. he tesli-
fed Mrs. D'AvOlos, Who was sitting
on the side Of her bed in a robe asked
him "Nhat be meant by coming into
her room. and siraightway fired a.
him. He denied making any improper
proposal 20 the woman. lie had just
time 10 set his tools and screen door
down when the woman shot him.
Florenzano stated that he and Mrs
D'Avolos We're childhood friends.
He said that Pasquale D'AvOlos. the
wOman's husband was in his tailor
shop at the foot Of the stairs at the
time and that he left the bedroom door
open when he entered.
Detective Sergeant Benson testified
that Mrs D'Avol0s after the shooting
ARRAY. stated that Florenzano came in
90 her room without knocking and
made an insulting remark 10 her. She
took the automatic revolver from be-
meath the mattress Of her bed, put il
In the pocket Of her gown and then
shot the man, the officer stated the
woman told him. She showed him how
she stood when she fired at Floren-
zanO.
In a la.er statement, produced by
Sergeant Benson Ia court, Mrs. D'AvolOs
told In more detail OF the same cir
cumstances that she said led up 90 the
shooting. She stated that there were
only three cartridges in the revolver
and denied that her husband had shot
Florenzano. IT there had been
hundred shots. would have shot thcm
ALL" she stated. 81 would rather lose
my life than my honor She said she
dldn'. care whether h>died or not.
she made no mention in either OF
the statements about Florenzano at
taching her.
The defense was that Florenzano
after once being denied admission by
Mrs. p'Ayolos tn her bedroom, opened
the door without knocking and made
an indecent proposal 10 her that anger
ed her TO the extent that she shot the
man.
Mrs. D'Avolos testified that she was
m in bed when Florenzano came into |
her room without her permission. He
shut the door after him, she stated. and !
started 10 pull the bed covers from her |
and told her not TO bother because her |
husband was down stairs" She said |
she fired three bullets into the man.
Character witnesses testified 10 the |
previous good reputation Of Mrs. /
)'AV1los.
Taking Of testimony and arq=nent TO |
he jury were completed this morning .
lpd the jury Will be charged this aft
.rn0On.