Barberi, Maria (1880–?)

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Barberi, Maria (1880–?)

Italian-American murderer. Born 1880.

At 15, promised marriage by her lover Domenico Cataldo who apparently had no intention of marrying her; after he refused her pleas to make her an honest woman, sliced his throat in NY saloon (1895); convicted of 1st-degree murder, was sentenced to death by electrocution; her cause became national issue as progressives and conservatives alike opposed execution of the 15-year-old; won a new trial at which defense successfully argued "physical epilepsy" (term now replaced with "insanity"); though found to be insane, was released.

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