New Britain herald., 1928-02-24
New Evidence" to Be Pre- sented to Pard0ns Board by Cianaone and Rug. gerio in Spring.

AooSlL9 VUt&luoQ Uy AttVIuey William P. Lewis of Boston. well known negro criminal lawyer of that city. form the basis for new evidence" claimed to have been discovered which is to be used at the spring meeting of the board of pardons in an effort to obtain the release of Joseph Cianfione and Mike Ruggerio. now serving life sentences for the murder of Enio Renaldino of New Britain at Farm ington. October 25. 1920. according to the Associated Press.
 The adidavits were obtained by the Boston lawyer from Dominick Cropanese of Brooklyn. N. Y.. and former Detective Sergeant Andrew J. Richardson of New Britain. Tho Cropanese statement Is said to be about 23 typewritten pages, and if the declarations made therein arc true. will tend to show that the testimony given by Cropanese, star witness for the state at the murde, trial. were in the main untrue. The statement from the former New. Britain detective is said to bear out his declaration, made at the time Of hts investigation of the Renal dlno death. that the man was a suicide.
 Points in Petition
 Several features will enter strong " into the case to be presented by Attorney Lewis. it is said. One is that Coroner J. Gilbert Calhoun rendered 8 verdict of suicide and this theory was held for a year by the New Britain police. Another is tho fact that the $10,ooo insurance policy on Renaldino's life carried a clause exempting the company from liability in the event that the insured committed suicide. The lawyer will advance the claim that Renaldino's relatives supported the murder theory in order to collect the in- surance. Mrs. Lillian Renaldino steadfastly held that her husba nd was murdered and did not take his own life.
 MT. Lewis has been retained by brothers of the two convicts and he plans to confer with States ,Attor- ney Hugh M. Alcorn. He has al- ready visited his clients and has dis cussed tho pardon procedure with Warden II. K. w. Scott at the prison in Wethersfleld. Applications for rardons have been signed and are now in the hands of the warden.
 Without definite knowledge of the attitude of the states attorneys of- hcs towards tho application. it Is thought that plans will be laid to oppose the granting of freedom to the two convicts.
 Dead Body Found On Road
 Renaldino's body was discovered on | road near Hartford Reservoir No. { in Pennington on October 25. 1920. He had . handkerchief across his face and . pistol in his hand. The case remained | mystery for moro than year and 1t was finally solved through the efforts Of former State Policeman Anthony Tomanio.
 Alcorn Suspected Murder
 States Attorney Alcorn refused to concur in the views of tho coroner and the New Britain police that Renaldino's death was a result of suicide but thought that the death was q result of bootlegger's feud.
 Cianflone was arrested in West New York. N. J. and Ruggerio in New Britain. Cianflone was ac- cused of firing tho shot that killed Renaldino while Rusgerio. 1t was claimed. held his arms down by his side and gagged him with a hand kerchief. Renaldino. it was said. was . member of a rum ring headed by Cianflone's brother, John, of New Britain.
 The state charged that Renaldino met the two men by appointment on the lonely road to pay for . con- signment of liquor and when he re- fused to meet their demands. he was shot to death and tho crime made to appear as if 1t was . suicide. Tho case was built up mostly on the testimony offered by Dominick Craponese, alleged eyewitness to tho affair. It is his affidavit that the Boston attorney plans to use in his efforts to have the two men par doned.
 Held for Concealing Stolen Car
 Andrew J. Richardson was sent to state prison on March &. 1922. for one to four years on conviction of receiving and concealing A stolen sk rf~ afu sentenced In the same case.
 Both were arrested on September 2s. 1921, following an investigation into . rum ring which fourished