New Britain herald., 1922-03-24
Says He Remained Silent
 Because He Was Afraid
 Cunmen Would Shoot His Family in New York
Finally Confessed, After Being Arrested, Because His Conscience Goaded Him, He Says.
Especial to The Herald,


 New Britain, March 24.-John R, Lamke, the man who found the dead body of Fnio Renaldlno near No. 1 reservoir in Pennington. October 25, 1920, was on the witness stand in su- perior court this afternoon in the trial of Joe Cianflone and Michael Ruggerio. His testimony followed that of A. Maietta. an intimate &C., quaintance of the principals. | Much of the morning session was given over 10 cross examination of Dominick Cropanese, the states in- former. He again recited the story of the alleged murder. giving the de- tails of how Cowboy" Joe Cianf1one fired at Renaldino while Mike Rug serio held the victims hands.
 Cropanese Chilled
 When court reopened this morning. the cross examination of Cropanese was resumed by Lawyer Freedman, Cropanese reiterated this morning that the scar on his face was the re- suit of a. stab wound inflicted by Joe Cantone, on the last Sunday of March, 1921 He told of running away from the Arcade to Church street, and thence to Elm street, then returning to the depot where he took a train for New York
 At this juncture the counsel and witness engaged in argument and the judge warned the counsel against such argument.
 Was Rum Runner
 The witness said he knew both Dennison and Salvatore Variola by sight. He did not know of any stolen liquor having heen hidden near where the body was found. He first met James Cannon in John Cianhones store in July, 1920. He had previous )y met the Cowboy" He could not say if the Cowboy" had been in New Britain before May, 1920. Asked what he did in the month of April, 1920, the witness said he was trans porting liquor for Jack Arute and the Cianfone brothers at this time. He was asked about the five barrels of whislley of which three are later alleged to have been stolen by Renal dino. He said that he and Cannon, a New York truckman, and his help CT. turned it over to the "hosses" on South Main street. They took it away and concealed it in some spot un- known to him. he testified.
 Tells About Rcnaldino.
 In reply to a question, the witness again said that he saw Cowboy in New Britain in November, 1920, and it was during this time that Cianflone told him about Renaldino stealing the liquor Lawyer Freedman asked the witness if he owed the Cowboy any money at that time. He replied that he did and it was paid back by An drew Maietta, his employer He left New Britain December "A, 1920, and went to his mothers home in Brook lyn, N. Y. When he returned in Jan- uary, 1921. he asked by John Cian- Hone if he wanted to transport some liquor to New Britain. He did so in January and again in February, both times for Ciannone, he said.
 Arrested In This City.
 He next came to New Britain in March, on a visit. He denied that it was to visit Mrs. Mary Fratina O'Keefe. He was in New Britain again in April and in September. Cropanese said he was arrested in New Britain September .e6, 1921. at Jack Arute's house on South Main street He asked Policeman Tomanio at thetime what he was being arrested for Tomanio said Chief Hurley want ed to see him at the Capitol in Hart ford about the Renaldino murder. He told Tomano at that time that he didn't know anything about it, and he further denied that he did tell the state police anything about the mur- der at that inc. He was locked up in West Hartford and the next day brought to the county building
 Wanted To Get Bail
 About d month later at the county iail, one night at about II o'clock, he called Sheriff Gabb, asking him to summon some of the state policemen as he had something to tell them. Cropaneso, ia answer to a question why he did not tell Sheriff Gabb, said he knew that C,abb was only the sher- if. and that he knew the proper people to tell his story to. Cropan- csc said he was held in bonds of S5,oo0. and that he had asked his l, mother to try and secure it for him. She did not report back to him whether or not she did so. His mother was up to sec him but once, that being February 1? Cropanese 2 did not know if his appeal for bonds had been refused by his friends. He said from December c2. until last s Tuesday, he has been acting as a . bookkeeper and superintendent in the Jail In that way he came in e contact with some of the help, Law yer Freedman asked him if he had spoken to Frank Stano and If he did not tell him that he had tried 10 get a bond from the Cianfones. His an- swer was:
 )l Admits Being Excited } No. l never did try to get bonds