New Britain herald., 1928-05-08
PLEA FROM WOMAN l ENDS PARDON MOVE
Ciannone and Rue6erio, LiIers,
 Must Remain in Prison
ALC0RN SPRINGS SURPRISE
Former Wife of Ciauflouc Declares She Was Witness for Him During Murder Trial Because She Had Been Threatened

A letter written by Lillian Splz- noco of S333 East ll51h street. New York city, divorced wife of Cow boy Joe" CianAone Of this ely. serv- ing life sentence in Wetherstield prison for tho murder Of Enio Renaldino in 1920, destroyed all hope of both Clantone ana Michael Ruggerio, convicted with him for the same crime. ot securing a pardon at the session Of the board oI pardons yesterday afternoon.
 The two convicts had William II. Lewis of Boston, prominent lawyer, plead for them bctorc the board but the attorneys efforts were nullificd when States Attorney Hugh NJ. AL corn introduced the letter by Cian- fones former wife who has since remarried. The six members Of the board viewed the letter and then turned down the plea of the con- ,icts for their liberty.
 Attorney Lewis charged that Robert T. Hurley, head Of the state police department. and former State Policeman Anthony Tomanio of Tor rington. had used third degree methods on the star witness of the state, Dominick Cropanese, to force him to duplicate Ciantlone and Rug gerio in order that he, himself l n murder.
 Immediately after this. the state: ;, attorney introduced the letter which, he stated showed that CianfIone's $ former wife's lie was supporting s false alibi. 'I have got to read this letter. said Mir. Alcorn. If it costs this womau's life, I can't help it.'' Womans Life Threatened The letter stated that the woman | had become tired of having her life and her children's life threatened and She declared that Canflone was wanted for murder in Utah, Massa- chusetts and Norwich, Conn. She stated that Cianflone repeatedly was demanding money with which 10 se- cure new trial. She revealed that She lied 10 save Joe Cianflone's neck because at the time of the trial she was forced to stick by him or his brother would have killed her, The letter as read by Mr, Acorn. in part, follows:
 I don't want to hurt any man in prison, but Joe Cianhonc has been so mean to me all his life that | don't intend he shall spoil my happy life. At the time of his trial was forced to stick by him or his broth CT would have killed me and the children
 You know l done all could for hlrn, but the Italian detective. Mr Tomanio, know I lied to save Joe Cianfones neck.
 You didn't know at the time Joe Cianfione was wanted for murder in Utah. He was wanted in Massachu- setts and Norwich. Conn. Both him and Rogerio served time in Norwich and he is now wanted ill Utah for murder.
 led Me a Dogs Life
 I'm not telling you this for re- venge, but he led me dog's life for years and now he's trying to spoil the most happy life I've ever known. If you want the truth of how he's pestering me and my people, write 10 my brother in law, James Foglio. S33 East il5th street.
 "Im tired of being told he will kill me and the children when he gets out. Had I known as much as l do now. I would never have saved his neck when he was tried l now wish had taken your advice and kept away from his trial. It cost my peo- pie 5000 to save his neck and now he sends ignorant Italians 10 try and scare US for more money 10 get him a new trial"
 "The wife of Joseph Cianflone had to lie for him to save her own life" said Mir. Alcorn. That's why Dom mick Cropanese made this affidavit which my learned friend lla!, intro- duced here. He had 10 do il. His life wouldn't be worth q nickel if he didn't do it."
 Lawyers Two Death Theories
 The negro criminal lawyer ad- vanced two theories for the death ot Renaldino in q bootlcygers' feud in Pennington. He contended. from the gun found in Renaldinos hand and q letter 10 his wife. that Renaldino had committed suicide 10 give his wife tho benefit of a slo.noo life in
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