Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-04-08
FIVE YEARS EACH
FOR ChSLl0 AND
CHAS. SPATkF0RE
Jury Finds Them Guilty OF
White Slave Charge.

1t IGQuitu LuS jury nearly an
hour and half yesterday afternoon
to reach a verdict in the case of
Arthur castillo and Charles Spata-
fore, who went on trial in federal
court Tuesday morning on a charge
of transporting Miss Alberta Mason
from Glassport. Pa, to Fairmont
and Clarksburg. w. Va. Three bal
lots were taken before the jurors
agreed, the first showing nine for
conviction and three for acquittal.
The last ballot was unanimous for
acquittal, and that sealed the doom
of the accused men.
Immediately following the jury's
report Judge Dayton sentenced the
young men to serve five years each
in the federal prison at Atlanta, Ga.
The usual motion for new trial
was made by the defendants attor-
ney, but 1t was overruled and sen
fenced imposed.
Mr.. Hanna, representing the de-
PENDANTS, gave notice of an appeal
Bond was fixed at $4,000 in each
case, and as neither could furnish
the required bond they will be re.
manded to the local jail. 1t will not
be definitely for several days whe.
Their Or not an appeal will be taken,
and in the event it Is not the con.
Yicted men will be transported to
Atlanta, Ca, at once.
When the jury announced a YER
dict, the aged mother of castillo,
who had carefully followed the trial
and listened very attentively to the
evidence, tainted and friends had to
administer aid. The young wife of
Spatafore was also present throu-
ghout the trial. but showed no signs
of emotion when the verdict was
read. She sat by her husband while
the Governments witnesses gave
their testimony, and leaned anxious
ly upon every word.
The young men, who may shortly
be taken to the penltentiary, listen
ed very calmly to their sentences.
During the trial they paid strict at
tention to every detail, and as the
witnesses gave damaging testimony
against them 1t appeared that their
interest grew.
While Colonel Walker was making
the closing arguments yesterday aft
ernoon for the Government castillo
frequently turned in his chair and
looked Interestingly at the speaker,
and especially when Col. Walker
pointed the index finger of his left
hand at the prisoner and said he
had robbed a young girl of which
only God himself can restore"
SpatafOre's wife hung her head
when the Colonel referred to her hus-
band as forsaking his home and
wife, whom he had pledged to pro
tect and love, and had picked up
in an institution an innocent child
and started her on the downward
path.
castillo claimed, while being ex-
amined. that he and the young girl
We're married and that their marri-
age was one Of common law. Early
last January he said. he and Miss
Mason agreed to marry. He told of
their trip to FdirmOut and Clarks-
burg, saying that Spatafore accom-
panied them and occupied a separ.
ate room at the hotels wherc they
stopped.
On cross examination, castillo de.
clared he did not make oath to the
county clerk at Fairmont when he
applied for a marriage license for
himself and Miss Mason that she was
over sixteen years OF age. Replying
10 a question propounded by Colonel
Walker the witness said If he had
been permitted to marry the girl
they would have resided in Fair
mont.