New Britain herald., 1922-03-22
Renaldino Murder Trial Gets Under Way When Jury Is Finally Com pleted This Morning Testimony Begins
John Arute, One of First Witnesses, Tells of Illicit Liquor Transactions.
fsneclal to The Herald,

j Hartford, March 22.-The trial of Joseph Cowboy" Cianflone and Mich- ae Ruggerio charged on October 25, 1920, with killing Enio Renaldino in the Town of Pennington, was gotten under way this morning in superior court with the jury completed at l1:2o o'clock.
 Arutc Testifies.
 One of the first witnesses called by the state, John Arute of South Main street. a trucker struck what is ex- pected to be the keynote of the en- tire trial. when he told of entering into agreements with Cianflone for the transportation of liquor. Other witnesses heard at the morning ses- sion were John A. Egan, civil en- gineer. who drew maps of the locali- ty in which the body was found, and Oscar J. Murray, a photographer, who took pictures on and after the day the body was found. 1 Jury Is Completed.
 An additional 30 jurors were in court this morning when the case reopened and the work of selecting the remaining four talesman was taken up.
 Lewis Tryon of Glastonbury, tho first juror interviewed, was excused by the court
 Lorenzo Bentley of Manchester, re- tired, was accepted, making the ninth selection.
 Leonard Armitago of Bristol, was not opposed to the death penalty, but would not convict on circumstantial evidence unless it was very strong.
 A. c. Seeley of Hartford. was ex- cused by the court on account of illness.
 Eohn F. Griffin, a Hartford jeweier, was opposed to capital punishment, and was excused.
 Edward H. Butler. resident of East Hartford, and a bookkeeper, said he was not opposed to capital punishment in all cases. He was ex- cused.
 Bernard V. Keevers of Windsor Locks, was excused when he placed himself on record as opposed to con- victions through circumstantial evi- dence.
 Emerson E. Strong of East Hart- iford, was opposed to the death pen- hitS' llt NdS IOl tShtu IO serve on the jury.
 I The tenth talesman was Melvin E. Hodge of Glastonbury. a farmer. In reply to question, he asserted that evidence that the accused were in the liquor business would not influence his decision.
 Leland H. Darling of Manchester, was accepted as Talesman II. He is an insurance agent. Mir. Darling said he had formed an opinion that Rem aldino was murdered, but if accepted for jury duty would dismiss that opin- ion and allow the evidence to mold his verdict.
 R. J. Smith, a Hartford insurance agent. was opposed to the death pen atty. Judge Wolfe asked him If his feelings Tn that matter were prompt ed by his business. He replied in the negative. He was excused Joseph NJ. Stocking of Simsbury. was excused by the court Walter R. Miller of East Granby. was next interviewed. States Attorney 1 Hugh Alcorn asked if his opinion could be influenced. Attorney Calnen followed with a question as to whether or not the opinion could be influenced by what the states attorney might say or do, In rebutta MT Alcorn re- minded that honest men do not need to be influenced
 Frank G. Curtis of Glastonbury. was excused by the court on account of poor hearing
 Ciantlone's lawyer excused Fred c. Clark of Hartford,
 Ernest l.. Palmer, who conducts a garage in East Granby. Was excused by the state.
 Harold G. Colt living near No reservoir, Pennington, where tho body was found, was excused when he said he was opposed to the death penalty.
 Jury is Completed
 Frank A, Rcbothan, an Avon farms CT. was selected to complete the jury. He is first selectman in Avon, not op. posed to the death penalty and had read but little of the case. He felt it is his duty to serve on the jury if selected he explained, and would be ashamed 10 be considered man who would not serve without fear or favor.
 The jury was then called in and in- structed. Clerk of Court Lucius Fuller administered the oath.
 The state then charged the two aN- cused with murder, alleging Cianf1ono to have been guilty of the actual shooting and Ruggerio to be an ac- cessory.
 Attorney Henry J. Calnen arose and explained to the court that he is rep resenting Ruggerio, while Attorneys Freedman and Bernstein are appear. ing for Ciantione,
 Maps of Murder Scene.
 The state called as it's first witness, John Egan, civil engineer, and a resident of Windsor Locks for tho past 66 years. On February 23, 1922, Mir. Egan drew maps and made meas urements in Pennington at . plsco
 Continued on Thirteenth Pagel