Josephine Valenti, born as Josephine De Lois in 1910 in Italy, daughter of Anthony De Lois.
She married Sabatino Valenti Married 12 Apr 1929 in Los Angeles, CA. On 15 Nov 1928 They had a son Dominic Valenti....Yes these dates are correct.
During January 1930 Josephine committed murder, here is her story.
She became Inmate #48656 at Tehachapi on 1 Jan 1933 transferred from San Quentin.
s
A Young Mother Charged With Child Murder
Mrs. Josephine Valenti Is Locked up Without Bail for Killing Baby:
PARENT RESIDES HERE:
Mother-in-law Wires Mrs. Anthony DeLois Details of Tragedy Mrs. Josephine Valenti, 19. formerly of this city, daughter of Mrs. Anthony De Lois of 58 Sherman Place and wife of Sabatino Valenti, formerly a waiter in Syracuse, is held without bail in a Los Angeles. Calif., jail on a charge of murdering her eight-months-old baby, Dominic, by setting fire to blankets in his baby carriage. She was arraigned before Municipal Judge Ballard, who ordered her held for a preliminary examination on July 15. The first degree murder complaint was Issued after an alleged confession by Mrs. Valenti to Los Angeles police that she Ignited the blankets in her baby's carriage and walked away, allowing him to burn to death. Chief of Police Lacey C. Abel and Junior Captain Edmond P. Sheahan of this city were asked today by Mrs. DeLois to get further information on the case after she had received a telegram from Mrs. Rose Valenti, mother of Sabatini Valenti, Informing her of the death of the baby. Valenti, before coming to Binghamton, was a waiter in a small restaurant in Syracuse. The young couple left Binghamton two years ago "With ambitions of making their way in the moving picture industry, according to Los Angeles police. Both Mr. and Mrs. Valenti had worked as extras for various companies at Hollywood, Culver City and Burbank and had done well, according to the information received here. The little boy was smothered and burned to death while his 'mother as at the home of neighbors. Mrs. Rose Valenti in the telegram to Mrs. De Lois charged that the young mother had abused the child previously. ." " Chief Abel has communicated with Chief of Police James K. Davis of Los Angeles offering any assistance the California police may desire in checking up on the Valenti while they lived here. The telegram from Mrs. Valenti to Mrs. DeLois said:. , "Josephine gave baby bath, put if. buggy, gave milk, baby went to sleep. Five minutes later wakened, sister-in-law took up and brought to front yard. Josephine took back to buggy, was always hitting and slapping baby, which was put back in buggy. Kept going to look at baby. last time put gasoline on buggy, put match to it and returned to front. "
Neighbor discovered fire:
Josephine returned to buggy and pushed it back, then phoned Sam at Culver City that baby was sick. Sam is here. Josephine in Jail but Sam . says he can do nothing. If yon can come you may be able to do some thing." The Sam referred to in the telegram Is Sabatino Valenti, the husband of Mrs. Josephine Valenti.
Dominic's Death Certificate
Josephine served 10 years 8 1/2 months in prison, paroled 2 Mar 1941 commutation of sentence to time served recommended by the Auldt Authority and Frances J Sullivan state parole officer commutation of sentence to time served granted 1 Oct 1953. This means she was pardoned.
She smothered her son before starting him on fire in his carriage and walked away. He was 7 months and 23 days old.
Her husband died 13 May 1964. Before he died this was his life. He was called Sam
He was a naughty man, here's some newspaper articles I found about his bad, bad deeds.
She married Sabatino Valenti Married 12 Apr 1929 in Los Angeles, CA. On 15 Nov 1928 They had a son Dominic Valenti....Yes these dates are correct.
During January 1930 Josephine committed murder, here is her story.
Inmate #48656 San Quentin
Rec: 14 Jun 1930
Crime: Murder 1st Degree
Age: 19
She became Inmate #48656 at Tehachapi on 1 Jan 1933 transferred from San Quentin.
s
A Young Mother Charged With Child Murder
Mrs. Josephine Valenti Is Locked up Without Bail for Killing Baby:
PARENT RESIDES HERE:
Mother-in-law Wires Mrs. Anthony DeLois Details of Tragedy Mrs. Josephine Valenti, 19. formerly of this city, daughter of Mrs. Anthony De Lois of 58 Sherman Place and wife of Sabatino Valenti, formerly a waiter in Syracuse, is held without bail in a Los Angeles. Calif., jail on a charge of murdering her eight-months-old baby, Dominic, by setting fire to blankets in his baby carriage. She was arraigned before Municipal Judge Ballard, who ordered her held for a preliminary examination on July 15. The first degree murder complaint was Issued after an alleged confession by Mrs. Valenti to Los Angeles police that she Ignited the blankets in her baby's carriage and walked away, allowing him to burn to death. Chief of Police Lacey C. Abel and Junior Captain Edmond P. Sheahan of this city were asked today by Mrs. DeLois to get further information on the case after she had received a telegram from Mrs. Rose Valenti, mother of Sabatini Valenti, Informing her of the death of the baby. Valenti, before coming to Binghamton, was a waiter in a small restaurant in Syracuse. The young couple left Binghamton two years ago "With ambitions of making their way in the moving picture industry, according to Los Angeles police. Both Mr. and Mrs. Valenti had worked as extras for various companies at Hollywood, Culver City and Burbank and had done well, according to the information received here. The little boy was smothered and burned to death while his 'mother as at the home of neighbors. Mrs. Rose Valenti in the telegram to Mrs. De Lois charged that the young mother had abused the child previously. ." " Chief Abel has communicated with Chief of Police James K. Davis of Los Angeles offering any assistance the California police may desire in checking up on the Valenti while they lived here. The telegram from Mrs. Valenti to Mrs. DeLois said:. , "Josephine gave baby bath, put if. buggy, gave milk, baby went to sleep. Five minutes later wakened, sister-in-law took up and brought to front yard. Josephine took back to buggy, was always hitting and slapping baby, which was put back in buggy. Kept going to look at baby. last time put gasoline on buggy, put match to it and returned to front. "
Neighbor discovered fire:
Josephine returned to buggy and pushed it back, then phoned Sam at Culver City that baby was sick. Sam is here. Josephine in Jail but Sam . says he can do nothing. If yon can come you may be able to do some thing." The Sam referred to in the telegram Is Sabatino Valenti, the husband of Mrs. Josephine Valenti.
Josephine served 10 years 8 1/2 months in prison, paroled 2 Mar 1941 commutation of sentence to time served recommended by the Auldt Authority and Frances J Sullivan state parole officer commutation of sentence to time served granted 1 Oct 1953. This means she was pardoned.
She smothered her son before starting him on fire in his carriage and walked away. He was 7 months and 23 days old.
Her husband died 13 May 1964. Before he died this was his life. He was called Sam
Inmate #49875 San Quentin
Rec: 14 Mar 1931
Crime: Grand Theft & Assault With A Deadly Weapon
Paroled: 30 Jun 1934
Discharged: 2 Jul 1935
Prior convictions: 1923 Ione Reformatory School 1 1/2 yrs
1928 Los Angles County Jail for Rape term: 5 mo
He was a naughty man, here's some newspaper articles I found about his bad, bad deeds.
Who was S.V. a tattoo he had of an Angel with these initials.
Sam got out of prison and married Helen Arlene Meade
1916–1997 They married in New York on 28 Feb 1936
They had a daughter Rose Harriett Valenti
1937–2014
I am wondering if Sam didn't do something to Josephine, after all lets look at the facts, she was approximately 17 years old when she got pregnant with Dominic and they married after the baby was born. Sam was in jail for rape in 1928 above newspaper article about raping the 14 year old girl was in 1929. Did Josephine lose it and hurt the baby because she too was raped???
Just a thought
This was a very hard story to write. I have children would never think to kill a child ever, but then I was not in her shoes and I did not live during that era. I am not here to pass judgement on anyone dead or alive.
Josephine died 17 May 1994 in New York she as far as I can tell never married again.
I hope she died knowing forgiveness for herself and for him.
Rest peacefully little Dominic you are not forgotten.
Holy shit. These are my ancestors.
ReplyDeleteI hope this information helps in your search, feel free to copy, download any info I have..I also made them a tree on Ancestry.
ReplyDeleteGwen
I believe you and I corresponded on this case (Josephine). Reflecting on it I remain amazed that she was paroled after only 10 years. After all, I cannot think of a more heinous crime. Clearly, views on crime and punishment have changed greatly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Yes I believe we have.
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