The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-02-21

Ts there such thing as -sonmambulistc autom-
atism" which relieves the person committing
such an act from responsibility under the lawf
Anyway James Sapienza Of Irvington N D. a
-velto-do manufacturer, shot his wife as she lay
beside him in bed at six o'clock In the morning
He tcld the police when arrested that he saw IN
a dream two "Back Handlers" kidnapping his sew
en-ycarold son. Taking his, revolver from I'M
der his pillow he shot at one OF the kidnapers.
He walked to find that he had fred the bullet into
the head of his wife, He insisted that he had no
farther knowledge of the act. Here Is his story
told In detail to q reporter for the New York
Tribune:
.Tr seemed 70 me that two men had come
Through the window OF my home; that one had
1Ied a handkerchief about my boys eyes and had
then placed him in large sack. 1t was so very
real that, even now, / swear TO you on the holy
name of the Virgin Mother can hardly believe
II was not so.
k.s3 had never been a man to dream. never
Srufked In my Sleep But for several weeks
Lad been very nervous over the Black Hand let
hers Eeu know among my people 1t is CON-
mon practice for certain class OF men to try TO
a,rey on others who have been successful and have
Ens6e a little moIey. Well had determined not
TO permit myself to be robbed In that way, and
j had provided myself with a revolver. This re-
yolver an old one. had been In the house before
that time, but had always kept 1t wrapped In
a handkerchief and on q high shelf, because
was afraid one Of the children might find 1t and
sshurt himself
syEeF, when the letters kept on coming. ! got
this revolver and placed 1t under my pillow.
fhinklng to defend my child. ! was not afrnid
,for.mvseh. but the letters made me very nervous
and I kept thinking all the time Of the men who
Fhna Rean writing me the letters.
~ want 10 say. as have said to the police
tnaf loved my wife. For the ten years while
~, szfre married she had been good wife to me-
= vnas through her. perhaps, more than anyone
49, chat Z was able to improve our condition a
ress. hit and ret ahead. Before taking up the
,.-uweacture of concrete building blocks had
Store and my wife. in addition to her other duties
,,eah fa help me there. ! always left her In
ehnrue when was called away On other business.
and / always knew that things would go right.
she was a good woman. who always worked hard
.,nd ne never had quarrel that people could call
..rtous There was no other woman for me after
we we're married
AWen as I say on this particular night, or
morning / dreamed that the two men had come
shrough the window Of my home and were car
,-xfne of nv boy. Then, though was never a
mar 20 XIII. decided to kill. ] saw my boy in
sbe hands OF those devils plainly as see YOU
and fhe blood rushed TO my head All the fear
and the suspense that | had felt in the past
months overwhelmed me. as well as terrible
aatred Of the men who, as thought were before
no. end grabbed my revolver which had under
the pillow.
.aIthoueh terribly excited acted as coolly a,
act now. / pointed the revolver at the near
est man and took good aim so that would no
mise I win kill this beast told myself. an'
ri,e,,--suddeny l was awake
~ was sitting up IN bed with the revolver I
my hand and my wife, who was lying beside ni'
said: Jimmy That was all she said, jus