New Britain herald., 1922-03-24
NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1922.

two men were seated in the rear, He was asked if he heard any of the com ycrsation between Cianflone and Rug gerio. Cropnnese said he heard some one of the men say; He has 1t on his own property,
 Cropanese was questioned by Law yer Freedman relative to seeing Rem aldino as his car approached the scene. The witness said he knew Rem adino. and 1t was he who drove up at that time.
 case, have you not" asked Lawyer Freedman,
 " No sir, did not have to read about It," said the witness.
 Tells of Enio's Appearance
 Cropanese was then asked to tell what he noted in Renaldino's appear ance. According to the witness. Rem aldino had his hat on, and In his opin- ion, there was coat along side him on the seat of the machine. When the trio left, according to Cropanese, the mans hat was in the rear of the car. The witness did not hear Renaldino say anything, and there was no quar- rel between the men, the witness said.
 The witness was asked who got out of the car first. and the answer was that 1t was Joe Cianfione. He was ask ed if he got out of the machine. Cropanese said he remained in the car on the orders of the mep he was working for.
 In the direct testimony, the witness had said that after driving the car along side the road, he was ordered by the men to keep it in second speed. The witness said on cross examina- ton, that the conversation between the men was brief, and that in his opinion the affair was over and the trio were leaving the spot at about 11:15 o'clock.
 Refused $50 From Joe
 Lawyer Freedman asked the witness where he returned to. The witness said he drove the car to Mike Rug gerio's home which was at the foot of Sand Bank Hill. Here he left the ma chine in front of the veranda. It was at this time that Cianfone offered him $50, which he declined to take. Cropanese said he made the trip from Berlin to New Britain on board the trolley car.
 He was asked what the money con to have thrown around, to give the suicide theory. He said it was small change and some small bills. He was asked by Lawyer Freedman where he went after getting back to New Brit ain.
 Returns to Scene Later
 Cropanese said he went to his em- ployer's house, (Andrew Maietta) and as it was about noon time he was in- vited to have luncheon there. After luncheon, Cropanese, Maietta and Paul Magnificio, motored to Hartford. He was asked if he did not drive down Main street and talk to some men. Cropanese said he did not The de- fense counsel then asked about talk ing with Joe Maietta. The witness said this was so, but that it occurred af- ter the men had returned, from the Hartford trip. It was Joe Maietta who told the other members of the party about the death of Renaldino. Cropan- csc denied, in answer to question by Lawyer Freedman, that he proposed a trip out to the scene.
 No, had seen enough that day. Cropanese said.
 Later Cropanese said he drove Maietta and Magnificio to the scene, and arrived there just at the time the police were leaving, and the body was being removed. It was then about 5 o'clock Asked what route he took on that trip, Cropanese said it was up Myrtle street to the Pennington ave- nue tracks and then northward.
 The witness said he went this way, to allay any suspicion that he might know something of the crime, and he also stopped and made several in quiries as to the direction of the spot where the body was found.
 Saw Body at Undertaker's
 He was asked by Lawyer Freedman about his movements on that night. Cropanese said he went to the Great Western Market on Main street, and when it was time to retire, he did. He denied that he accompanied a girl friend to the undertaking parlors of Larai and Sagarino at night, in order to view Renaldinos body Of this he was absolutely sure. Cropanese did say however, that earlier in the eve ming he accompanied Andrew Maietta to the undertaking rooms and saw Renaldino's body.
 cIy h Joe Cianfone and he said it was about two weeks later. The next time he saw him, he said was in March. The witness was asked if he did not leave New Britain shortly after the Rem aldino affair, and he answered that he did When he came back it was too see John Cianflone and not Mary Fra tina O'Keefe, he answered to Lawyer Fleedmans question.
 Came to See John, Not Mary
 Lawyer Freedman, then asked Cropanese about the March visit to Joe Cianfone. The witness said it was on the last Sunday in March. He was standing at the depot, waiting for the Berlin dinky, when John Cianflone came along. According to the witness, Clanflone came up to him and said:
 What right did you have to tell people about that affail'"'
 Cropanese said he len;ed 10 Joe that he had done so. He then saw Joe pull from his pocket a razor, and he tried to duck away from him. In doing so, the witness said, he hit his head hard against the brick wall, and the next thing he knew he felt some thing warm running 'lown his face. He pulled out his handkerchief and q fter 1a,iaincr his facn if Snat l