New Britain herald., 1925-04-22
MACRI GIRL SAYS
 SHE REGRETS ALL
Sorry She Killed BasnanO, Is
 Statement in Court
HER TRIAL "OPENS TODAY
Work of Selecting Jury Begins Big Crowd Flocks to Courtroom to Hear Evidence - Accused Shows Repentance.

hcar ENluchCS - hCCuScu SnONS.
 Repentance.
 New Haven, April 29.-Special ar arrangements have been made by the court to preserve law and order, ns well as quiet. during the trial of | Olympia Macri on charge of hav- ing murdered John Bagnano on Feb ruary 26, which opened here this morning before Judge c. L. Avery. The public was admitted to the courtroom but when every available seat was taken the doors were closed, not to be reopened until re- cess, Deputy sherias have been stationed about the courtroom '. keep the spectators from moving about.
 Sheriff James Geddes yesterday refused camera men permission to take pictures inside the jail or to have Miss Macri to pose for them. The sheriff also informed the l photographers that no pictures could be taken In the courthouse.
 Murdered in Lobby.
 According to the finding of Cor oner Eli Mix who held an inquest after the shooting of Bagnano in the lobby of theater on Church street, the latter met death from bullet wounds inflicted by Olympia Macri, who told police that Bagnano was the father of her child which he would not support.
 A grand jury later returned first degree murder indictment against the girl, who is 20 years old.
 The girl claimed that Bagnano who was married and whom she had known for number of years in De- cember 1923, took her for an auto mobile ride and that after she had eaten some figs given her by her companion, she became "crazy like" Driving to side road. Bagnano at- tackled her, she claimed.
 From panel of talesmen, num- bering 123 mon the trial jury Is be- ing selected.
 Sorry 1t Happened
 T am sorry it ever happened" Olympia Macri declared shortly after she entered the courtroom today. The young opera student who Is on trial for her life was vislbly nervous as the names of the 123 talesmen were called.
 Repentance for her act was mani- fest when she said:
 If I had to do 1t over again 1t would be different" AS the talesmen left the courtroom prior to being called in individually to be subject ed to questions by counsel, the young girl burst into tears and sob- bed.
 Hundreds started forming in line In the corridor of the courthouse as early as a. m. and by 10 a. m. the witnesses had to fight their way through the throng. A near-riot Oc- cured shortly after 10 a, m. when the courtroom doors were thrown open 10 allow newspapermen to en- ter. Several women were slightly in- jured as they milled and fought to gain admtttance to the chamber.
 First TaIesman Called
 The first talesman was Clinton C. Peck, 50, farmer of Cheshire, Conn.
 He was rejected by Attorney Jo- seph Koletsky for the defense after he had replied to questions that he considered girl of IS or 19 a ma ture woman and to be held responsi- ble for her deeds as such.
 Double Moral Standard
 Do you believe in double standard of morality" he was asked by counsel for the defense.
 States Attorney Arnon A. Alling interrupted 10 ask:
 What is that"
 Attorney Koletsky replied that 'it was a different set of moral stand ards for a man and a different standard for a woman" Peck de- clared that he was not sure what he believed in such q case. Peck was questioned for almost half an hour by both sides before he was rejected. Indications were that the jury could not possibly be completed before late tomorrow Each side is permitted 10 challenge 25 talesmen by the Connecticut law and by re- cess third of this amount had been exhausted by the defense. Self Defense Plea
 When court recessed at 1 o'clock for luncheon, ten Of the 123 men on the panel had been either rejected or excused. The defense had chal- lenged five and the state two of those called. The other two were excused by the court During the questioning Of tales men, the defendants mother, sev- eral sisters and brothers and other realtIves occupied seas in the front row of the spectators box. The girls father was seated in the rear of the courtroom.
 It was indicated today by the na- . ture of the questions put to the talesmen by the defense attorney that the probable defense Of the de- fendant would be a plea of self defense.