Philadelphia's Poison Ring
Judgment
Herman Petrillos trial began on March 13, 1939 in Philadelphia's City Hall.� The presiding judge, Harry McDevitt (no relation to D.A. Vincent McDevitt), was one of the most feared judges in all of Pennsylvania.� A defense attorneys worst nightmare, the judge was known in legal circles as Hanging Harry.� Even though Petrillos lawyer, Milton Leidner, was a close friend of the judge, the defense attorney did not expect any leniency.���
The March 13, 1939 edition of The Ledger reported that Thomas Shearn, an agent for John Hancock Mutual Life, was the first to testify.� He told the jury how Petrillo had taken him to see Ferdinando Alfonsi on February 9, 1939.� Shearn testified that when Alfonsi refused to sign the policy, Petrillo instructed the agent, against company policy, to leave the paperwork with him.� Following Shearns testimony, Luigi Cissone, an agent for Monumental Life Insurance, told the jury he had also helped Petrillo get insurance on the ailing Alfonsi.� Afterwards, Secret Service informant Meyer and undercover agent Stanly Philips consecutively took the stand and testified about Petrillo's attempts to have them kill Alfonsi.� A druggist then testified that Petrillo approached him on numerous occasions in an attempt to purchase typhoid germs and similar poisons.� Next, a physician gave testimony in regards to the quantities of arsenic found during an autopsy of Alfonsi.
When the prosecution rested their case, the defense had little to offer.� Attorney Leidner briefly attempted to discredit the states witnesses, but quickly relented when he realized he was only furthering the damage done by D.A. McDevitt.� Petrillo then took the stand and spent three hours and 15 minutes denying all of the states accusations.�
On March 21, 1939, the jury foreman, 42-year-old Margaret Skeen, read the verdict to the court.� Guilty, with a recommendation for death, she announced.� According to Poison Widows, the defendant became enraged.� You lousy bitch, Petrillo snarled as he lunged toward the jury foreman.� However, before he could reach Mrs. Skeen, guards quickly restrained him and the judge banged his gavel in an attempt to bring order back to the courtroom.�
When the courtroom settled down, Judge McDevitt congratulated the jurors.� You can see how mean and vicious this man is, he told the jurors.� You now realize that was the only verdict you could have returned.� He then sentenced Herman Petrillo to die in Pennsylvania's electric chair.� Following the verdict, defense attorney Leidner stood up and apologized to the court.� I'm sorry, he said.� I wouldn't have defended this man if I had known he was such scum.
There would be further justice carried out.� Upon the conclusion of the trial, investigators announced to the press that 70 bodies would be exhumed and examined for signs of arsenic.���
