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Angelo Zappe
ReplyDeleteExecuted by hanging in December 1893
Crime
Killing with knife his neighbor, Frank Helmstetter on July 4th, 1892 in
Pennsylvania
Doubtful conviction
The women from both families were engaged in a day long argument with each other. Helmstetter and then Zappe engage on behalf of their wives and then against each other. As per Pittsburgh Press 14 Dec 1893 “A pitched battle resulted. Angelo Zappa and Helmstetter were the only ones injured. Zappa had a deep cut on the head while Helmstetter had been stabbed twice with a knife”
( https://www.newspapers.com/image/141546613/?terms=helmstetter%2Bzappe%2Ba%2Bpitched%2Bbattle%2Bresulted)
The gradual escalation of tensions suggest no intention to kill and the deep cut in Zappe’s head suggests the possibility of him struggling to survive.
Media depiction
Pittsburgh Dispatch, 5 Jul 1892 describes the Helmstetters in good notes: “handsome” and his wife “fine looking and apparently well educated” and having “very good reputation” from neighbors.
( https://www.newspapers.com/image/76575954/?terms=helmstetter%2Bfine%2Blooking%2Band%2Bapparently%2Bwell%2Beducated)
The Pittsburgh Press 14 Dec 1893 summarizes the event as “one of the most cowardly murders ever committed in Pittsburg”
(https://www.newspapers.com/image/141546613/?terms=helmstetter%2Bmost%2Bcowardly%2Bmurders%2Bever%2Bcommitted%2Bin%2BPittsburg)
The Pittsburg Post 19 Dec 1893 gives a startling biased review of events in favor of Helmstetters: “a steady young German”, Italians “drinking heavily”, “the wife of one of the Italians attacked Mrs Helmstetter. Her husband went to her assitence. Then the three Italians attacked him. Angelo and Joe Zappe held Helmstetter and stabbed him to death.”
(https://www.newspapers.com/image/87582105/?terms=helmstetter%2Ba%2Bsteady%2Byoung%2BGerman)
6 Italians:
ReplyDeleteLorenzo L. Cali, Salvatore de Marco, Filepo de Marco, Angelo Giusto, Vincenzo Cona and Santo Zanza
Executed by electric chair on August 12th, 1912 (Zanza executed 4 days earlier)
Doubtful conviction
*Santo Zanza was executed 4 days earlier. He had confessed to stabbing Mary Hall. https://www.newspapers.com/image/352651352/?terms=zanza%2Bangelo%2Bconfessed
*No one else confessed of participating in killing. They confessed their intent was to rob Mary Hall, not kill. There is serious doubt whether 4 members (except for Angelo Giusto) of the group were at the same room or even aware that Zanza killed Mary. Giusto was the only one who saw Zanza kill Mary Hall. https://www.newspapers.com/image/326264028/?terms=mary%2Bhall%2Bzanza
*Francis L. Corrao a Brooklyn lawyer and former District Attorney, protests to the Governor- The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Aug 6th, 1912- “he does not think that five men should be killed for the homicide of one person, especially when as he claims, the accused were not granted all the rights and privileges which were due in the trial.”
https://www.newspapers.com/image/53906370/?terms=Francis%2BL.%2BCorrao%2Ba%2BBrooklyn%2Blawyer%2Band%2Bformer%2BDistrict%2BAttorney
Media depiction
Despite serious doubts whether 5 members participated in killing, nationwide media headlines portrayed all of them as murderers.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 13th Aug 1912- “Wake for five murderers”,
https://www.newspapers.com/image/53906578/?terms=Wake%2Bfor%2Bfive%2Bmurderers
The Philadelphia Inquirer 12th Aug 1912 – “7 slayers to die in N.Y. today”,
https://www.newspapers.com/image/169050793/?terms=7%2Bslayers%2Bto%2Bdie%2Bin%2Btoday
The San Francisco Call 13th Aug 1912 – “Murderers go to death in successive order”,
https://www.newspapers.com/image/80959935/?terms=Murderers%2Bgo%2Bto%2Bdeath%2Bin%2Border
The Sandusky Register (Sandusky, Ohio) 13th Aug 1912- “7 murderers die in electric chair"
https://www.newspapers.com/image/36528450/?terms=7%2Bmurderers%2Bdie%2Bin%2Belectric%2Bchair
Pietro Buccieri
ReplyDeleteDate of execution June 30th 1893
Mode of execution Hanging
Crime Murder by stabbing of Catholic Sister Mary Hildaberta
Doubtful conviction
Buccieri was a known epileptic. He even had an epileptic attack during Court proceedings (https://www.newspapers.com/image/46281958/?terms=Pietro%2BBuccieri#)
It was known that the disease causes violant fits or sprees in which the patient has no memory of the events. Numerous witnesses testified a history of this kind of Buccieri’s behavior. The clergyman who visited Buccieri in prison stated that “his conversations were rational at times and then incoherent” that “his statements were contradictory” and that “he had an hallucination that I was his natural father” and that “the defendant was not sane in his opinion”. (https://www.newspapers.com/image/46282014)
Buccieri testified that he “did not remember killing Sister Hildaberta” and that “she was very kind to him” (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24432570/reading_times/)
No motive was ever found
Dr Keiser, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania testified referring to epileptic mind that “a mania is developed for suicide, homicide”, that “persons subject to epileptic attacks may kill a person without being responsible” and when asked to specifically characterized the condition defendant’s mind based on testimony he replied “not of sound man” (https://www.newspapers.com/image/462820140)
In 1893 (after Buccieri’s execution) Dr Mills an eminent authority declared that “no epileptic should be convicted of murder” (https://www.newspapers.com/image/46407312/?terms=buccieri%2Bmills)
Post mortem autopsy showed 2/3 of Buccieri’s brain had general softening which explained his irresponsible acts (https://www.newspapers.com/image/46407312/?terms=buccieri%2Bmills
Media depiction
Media inferred to intense public anger against Buccieri which could have had an effect on the verdict: “…and threats of lynching are freely made” The Sentinel (Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, United States of America) • 25 Jun 1892 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/46407312/?terms=buccieri%2Bmills)
Mount Union Times (Mount Union, Pennsylvania, United States of America) • 7 Jul 1893 and Highland Recorder (Monterey, Highland, Virginia) • 7 Jul 1893- “A human monster hung”
The Times (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) • 30 Jun 1893 – ‘…Mary Hildaberta a sweet-faced young woman…noticed his ungovernable temper and vicious nature”
Frank Abarno and Charles Carbone - March 1915 at the time of “Red” scare
ReplyDeleteIt is possible that these 2 poor young Italians (Carbone was 18) were framed, brainwashed and urged by police detectives (Detective Poligani) to act and “to place bombs in some rich neighborhood so that the rich would understand the sorrows of the poor”, in order to uncover a whole group of anarchists and link them to violent acts (https://www.newspapers.com/image/332046201/?terms=abarno%2Bcarbone)
It is possible that their case was used to propagate violent anarchist narration by State and media
“It had been decided by the Police that the Bresci group was the most dangerous in the city” The Post-Star (Glens Falls, Warren, New York, United States of America) • 3 Mar 1915, (https://www.newspapers.com/image/442069418/?terms=BRESCI%2BGROUP%2BOF%2BANARCHISTS%2Bmost%2Bdangerous%2Bin%2Bcity)
“Great anarchist’s plot nipped in bud” Star-Gazette (Elmira, Chemung, New York, United States of America) • 2 Mar 1915 Headline https://www.newspapers.com/image/275841815
Abarno and Carbone are said to be members of the Bresci group of anarchists” Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, Wilkes-Barre Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States of America) : “ (https://www.newspapers.com/image/391498077/?
terms=abarno%2Bcarbone#)
No violent plans or conspiracy by any members of Bresci group were uncovered
Commissioner Woods confirms in the end that “Abarno and Carbone are not connected with others” Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States of America) • 4 Mar 1915 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/39833057/?terms=abarno%2Bcarbone)
“Both men declared that they were not members of Bresci Group” Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America) • 4 Mar 1915, (https://www.newspapers.com/image/332046201/?terms=BRESCI%2BGROUP%2BOF%2BANARCHISTS)
Anarchist groups distance themselves from Abarno and Carbone’s violent acts and denounce Police tactics (https://www.newspapers.com/image/466281857/?terms=abarno%2Bcarbone%2Bconspiracy#)
Even “the jury recommended clemency for both men because of the age and rather weak mentality of the two men” The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska, United States of America) • 20 Apr 1915 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/313812763/?terms=abarno%2Bcarbone%2Banarchist)
I ran across a few articles that raise doubts about the level of bias and prejudice by the justice system against Italians in the early 20th century. Here are some excerpts:
ReplyDelete1-Following is a sentiment of prejudice towards Italians by the administration of criminal law as expressed by Antonio Petrone, President of the Italian Savings Bank and the rebuttal by an author who speaks in the name of “We” (unclear who “We” is)
Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey) • 17 Feb 1910, Thu • Page 14
https://www.newspapers.com/image/7027924/? terms=prejudice%2Bagainst%2Bitalians
FOREIGN BORN CRIMINALS
In an address before the Conference of Charities and Corrections, at Camden, on Monday, Antonio Petrone, president of the Italian Savings Bank, in Newark, made a bitter arraignment of the administrators of criminal law In New Jersey, and charged the courts and prosecutors, especially those In Essex County, with being Influenced by race prejudice against Italians and Slavs.”Hardly a prosecutor in the entire State" he declared, "is so charitable as to refrain from pandering to race prejudice, while trying the case of a foreigner. A certain spirit of vengeance permeates the entire administration of the criminal law in New Jersey, of which the foreigner is the victim." We do not believe this is true of Ease County and it certainly is not true of Mercer. Before an offender can he brought to trial it is necessary that he be indicted by a grand jury of twenty-three men. Grand juries in counties containing large cities are necessarily lenient, and many violators of the law escape indictment and trial because of the unwillingness of the grand jurors to pile up the cost of court maintenance. If many Italians and Slavs are tried and punished, it is because they make up the great body of offenders. Take yesterday's arraignment, to plead in Mercer Court as an example. Thirty-eight prisoners were before Judge Gnichtel, and thirty of them, or more than 75 per cent, bore names that clearly indicated that they are of foreign birth. So it is at every term, though the percentage may not be quite as great. Banker Petrone is mistaken. The foreign-born prisoner receives as fair treatment in New Jersey Courts as is given to any class. In fact some of our judges have been accused of showing them too much favor in the effort to secure for them fair trial; thus indicating sympathy for the men and women who, ignorant of our language and customs, offend against our laws. The Executive Committee or the Conference was so impressed with the falsity of the Perone accusations that it has directed that parts of his address be expunged from the minutes, and Prosecutor Mott, of Essex County has announced that he will issue a statement In reply to the Newark banker's address.
2-Following is an admission of prejudice towards Italians by the Superintendent of Police Michael Regan and the lawyer’s charge against Police
ReplyDeleteBuffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 8 Jun 1907, Sat • Page 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/374197966/? terms=prejudice%2Bagainst%2Bitalians
The Interesting part of the proceedings came when Attorney Bartlett, representing the defendants, asked the court to have a subpoena served on Superintendent of Police Michael Regan. When, the Superintendent took the stand he testified to issuing a permit to John Coleman for a parade to be held on Sunday, May 5th, in Trenton Avenue. He said that he was under the impression that the parade was of a religious character.
Attorney Bartlett asked:
LAWBREAKERS, HE SAYS.
"Are you of the opinion that the Italians of this city are an undesirable element—that they are not usually a law -abiding people?"
"I am," returned the superintendent. "I think that the Italians are a dangerous class for they break the law."
In summing up for the defendants, Lawyer Bartlett moved for the discharge. He characterized the trouble as the result of an overzealous service of the police to those who are moved by a prejudice against the Italians. He said that the object of some policemen seems to be, to drive the Italian element from the city, and that the men who made the arrests were under the control of such a man.
3- Following is a statement from Gino Speranza of the prison association of New York in regards to prejudice of the criminal law system against Italians (published in New York Tinmes)
ReplyDeleteThe New York Times (New York, New York, New York, United States of America) • 28 Aug 1904, Sun • Page 44
https://www.newspapers.com/image/20398109/? terms=prejudice%2Bagainst%2Bitalians
I do not hesitate to say that the Italian here dose not receive that even-handed justice which the Constitution guarantees even to him. In fact, if there are guilty Italians out of prison there are not a few innocent ones behind bars.
Leaving aside the fact that his Ignorance of the language and of local customs Is obviously a handicap In defending himself when charged with crime, It cannot be denied that there exists a popular prejudice against Italians as “men of passion " prone to use the knife.
I have heard a Judge charge a jury that there was a presumption that an Italian went always armed. Some of the City Magistrates have recently made statements from the bench of a similar un-judicial character.
When a murder cannot be unraveled, the police always find that “an Italian looking tramp" was seen in the neighborhood, or, “a knife was found resembling an Italian stiletto." Even in the case of Mabel Page this theory was at first advanced!
Taking advantage of their ignorance, the police apply the “third degree" to a great many Italians charged with crime, although contrary to law and morals.
A number of lawyers, when assigned by the Court to defend Italians, induce their clients, if they do not force them, to plead guilty, because it is easier to dispose of a case this way than to take the trouble of preparing a number of foreign witnesses for trial.
From Gino Speranza of the prison association of New York
4- At Nr. 14 Social Center (Nr. 14 School) Rochester, NY in a meeting about “The treatment of immigrant”, one of the speakers raised the question of bias against Italian immigrants in the probation system
ReplyDeleteDemocrat and Chronicle (Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States of America) • 4 Mar 1910, Fri • Page 17
https://www.newspapers.com/image/135532920/? terms=prejudice%2Bagainst%2Bitalians
Louis J. Vannuccini discussed “The Problem that Fades the Italian Immigrant” He said:
“The problem is the same as that which faces every other man in this country, namely, how to make both ends meet. But the Italian Immigrant has added to that common problem the tremendous handicap of undiscriminating national prejudice” He Illustrated his point by reference to the courts, the press and the industrial anti social world. He continued:
"In the courts the jurymen may all testify that they have no prejudice against Italians as such, but the facts show that there is such prejudice. Among ninety persons who are given the benefit of the. probation system there are only four Italians. The proportion would be nearly one-third if there were no discrimination against the Italian, as such."
5- Some experts from articles that point at an openly expressed jury bias against Italians
ReplyDeleteA- Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 27 Feb 1907, Wed • Page 2
https://www.newspapers.com/image/344241883/? terms=prejudice%2Bagainst%2Bitalians#
TEN JURORS IN BOX.'
Chautauqua Farmers exhibit marked Prejudice against Italians—Another Panel summoned.
Special to Buffalo Express.
Jamestown. Feb. 24.---Prejudice against the Italians who are becoming very numerous in Chautauqua county, was shown to a marked degree today among the farmers of the county in the examination of jurors in the case of the people against Joseph Diosino, who is charged with murder in the first degree. This prejudice is explained by the fact that a large number of Italians have been employed in railroad and trolley work in different parts of the county during the last few years and in nearly every section, the farmers have had more or less trouble with them. The prejudice was so strong that Judge Wheeler excused considerably more than one halt of the jurors examined for this cause alone.
B- Eeven though Dominico Ciao was acquitted for complete lack of evidence it still points at the openly expressed bias against Italians
New Castle News (New Castle, Lawrence, Pennsylvania) • 18 Dec 1906, Tue • Page 7
https://www.newspapers.com/image/72803791/? terms=prejudice%2Bagainst%2Bitalians
"Are you opposed to the Italian race?” was asked.
"Yes. I think they are an expensive luxury."
"In what way?"
"On account or the number of cases they have in court."
The Juror was of the opinion that he could throw aside his prejudice and try the case on the evidence. He was accepted as the sixth Juror.
John C. Ault of North Beaver township had formed no opinion from his reading. He was of the opinion that this country would be better off without the Italians. He was challenged by the defense
L’Era Nuova anarchist group (part 1)
ReplyDelete*The group was dismantled during Paterson raids in February 1920
*29 members were arrested
*All were armed
Star-Gazette (Elmira, Chemung, New York, United States of America) • 16 Feb 1920, Mon • Page 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/276357674/?terms=l%27era%2Bnuova%2Bgroup%2Barmed#
*As per New York Herald this group was the “Most dangerous of Reds. This L’Era Nuova group is known to the Federal agents as the "Terrorist-Individualist" band”
New York Herald (New York, New York, New York, United States of America) 16 Feb 1920, Mon Page 5
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64278195/? terms=paterson%2Breds
*Buffalo Morning Express also announces the arrest of “Twenty-nine radicals, said by secret service agents to include the most dangerous terrorists in the United States—members of the notorious L'Era Nuovo group”
Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 16 Feb 1920, Mon • Page
https://www.newspapers.com/image/352940555/? terms=L%27Era%2BNuova%2Bgroup
*Illinois newspaper Daily Free Press links the bombings of the previous year to L’Era Nuova : “BOMBING S LAID TO ERA NUOVA
June Plot Evidence Found In Raids on Paterson (N. J.) Reds by Federal Agents.
Newark. N. J. Feb 17. VT.—Evidence that the bomb plots of last June, when attempts were made on the lives of Attorney General Palmer and other prominent men, originated in Paterson was found in raids on terrorists there when 29 members of the Era Nuova group were arrested. Frank R. Stone, chief of the New Jersey division of the department of justice, sponsored this statement”
The Daily Free Press (Carbondale, Jackson, Illinois) • 17 Feb 1920, Tue • Page 4
https://www.newspapers.com/image/17604021/? terms=era%2Bnuova%2Bevidence
*Their ant-war free speech was tagged as “propaganda”. New-York Tribune (New York, New York, New York, United States of America) • 16 Feb 1920, Mon • Page 18 https://www.newspapers.com/image/78860138/? terms=ludovico%2Bcaminetta#
It is possible that State and media claims were exaggerated, constitutional human and freedom rights were violated as part of a large undertaking to instill fear and control masses and certain ideological movements. Paterson raids (Italian anarchists) was just a part of a larger group of raids called “Palmer raids” (authorized by the Attorney General Mitchell Palmer) which culminated in 1920 and in which thousands of homes were raided and thousands of people labeled as “Reds”, communists, socialists or anarchists were arrested all over the country.
The raids made the headlines of The Buffalo Enquirer as “Gigantic plot to overthrow U.S. stopped by spectacular raiding” The Buffalo Enquirer (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 3 Jan 1920, Sat • Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/326624429/? terms=3000%2Barrested%2Bjanuary
L'Era Nuova anarchist group (part 2)
ReplyDeleteHowever many testimonies of human rights violations were published just a few months after.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, Kings, New York) • 13 Jun 1920, Sun • Page 25
https://www.newspapers.com/image/55387762/?terms=national%2Bpopular%2Bgovernment%2Bleague
*12 prominent lawyers from the National Popular Government League in their report declare that : “methods exactly similar to those employed in Old Russia and Spain are now in use by the Department in its treatment of men and women falling into its hands.”
They charged the Department of Justice on these accounts as they pertain to Palmer raids:
1-Maintenance by the Department of provocative agents throughout the country for the purpose of joining and becoming officers of radical organizations to spy upon them and incite their members to criminal activities;
2-Wholesale arrest and imprisonment of men and women without warrants, and illegal searches and seizures, in violation of the Constitution;
3-Forgery by agents of the Department to make cases against innocent persons caught in the illegal raids;
4-Criminal thefts of money, watches, jewelry, and other personal property from victims of raids by agents of the Department;
5-Information concerning members of labor organizations furnished to Department of Justice agents by spies employed by private detective agencies in the service of the steel and coal companies. In other words, these companies use the local and Federal governments to get rid of "troublesome workers."
6-Cruel and unusual punishments visited upon prisoners taken into custody with and without warrants, in violation of the Constitution;
7-Use of Government funds in violation of law to spread newspaper propaganda favorable to campaign of repression, and to purchase "boiler plate' distributed free to country newspapers to create popular opinion favorable to acts of the Department;
8-Compulsion of prisoners to be wit-nesses against themselves in violation of the Constitution;
9-Brutal and indecent treatment of women taken in raids;
10-Filthy conditions of confinement, and refusal to let prisoners communicate with friends or lawyers. The Report, covering 68 printed pages and embracing hundreds of affidavits and exhibits, the latter including copies of secret instructions to special agents by William J. Flynn, Chief of the Bureau of Investigation, and Frank Burke, Assistant Director and Chief, declares that methods exactly similar to those employed in Old Russia and Spain are now in use by the Department in its treatment of men and women falling into its hands.
The Labor Journal (Everett, Snohomish, Washington) • 18 Jun 1920, Fri • Page 4
https://www.newspapers.com/image/83617502/?%20terms=national%2Bpopular%2Bgovernment%2Bleague#
As far as the Paterson raids and the L’Era Nuova group, there is no evidence that measures of punishment in line with their description of as the most dangerous terrorist group in the US were ever taken:
*No formal charges were laid against members of the group, not even for being armed as newspapers of the time mentioned
*16 members were released right away
*The rest of them were deported or released later. Although the evidence in the newspapers of the time is scarce, there is no mention of even any punishment accorded to the rest of the members arrested
Guiseppe Roberto
ReplyDeleteDate of execution August, 1918
Mode of execution Electric chair
Crime Killing of Charles Spang in July 1917
Doubtful conviction
It is possible that he was not the shooter or even aware of any plan about robbing and killing, but at 23 years old and with no ability to speak English he was possibly a victim of bad company
* Defense casts doubt on Police tactics “The only two witnesses … are the two witnesses who were locked up at the police headquarters for two weeks before the police, secured statements from them”
The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 1 Nov 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/image/313200499/? terms=spang%2Bmurder%2Bcase
*There was evidence that Roberto was not the shooter as he was on the right side of Spang while the bullet entered from the left
The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 1 Nov 1917, Thu • Page 19
https://www.newspapers.com/image/313200499/?terms=spang%2Bmurder%2Bcase#
*Defense claim no premeditation as accordingly the witness said Roberto was not even in the room when the other 2 members planned the robbery
The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 1 Nov 1917, Thu • Page 19
https://www.newspapers.com/image/313200499/?terms=spang%2Bmurder%2Bcase#
*There was evidence that many potential jurors were excused as they had formed an opinion about the case. Faced with the possibility of having no jurors at the opening of the trial, 24 people for grand jury service were called overnight
The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 30 Oct 1917, Tue • Page 11
https://www.newspapers.com/image/313200231/?terms=spang%2Broberto%2Bjury
*District Attorney pressures jury to convict with first degree murder or let him loose
The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 1 Nov 1917, Thu • Page 19
https://www.newspapers.com/image/313200499/?terms=spang%2Bmurder%2Bcase#
*The briefest murder trials in Erie County. It began on Monday and on Thursday he was found guilty with 15 minutes of jury deliberation
Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 2 Nov 1917, Fri • Page 4
https://www.newspapers.com/image/352937094/?terms=spang%2Broberto
*The rest of the members and potentially the real shooters were never apprehended
The Buffalo Times (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) • 18 Sep 1917, Tue • Page 9
https://www.newspapers.com/image/441467671/?terms=spang%2Broberto
Rosario Borgio, Frank Mazzano, Paul Chiavaro
ReplyDelete3 Italian men executed for the crime of one of them killing the police officer in a random stop and frisk encounter
It is a case of possible excessive punishment for at least 2 of them. One of the men, most likely Mazzano fired the shot. Although they presented different versions of how it occurred, the dying police officer, Borgio and Chiavaro were in accordance that Mazzano was the shooter. Given the circumstances of a random stop and search it is possible that even Mazzano may have shot out of fear and not premeditation. Additionally Chiavaro was exonerated by Borgies who said he is not a member of the group and just happened to be with them by coincidence
Executed 1918
Crime killing police officer Gethin Richards
Mode of Execution Electric chair
Doubtful and/extreme conviction
*A sudden stop and frisk does not indicate premeditation.
But prosecutor Charles Kennedy made a stunning statement about premeditation: “…no particular period of time was necessary for pre-meditation. That the period might be a year or it might be but a moment. It was the act of Mazzano in making up his mind to kill Richards which denoted premeditation and not the period of time consumed in the act which counted.” What determined premeditation for Kennedy was the cartridges that Mazzano identified as his: “ The fact that all seven cartridges in the gun Identified by Mazzano as his and which used the same bullets as those in the body of Patrolman Richards had been fired was of Itself an indication that Mazzano had made up his mind to kill Richards”
https://www.newspapers.com/image/228132649/
The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States of America) • 23 Apr 1918, Tue • Page 1
*The dying police officer identified Mazzano as the shooter
Akron Evening Times (Akron, Summit, Ohio) • 3 Jul 1918, Wed • Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/227962332/?terms=paul%2Bchiavaro%2Brichards
*Borgia exonerates Chiavaro
Akron Evening Times (Akron, Summit, Ohio) • 3 Jul 1918, Wed • Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/227962332/?terms=paul%2Bchiavaro
*Judge Grant released a biased opinion against Italians: "You murdered a man who had never offended you and made his children orphans. You made the mistake in assuming that a practice in vogue in the mountains of Sicily could be followed here."
The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States of America) • 12 Nov 1918, Tue • Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/228134373/? terms=borgio%2Brosario
*Prosecutor Kennedy tries to convince Jury to set an example and convict with first degree these “men who come to this city and this county for the purpose of committing crime” and later "… the time has arrived when we must let the word go out through the city, the county, the state and through the country itself that Summit county Juries will not allow murderers to be sent to the penitentiary for a few years and then let them out to commit such crimes again."
The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States of America) 23 Apr 1918, Tue • Page 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/228132424/? terms=mazzano%2Bcountry