This day in The Record in 1916

Tuesday, May 16, 1916

Attorneys for the men accused of murdering Antonio Cioffi last November want the indictments against their clients dismissed because a Troy policeman gave illegal evidence to a grand jury.

Cioffi, who worked in Watervliet, was fatally shot and stabbed on Fourth Street last November 14. Frank Renda and Peter Tetti are accused of killing Cioffi. They were arrested after checking into an Albany hospital, allegedly for wounds inflicted by Cioffi in self-defense.

Former Rensselaer County district attorney Abbott H. Jones and P. J. Cirillo are defending Renda and Tetti. In court this morning, Cirillo seeks permission to inspect the minutes of the grand jury that indicted his clients. He claims that M.O. Jones, a policeman attached to the office of current D.A. John P. Taylor, gave inadmissible hearsay testimony.

At issue is whether the defendants speak English. According to Cirillo, Jones testified that he interviewed them in English. Cirillo claims, however, that neither defendant can speak or understand English, and that Jones relied on an interpreter to interview them. He further claims that testimony dependent upon an interpreter counts as hearsay and should not have been admitted.

Taylor claims that Renda and Tetti are fluent enough in English to have spoken directly to Jones in that language, and that nothing in the policeman’s grand jury testimony was based on an interpreter’s words. The presiding judge is expected to rule on Cirillo’s petition later this week, as the trial is scheduled to begin next Monday.

NYSL BASEBALL. The good news is that Troy’s troubled State League franchise hasn’t folded – yet. After cancelling yesterday’s game due to a misunderstanding over the weather, the Collarmakers host the Albany Senators at Laureate Field this afternoon.

The bad news is that Troy loses its ninth straight game after winning their season opener two weeks ago.

Manager Lew Wachter is forced to play outfielder Ed Harrison at shortstop today and is repaid with four errors. Troy starter Gus Helfrich is “derricked” after giving up twelve runs in five innings. New pitcher Arthur Clermont’s work in relief is one of the few positive notes in the 14-7 loss.

Clermont most recently pitched for the Worcester Busters of the New England League. He signed with Troy this morning after seeking a position in Albany. He throws three scoreless innings before giving up two runs in the ninth, allowing four hits in his relief stint.

First baseman Red McGovern hits a second-inning solo homer for Troy, while catcher Mack Wheat’s double to deep center is “the longest made on the Laureate Boat Club grounds this season.”

– Kevin Gilbert