New Britain herald., 1922-03-28

| money gwen nm by the states al- torney and found 1t to be the correct sum. He gave the cause Of death, he testified, pistol shot He did not at- tend the autopsy He was cross eN- amined by Lawyer Calnen. The blood on the bottom of the car, he said, was in Il congealed condition. He said there was also traces of the blood having run out of the car In the rear. | Lawyer Freedman cross examined | the witness and the witness told in his opinion. the exact way the hand kerchief was tied around the mouth. The witness believed the shot to have been fired at yry close range. The witness said that he did not remove the bullet from the body and that after making his examination he turned the case over to the coroner.
 Dr. Philip D, Eunce testified to having performed the autopsy at La rai's Undertaking rooms. New Britain, on the evening of the finding of tho body. He said the autopsy was per formed on the head to determine the cause of death, The witness testi- fled that all clothing was removed from the dead mans body 10 deter mine If there had been any other marks of violence. The witness tes- tified there were two small abrasions, one on each calf of the leg. He de- scrbed the powder marks around the ear and said that the index finger could be inserted into the hole in | the right eat caused by the pistol shot. He described the course of the bullet and said that 1t must have struck something in the head causing it to bounce back. The witness said that in chiselling the top of the head, two small pieces of lead were found. | He identified pieces of lead shown him as the same. These pieces of lead were loose in the hole made by the bullet. He also said that a bull let wound of this kind would not nec- essarily cause flow of blood from the mouth or nose He was not sure of the calibre of the bullet. He was asked if it was not probable that bullet fired at short range would go directly through the head. He said in certain parts of the head this was l possible. Lawyer Calnens cross ex- animation had to do chiefly with the abrasions on the leg. He testified they were small and slight, and of no great importance. In the opinion of the witness, the dead man became uncon- scious the moment he was shot.
 Expert Is Called.
 pr. Arthur J. Wolfe, an expert, who had been called in similar cases next witness called. Attorney Alcorn | l.. human skull was practically the same in animals The reply was in the af- hrmative. A skull was then exhibit ed. The witness explained just how a bullet fired at short range would take effect. He said that an explo- sion of the brain would cause death. In his opinion, the bullet in Renal dino's head struck bone increasing it's velocity He testified that such wound would not necessarily cause hemorrhages of the nose or mouth. He said that death might not be in stantaneous, but that the man shot would be deprived of coordination, but would be unconscious.
 If it would have been possible for Renaldino to commit suicide, was the
  the states attorney the attorney re- minding of the position of the re- vover. The witness sadi it was posi- lively impossi Q, giving this as his positive opin He said the gun would have dropped to the floor if Renaldino had shot himself. Lawyer Freedman objected and when asked if he claimed it was a case of suicide he said, No" Lawyer Calnen said he was not making such a claim either. The witness, pr. Wolfe, said that he did not know of any case where man did not lose conscious ness from a bullet fired at such short range. He said it would not be possi- be in this case. .."
 Just before recess the states at- torney said that owing to the conces- sion he might not call any other wit nesses for the state. The defense law yers claim they have made no such concession. Lawyer Freedman said he might have been misunderstood, ex- plaining that he did not know whether or not it was a case of suicide.
 Dr. Charles Norrin, medical ex aminer of New York city testified this afternoon as an expert and said that in his opinion the Renaldino case was not one of suicide. He said that from the position of the gun in Renaldino's hand, there was no possibility that he had shot himself, but someone had evidently put the gun there after the shooting. One of the bullets which were said to have been extracted from Renaldinos head was exhibited in court and was identified as one of .32 calibre.
 He was followed by Antonio To- manio state policeman. The police man said that he had been assigned to the case three weeks after the killing came to light. He told how he came to New Britain to interview Mary | Fratina O'keefe. He said that he ar rested Cropanese on September 26, 1921 at the Arute home on South Main street, New Britain.
 On October 9, Cropanese sent word | out Of Jail that he wished to talk with | the policeman. Tomanio was not pres ent when the request was received, | but Superintendent Hurley was, and he went to see Cropanese. The follow ing day. Tomanio said, he, with Ser geant Arthur Pinell took Cropanese and Ruggerio into side room in the jail and there the following scene took place.
 The state policeman went on to re-