Show CASUAL SUAL SAVED HIS Lift 1 Italian Accused of M Murder Had Made Hade Poor Defense and Prosecution Had a Good Case Established d. d I CHICAGO Oct 26 A A casual remark remark re reo re- re I mark of a witness in Judge Chetlain's court yesterday Esterday saved a n man from conviction conviction con con- of murder on circumstantial dance donee Indeed the state had presented such seemingly ly conclusive e proof that Angelo Serpico had bad killed Salvatore Serpico that conviction and a death penalty were almost certainly expected ThIS Tim stIon strong structure of ot proof built up by the state collapsed like Jike a bubble when the case ease was about to go o to the jury ury A Casual question asked o of Dr Warren Warron War War- ren ron Hunter coroners coroner's physician ian on examination cross eloped developed that Salvatore Salvatoro Salva Salva- tore toro Ser Serpico ico was killed with a bund bullet from a 3 caliber revolver The defendants defendant's defendants defendant's defend defend- ants ant's rep revolver rC elver was caliber Prior to that important testimony Assistant Assistant Assistant As- As State Attorney Fleming ha had bad presented pro pre seated a chain of ot evidence apparently complete Against this array of evidence the de de- de fondant was able to pre present nt only a feeble fee fee- ble bio defense Ho took the tho stand and denied denied de tie nied shooting He admitted having drawn a revolver but was unable to explain explain ex ex- plain tho the exploded cartridge On cross- cross examination by Mr Fleming when asked to account for Salvatore Serpico's cos co's death ho bo said Louis did it He could not tell ten who Louis was except ex ex- except that he was an nn Italian who had been present in the saloon and who had since fled Dr Hunter was the last witness called He expressed the opinion that death was due to shock and hemorrhage caused ed by the bullet wound B By the way Dr Huot Hunter r. r At At- torne for the tM defendant asked have you rou the bullet that you found in tho body 4 Certainly Dr Ir Hunter Huntor replied and he ho handed the tho bullet to the lawyer Why this is a caliber 32 bullet Attorney At At- torney Hanlon exclaimed The bullet was then placed in the revolver revolver re rc re- re volver owne owned b by the tho defendant and it rattled in tho empty cartridge After only a short deliberation the jury returned a verdict of ot not guilty |