The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-06
Coscia Begins Term
 At States Prison
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(Continued from Page D

penses.
 The prisoner was first taken back to the New Haven County jail, where he had been confined since last October, and then in the evening he started the trip to Wethersfield. Mrs. Carmel;a Coscia, wife O. the accused, was not in the court room when the verdict was re- turned. An hour earlier, she had been led from the room, sobbing lysterically, in the evident belief that her husband had been sentenced to death.
 The misunderstanding came when the jurors filed out at 3:46 and the foreman, Samuel R. Chidsey, re- tired East Haven insurance sales man, asked for re-definition of first 6egree murder, second degree mur- Ger, and manslaughter. Mrs. Cos cia evidently did not hear beyond the words first degree murder" Her sister, Mrs. Paul D'Ambrosi, likewise let out a shout, and Sheriffs called for order, as an uproar rose in the crowded courtroom.
 Mrs. Coscia rejoined her husband after sentence was imposed and stayed with him until the car pulled out for New Haven. His lawyers. Edward Mascolo and Francis Feeley conversed with him briefly before ne left.
 Visiting Regulations
 Coscia will be allowed to have three visiotrs every other week for enc hour, after his two week quan- antine period ends, Warden Walker said today.
 States Atotrney William B. Fitz- gerald, with the aide of Assistant States Attorney Walter w. Smyth had presented the states case against Coscia.
 Jurors in addition to the foreman were:-
 Beniamin Bamford, Hamden busi- nessman and secretary of the Fire Board of that town; Meyer Stodel of New Haven, retired; Mrs. Mil dred Stetzer, New Haven housewife Mrs. Edna c. F'enniman, NaugatucE probation officer; Mrs. Esther Nc Weight, Meriden housewife; Josepf A. Stevenson of New Haven, former travelling salesman and factory worker: John Broderick of Nauga tuck, retired rubber worker; Alber Paul Sternberg of New Haven; Mrs Jane S. Daniell, New Haven house wife; Mrs. Cathryn Begnal Beard sley of Oxford, former school teach CT. Alternates were: Daniel Bran drift of Branford, retired florist and Mrs. Bessie M. Blacker O Cheshire, inspector at a Merldei factory.
 | Abiding Citizen
 In his arguments given after tn jury was excused and before sen tence was imposed, Mascolo stated Tt must be borne in mind that thi man who is 51 years old has nve' more than a half century as decent law-abiding citizen. It unfortunate that he was met wit the continual provocations by
 younger and mightier person iron the time he stepped into that hom which he tried with every effor to improve"
 Through the whole mess h found himself in trouble becaus he tried to make some improve ment in that property" Mascot stated.
 Referring to the cost of the. tria | to the state, Mascolo stated should not be attributed to the ac cused and should not be weighe when sentence is imposed.
 There was never doubt but tha this accused would plead guilty t manslaughter," the lawyer declare in pointing out that the states at torney would not accept a plea o that charge. "In this case th1 whole thing could have been avoid ed if the states attorney hadn insisted on something greater thal manslaughter," he charged.
 Referring again to Coscia's agt and pointing to the struggle en dured by his wife. Mascolo aske for a sentence tempered with mer cy SO that after he shall have pail his debt to society he can com out an enjoy some part of the If that remains before he goes on [ the world beyond"
 The defense. attorney asked tn court to accept his "humblest apol ogies" for his conduct in the court room. He stated If ever I hay been out of step in the course c the trial want to tell you ther has been no motive behind it." Tn attorney pointed out he had Five with the case for months" and a his actions were based on his inter est in the case. Fitzgerald. in asking for "a sun stantial, severe penalty. state ITO assume that the verdict neces sarily indicates acceptance of tn testimony of this defendant Is very violent assumption"
 Tt Is foolhardy and extreme suggest that because the jury hs returned a manslaughter verdis that that is acceptance of the de fendant,s story. which I regard inherently incredible"
 |i Referring to Mascolo's charge