The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-02-03
RALLIED At JUDGE,
TERM STRETCHED
TOL|FE IN PRISON
Unusual Proceeding in Sentenc-
ing Of Troy Gangster
DISTURBANCE IN COURT
Original Sentence of 20 Years
Increased to Life
Imprisonment

Troy, Feb. 3.-Neyer in the records
Of the Rens elaer county court was
there so sensational a scene as that
enacted yesterday afternoo nwhen Sal.
vatorc Cuccharl. convicted Of robber
IN the first degree and assault IN the
eecOnd degree, was arfaigned for sen.
tencc. No sooner was the sentence,
On Of twenty years pronounced than
Cucchari began TRADE against Judge
Pierce II. Ru, sell the dt trict attor
ney and others connected with the
court going to the extreme finally of
tn eatenlng the court with violence.
his remark being I'm kin YOU cou.
pied with q vile name He was not
restrained until oyerpOwered by court
officers who removed him to an ad-
iU ming room where he continued his
threats and abuse Of the court, and
whence he was brought into the pres
ence Of the court again and the sen
tence Of twenty years in Dannemora
prison was changed TO a life sentence.
In passing sentence Judge Russell
said laNlessness has been rampant not
only in this county but throughout the
country and that such men as he,
Cucchai, were responsible for II The
country roads and city streets. he said
must be made safe for the law respec-
ting citizens. and the gangs which
have infested the highways, robbing,
beating and shooting people must be
broken up.
Men OF your kind, said the court,
have terrorized the people travelling
the highways until even innocent
people aIe likely to shoot other limo.
cent people when accosted on the
roads at night as travellers are go
ing armed, now, and suspect every
one who halts them, even for an in
nocent purpose
You have Just escaped life SEN
tencc. one warranted by your record
as an habitual criminal, but I am go
ing to give ~, one more chance. II
you are brought into court again
the penalty will be tho Limit |
mean TO put. such men as you whore
you belong. where you cannot rob
and klI people. That is the only
way in which society may be pro
teCted against you and the gangs you
have associated with. The sentence
Il the court is that YOU be confined
in Clinton prison at Dannemora for
the term Of twenty years. That
leaves you yet chance for freedom
in years to come, and hope what
am saying to you viii so impress you
that you will try to earn that posi-.
bilty OF liberty"
That tha remarks of the court did
net have the effect desired became
evident Immediately after they were
delivered. Cucchari breaking out IN
the vilest abuse OF Judge Russell and
District Attorney Jones, addressing
the court directly while making his
vile remarks, and closing with the
threat, 'l'll kll YOU"
After quiet had been fully restored
IN the court room Judge Russell di-
rectod that Cucchar be brought be-
fore him again, and, when the pris.
oner was arraigned for the second
time Judge Russell addressing him,
said
Were you addressing the remarks
YOU made to the court?' and. to The
astonishment of all. and the 'evidspt
disgust of his counsel, Cucchari re.
piled Yes accompanying the an
swer with another abusive remark &
The sentence OF twenty years Is
revoked said the court, and the
sentence now is that you be confined
in Clinton prison, at Dannemora, for
the term of your natural life. You
had your chance and flung 1t away"
Cucchari was then removed TO jail
strongly guarded, being transferred
in an automobile to avoid the great
crowd thronging the streets about the
court house