New Britain herald., 1922-03-24


 noon, cfopanese was in the hands of the defense counsel, and at b;45 o'clock when court adjourned. the cross examination had not been con eluded, Lawyer Freedman, counsel for Cianilone, was the first lawyer to con duet the cross examination At no time during the two hours that he was grilled, did Cropanese seem to break down in his original story, or statements made during his direct ex- animation. Cropanese stuck to his story throughout.
 He insisted that he did not know Joe Ciannone had resided at New York until after the theft of the three barrels of liquor. which Renaldino is alleged 10 have stolen and for which he was killed It was at this time he came into possession of this information, he said. The first he had heard of the stolen liquor was when a woman came into John Ciantlone's store and asked several men as- sembled there, if they knew where her blind husband was. As it seemed to Cropanese that he understood the woman to say that the men who stole the liquor had taken her husband as well. Cropanese said he had never tried to locate this man.
 Was Friend of Joc's He told Lawyer Freedman that he had been friendly with Joe Cianfone, and on one occasion when they were riding to New York togther, Joe asked | him to go to work for him. AS | Cropancse put 1t, when Cianflone came to New Britain he was my | friend, and I was his friend" Cropan- csc, In answer to question by Law yen Freedman, said he did not be- come more more intimate with Joe Cianflone after the theft of three bar rels of liquor.
 Cropanese also said he could not tell whether Joe Cianfone was a member of the company at the time of the theft of the liquor. - Judge Checks Lawyer | Lawyer Freedman asked the wit ness about the statement to the effect | man who stole the liquor ought to be made to pay for it. Cropanese was sure that it was Joe that said that, while talking to a group of men. Law yer Freedman then said
 You are sure it was Joe Cian- Hone that said that?" | Yes sir" answered Cropanese. The witness was asked if he knew at the time where the stolen liquor went. The witness said he did mot at l the time, but has since heard where | it was
 In regard to where he resided in this city, the witness, in answer to questions of the defense counsel, said it was at PA Main street.
 Didn't you go to dance on the night before the body of RenalGino was found?" asked Lawyer Freedman. No sir did not. They don't hold dances on Sundays" was the reply of the witness.
 The witness was asked if there was any reason why Joe Cianflone engaged him to drive a car on such a mission. The answer of the witness was in the negative.
 Again Explains Meeting
 Cropanese was then asked to again explain the meeting between himself Cianf1one and Ruggerio, which result ed in his being hired to drive the murder car. Again Cropanese said that the accused was approached on Main street on Sunday night October "A, 1920, and asked if he wanted to make some easy money. There was nothing else said at that time, the witness said.
 Cropanese said he was working at that time for Andrew Maietta, in transporting liquor from New York to New Britain. On the night before the finding of the body, he went to Miaetta's house on Lafayette street to tell him he would not be to work on the following day.
 On the Night Before
 Asked by Lawyer Freedman to describe his movements on the Sun- day night previous to finding of the body Cropanese said that after leav- ing Maietta's house, he went to the White House Lunch where he ate his supper. He then attended the moving pictures with a woman. After the pie ture show, he accompanied his friend to her home on Cherry street.
 He was then asked to recite his movements on the following day, Oc- tober 25, 1920. Cropanese said he arose at 9:30 o'clock. He was asked number of questions as to what he did next and one of these was:
 T supposed you dressed yourself" by Lawyer Freedman.
 Cropanese answered, "Oh, yes! A man can't go around without any clothes on." .... ....
 He was then asked if he had told Cianflone and Ruggerio that he had job, at the time they engaged him to drive for them. The witness answered that he had not. Cropanese said that after eating his breakfast on October 25, 1920, he went to the corner of Main and Lafayette streets, the ap- pointed place. where he met the ac- cused men, He was asked if he was acquainted with the road over which he drove the car to the scene of the affair. Crepanese answered it was his first and last trip over that route. He was then asked by Lawyer Freed man if he did not return to the scene where the body was found, and the witness answered that he had, but it was over a different road.
 Men Kept Appointment
 Lawyer Freedman asked the wit ness who was driving the Cadillac