Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-07
END Of RUM TRADE
SEEN AS HlNGMANe
MOOSE AWAITS PAIR
Execution of emperor Pick"
Considered Doom of Boot
Logging in Alberta.
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
Lethbridge, Alta. Dec. 6t-ln the me-
cells in the Fort Saskatche"an Ian'
Emilio Picariello, notorious lhtglha-
tional b~ootlegger and condemned siaser
of Constable Steve O. Lawson Of the
Alberta Provincial police at Coleman,
west Of this city, September II last
and his Youthful accomplish, Mrs. FLOR
ence Lassandro, also sentenced 70 dle
for the crime, await in dread feDfuarF
Il, 1928, the date of their execution.
Sentence was passed on the two bF
His Lordship Justice Walsh last sat
urday afternoon, after the jury had
brought in a verdict of guilty OF tirst
degree murder. following six days OF
trial. a trial which will go down III
the judicial annals of this province as
one of the notable legal battles OF ITS
history. The attorney general per
sonally laid the charge; A. A. McGiill-
vray, K. c., of Calgary, and q OF the
foremost criminal lawyers IN the prov
ince, represented the crown, WITH an
equally notable jurist, j. Mckinney
Cameron, X. C., representing the ac-
cused, whose fortune, accumulated. II
is said, in his gigantic rum-runnihg
enterprises of which he was the pivot,
was thrown into the fight for life.
Woman Weakens
When the Jury brought in a verdict
of guilty. a sitting stiffness fell over
the crowded courtroom. The clock on
the wall could be heard to tick, as Judge
Walsh prepared to speak. Picarieile
stood unmoved and stolid, as the meas
ure of his life span was counted. When
the judge fixed the date OF his eXecu7
ton, the Italian turned pale, clenched
his hands and dropped into the dock
beside the woman. She was lmmedl-
ately sentenced, being supported by
the prison matron from collapse, the
terrific tension of weeks, coupled with
the fate awaiting her IN the future,
completely breaking down the girl. A
low moan escaped her lips and they
moved as though to speak, but she
said nothing.
Forty witnesses were called by the
crown. Judge Walsh stating that they
had completely established their case
against the accused, who acted in CON
cert and with design when they set out
on the evening Of September Il last
to get" Constable Steve Lawson, the
terror of the bootleg ring of the Pass.
Lawson, the story of the crime
shows, went to rhe door of the police
detachment unarmed, walked over TO
the car, and in the melee that followed
he was shot in the back by the girl,
according to her confession. with a 80
caliber revolver. Picariello. or EN-
peror Pick of the Pass as he was
known, carried an automatic, the shots
of which flew wild, breaking the wind
shield of the death ear and punching
a hole in the speedometer. The widow
of the constable and his two tots were
among the witnesses for the prosecu-
ton. The woman's ~denouement was
dramatic.
f.. Did Not Expect Death
Picarielio had no idea that he would
go to the gallows, it appears, for he
refused dinner the evening of the clos
ing day of the trial. While the jury
was out deciding his fate, he joked with
the guards, stating that he and his
counsel would stage a little party in
the Pallister hotel. Calgary, where the
case was tried, on account of the high
feeling here, after the verdict had been
rendered.
Instead he was led back to his cell
a doomed man, and before the key
turned in the lock Of the door. PicaTi-
clio, the fearless, the wealthy. the
BpNefIuI En- fftEoE VI INV 1 ass my"
himself on the rude bed and wept like
a child. In another side of the prison,
Florence Lassandre was a physical and
mental wreck. staring into space and
clenching at her 'osary.
1t is no: Likely that Picarirllo's
lawyers will appeal, although it is
understood I'm effort is being made for
a new trial. He has money, and no
stone will be left unturned to staye off
the banging set for February II. exact
IL five months after the killing of Con
stable Steve Lawson. 1t Is unlikely
that the death sentence will be carried
out in the case of the woman, 1t IS
believed it will be committed to life
Imprisonment. She is the first woman
to be sentenced to hang in this PROV
ince.
The case has been a sensational one,
due largely to the notoricty of the
prisoner. The death sentence, passed
on this master bootlegger and con-
| demned gunman. it is believed, will
have Il strong effect on the rum-run-
ming business. 1t is generally felt that
| justice and law have been vindicated,
and that the days of the bootlegger in
Alberta are numbered.