Well, Bill thought, at least they gave him one small break. Notaro remained still, his face glistened with perspiration.
“Members of the jury,” the clerk said, “listen to your verdict as it stands recorded. You say you find the defendant Bonanno guilty on count 1, guilty on counts 2 through 53, and guilty on counts 54 and 55. You also say you find the defendant Notaro guilty on count 1, guilty on counts 2 through 53, and not guilty on count 56, so say you all.”
Krieger spoke up. “Could we have the jury polled, Your Honor?”
“Yes,” said the judge. “Will you poll the jury?”
The clerk, facing each of the eight women and four men, asked them individually: “Is that your verdict?” Each answered affirmatively.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the judge said, “this has been a fairly long week for all of you and I know you paid most careful attention to the evidence and have given it conscientious, thoughtful consideration. It is never a pleasant duty to render a verdict finding anyone guilty of anything. On the other hand, under our system of justice it is a most important and, I think I said earlier, probably the most important singular function of citizenship besides voting, and that is to serve on a jury and to make the decision fearlessly and objectively on the basis of the evidence…”
After thanking the jury, Judge Mansfield excused them, and they filed out of the jury box and walked in tandem past the table where Bill and Notaro sat quietly with their attorneys.
Bill watched them, looked each one in the face. He noticed that ten of the jurors looked away as they passed; but two women momentarily returned his glance, and, seeming as self-conscious and embarrassed as the others, quickly walked on.
30
AFTER THE JURY LEFT THE COURTROOM, PHILLIPS MADE application to the judge that Bonanno and Notaro be held in custody until the day of sentencing.
“The basis of the government’s application in this particular case is as follows,” Phillips said. “Mr. Salvatore Bonanno is the son of Joseph Bonanno, who is the leader of the well-known family, the Bonanno family. Approximately two or three years ago there was an intermural war within this family. As a result of this war, there were twelve public shootings and of those twelve shootings, six people were killed, six people were wounded. In addition to which, during that time and subsequent to that time in Tucson, Arizona, where Mr. Joseph Bonanno lives and where Mr. Salvatore Bonanno had been living, there were a number of bombings, explosions of TNT in business establishments, residences, and other places, other buildings.
“It is the government’s information that this was also a direct effect or cause of this Bonanno war,” Phillips continued, as Krieger shook his head, amazed at the outdated and incorrect information that the prosecutor was quoting. “The fear that the people of Tucson live in of the Bonannos could have been reflected on each of the witnesses’ faces,” Phillips went on, insistently, as the judge listened. “Mr. Walters, for example [the ticket counter employee for American Airlines in Tucson]. I submit that in addition to which Mr. Don Torrillo, who was a witness here, will also be a witness in a case where the defendant Bonanno is under indictment in the Eastern District for income tax evasion and that his safety is endangered. Mr. Notaro was the bodyguard for Mr. Joseph Bonanno and is presently or had been the bodyguard for his son, Salvatore Bonanno, and is directly linked with these shootings as is Mr. Salvatore Bonanno.”
Krieger wanted to interrupt, but Judge Mansfield held up his hand signaling Krieger to wait. And Phillips went on: “I submit that under all the circumstances it would be in the best interests of justice and the best interests of the public and society at large that Mr. Salvatore Bonanno and Mr. Notaro be remanded. I have not mentioned the fact that Mr. Bonanno lives in California and Tucson and has no roots whatsoever here in New York and neither does Mr. Notaro, as his home is in Tucson, Arizona, at the present time.”
“I am not quite clear from what you said,” Judge Mansfield cut in, “how you attribute any of this danger that you say exists to the community or to persons to the defendants here.”
“The fact is of the bombings out in Tucson, Arizona,” Phillips replied, “Mr. Joe Bonanno’s house was bombed at one time, there were other business establishments which were