The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-01

tSuc OclcuuduI dttlIuue.
That her personality is nc
emphatically evidenced whe
set about securing a jury t.
defendant.
The childish beauty of the
impressed the talesmen that
first fourteen frankly declared
They did not offer the usual {
illness at home. But they quite can.
didly swore they were certain they
would hesitate to find Mrs. Ragona
guilty. whatever the evidence against
her. II such a verdict were to send
her to the electric chair. They made
no effort to conceal that her beauty
and personality had charmed them
into prejudice in her favor that no
evidence could sway.
And throughout the course of the
trial the eyes of men and women
alike have been riveted on her fea-
lures. in questioning wonder as to
whether one Of such attracting mien
could be guilty Of a heinous offense.
Her sympathizers have been numer-
GUS and there have been times when
II seemed that evidence bearing out
that she shot in self-defense would
have been received with applause
had courtroom decorum permitted.
Not few prominent women have
watched the progress Of the case.
Every day Mrs. Otto H. Kahn has
been among the spectators. The
bankers wife explained:
MY interest is that Of a curious
woman at the trial of another
woman"
Not a day has passed without its
startling spectacle. for the Italian
impulsive nature has time and again
given display in emotional gesture
and exclamation by witnesses and
defendant.
THREE UNHAPPY BABES.
In brief, It is charged that on Oc-
tober IL. 1920. Mrs. Ragona shot to
death Frank Iucalano, a rejected
sutton, in Second avenue, near 10th
street. II the State succeeds In con-
victing her there will be three moth
erless children, eventually, should
the electric chair carry out sentence.
in the Ragona home at SIS East
104th street. These are Kathryn,
four; Mile, three; Ira, two-all
too young to know why Mamma is
away 80 long and why they must go
away downtown to the murky build.
ing OF towers II they wish to EN-.
/, brace and kiss their Mamma"
Perhaps some thought Of these
three youngsters was in the minds
Of the fourteen talesmen who pro-
fessed inability to judge truly. That
though surely has been ever in the
|. minds of spectators at the trial.
In August of 1920. Mrs. Ragona's
I husband was in Baltimore, working
and sending each week all he could
spare to his wife and three children.
During the period of his absence his
wife and Iucalano met frequently.
When the husband returned Iucalano
persisted In his attentions. Mrs. Ra.
coma tried to shake him off. The
murder followed.
The testimony conflicts as to the
Incidents preceding the shooting.
This conflicting testimony has been
the occasion Of outbursts of display,
the defendant herself at one point
declaring in high pitched tones that
. witness was lying.
SIGNAL OF VENDETTA.
Probably the most dramatic touch
N the trial was that given by aged
Mrs. Marie Iucalano, mother of the
dead man. AS the old woman slow.
" advanced to the stand, a picture
Of distinctive type, with her head
bared and her shoulders draped with
long black shawl, she turned
quicly.
with q defiant glare she signalled
70 the defendant the slcilisn oath Of
vengeance. That signal has been
seen before in the Criminal Courts
building. II was made by a spec.
tator to q witness on the stand In
the trial q few years ago OF Michael
Roffano. On that occasion the Wit.
ness nailed and collapsed and the