Record of Murder Trials Held in Broome Co., NY (1915)

 

Record of Murder Trials Held in Broome County

Binghamton Press, June 26, 1915

 

Edward H. Ruloff, for the murder of Frederick Merrick, Aug. 17, 1870.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  49 jurors examined to secure 12.  Convicted as charged in indictment.  executed, 1870.

 

William Menkin, of Elmira, on change of venue for second trial.  Indicted for murder, first degree for murder of Katie Briedhoft in Elmira in 1884.  28 jurors examined to secure 12.  Convicted as charged in indictment.  Executed, 1885.

 

George Axtell, of Deposit, for the shooting of three men in Deposit in 1886.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  100 additional jurors drawn 90 examined to secure 12.  Convicted as charged in indictment.  Sentenced to be hung.  Died suddenly in jail on day before date set for execution.

 

Daniel Monohan, for the shooting of James Garvey, in 1887.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  100 additional jurors drawn, 53 examined to secure 12.  Acquitted.

 

Mary Foote, of Peasetown, for alleged killing of her husband, Richard Foote, in 1891.  Indicted in 1892, for murder, first degree.  75 additional jurors drawn, 60 examined to secure 12.  Acquitted.

 

Lewis Furman, of Peasetown, for alleged killing of Richard Foote, in 1891.  Indicted in 1891 for murder, first degree.  Indictment discharged in 1892, reindicted for same crime 1893.  100 additional jurors drawn, 61 examined to secure 12.  Acquitted.

 

Ada DeLong, for alleged murder of her husband, in 1891.  Indicted in 1891, for murder, first degree.  100 additional jurors drawn, 61 examined to secure 12.  Acquitted.

 

Rachel Eliza Thurston, for the alleged murder of her husband, in 1896.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  75 additional jurors drawn, 92 examined to get 12.  Convicted as indicted.  New trial secured because of irregularities in jury room.  Retrial in 1897.  100 additional jurors drawn, 101 examined to secure 12.  Acquitted.

 

Adam Moser, for killing Frank O. Whittemore in this city.  Indicted in 1899, for manslaughter, first degree.  Tried in County Court.  25 jurors examined to secure 12.  Convicted as indicted.  Committed suicide while awaiting sentence by hanging himself in jail cell.

 

Robert Russell, negro, for killing Rabbi Ginsberg in 1899.  Indicted for murder, second degree. Tried in County Court, 38 jurors examined to secure 12.  Convicted as indicted.  Sentenced to 18 years in Auburn prison.

 

George Charter, for the killing of Leonard Roberts in 1900.  Indicted in 1900 for murder, second degree.  Tried in County Court in 1902.  100 additional jurors drawn, 93 examined to secure 12.  Convicted an indicted and sentenced to life term in Auburn prison.  Died in prison.

 

Elmer R. Crapser, for the murder of Patrick J. Ryan, in 1902.  Indicted in 1902 for murder, first degree.  100 extra jurors drawn, 59 examined to secure 12.  Convicted as indicted.  New trial granted.  Retrial in 1903.  200 additional jurors drawn, 200 examined to secure 12.  Convicted of manslaughter, second degree.  Sentenced to 14 years and nine months in Auburn prison.

 

Claude Sundberg, for the killing of Edith Snapp, in town of Union, in attempt at criminal operation in 1903.  Indicted for manslaughter, first degree.  Entered plea of guilty.  Sentenced to four years and six months in Auburn prison.

 

Chauncey Belden Hotaling, of Vestal, for murder of his four-year-old invalid child, Rues Merean Hotaling in 1904.  Indicted on six points for murder, first degree.  At trial three extra panels of jurors drawn, one of 100, second of 150, third of 150.  358 examined to secure 12.  Convicted of manslaughter, first degree.  Sentenced to 15 years in Auburn prison and fined $1,000.  Pardoned after seven years and six months and fine remitted.

 

Angello Maggio, for shooting Cuisseppe DiAngelo in 1905.  Indicted for manslaughter, first degree.  Tried in County Court in 1906.  50 extra jurors drawn, 20 examined to secure 12.  Acquitted.

 

Aurey Decker, of Sanford, for killing his father, B. Frank Decker in 1906.  Indicted for manslaughter, first degree.  On trial in County Court.  Three extra panels of jurors drawn, one of 75, second of 50, third of 50.  168 examined to secure 12.  Convicted of manslaughter, second degree.  Sentenced to 11 years in Auburn prison.

 

Frank Minor of Vestal, for the murder of James A. Toby in 1906.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  At trial in 1907 two panels of extra jurors drawn, one of 145, second of 100.  184 examined to secure 12.  Convicted of murder, second degree. Sentenced to Auburn prison for life term.

 

Bruno Firenzi, for killing T.A. Lee of Union in 1910.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  200 extra jurors drawn, 100 examined to secure 12.  Convicted of manslaughter.  Sentenced to Auburn prison for from seven years to 14 years and six months.

 

Antonio Chuissano, for the killing of Joseph Palarmino in 1910.  Indicted for murder, first degree.  Entered plea of guilty to manslaughter.  Sentenced to Auburn prison for from 10 to 15 years.  After six months confinement, pronounced insane and transferred to Danemora prison.