Limone testifies in civil case against US

On the sixth anniversary of the day he regained his freedom after 33 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Peter J. Limone Sr. yesterday described the emotions that ripped through him in 1967 when he was sentenced to death -- for a murder authorities now acknowledge he did not order.

"I was scared to death," the 72-year-old Limone said about the day he and three other men were sentenced in a Suffolk Superior courtroom for the 1965 gangland slaying of Edward "Teddy" Deegan. "I was in a state of shock.. . . Because I was innocent of the crime."

Limone and the other men were taken that day to Walpole State Prison where they were placed in Block 10, which was the death row for Massachusetts, as he and his family began a decades-long fight for exoneration. The death penalty was abolished in Massachusetts in 1984 .

Six years ago, another Suffolk Superior court judge ordered the Medford resident released from prison. FBI reports -- prepared at the time of the murder -- surfaced that indicated all four men had been framed by the government's key witness, Mafia hitman Joseph "The Animal" Barboza.

Limone testified yesterday in a $100 million lawsuit he filed with , Joseph Salvati, and the families of Louis Greco and Henry Tameleo, who both died in prison. The plaintiffs are suing the government for falsely imprisoning the four.

Watching Limone testify before US District Judge Nancy Gertner in the jury-waived trial was Salvati, who is scheduled to take the stand on his own behalf next week.

Limone indicated that he refused to let his circumstances overwhelm him and was helped by visits from his wife of nearly 50 years, Olympia, and his four children -- who brought their own children.

In the 1970s, Limone risked his life when he helped persuade an inmate who had shot two correction officers to surrender peacefully, he testified. He also worked as an aide at Medfield State Hospital for the mentally ill until $1,000 in cash was found in his room.

Limone said yesterday the money was a loan from his sister to pay for painting his house.

Testifying in a gruff but firm voice, Limone said he participated in the furlough program for first-degree murderers, eventually spending nearly 170 days with his family until the program was ended by the Dukakis administration.

All four of Limone's adult children testified yesterday, describing how their father missed birthdays, first communions, confirmations, and weddings.

They also talked about the day in 2001 when their father regained his freedom.

"He was so happy. We were hugging and jumping up and down," said Paul Limone, wiping tears from his eyes. "It was really a great day. . . It was probably one of the best days of my life."

The children also testified about how they were sometimes teased or discriminated against by people because their father was imprisoned for murder and because he had been described in newspaper accounts as a leading member of the Mafia in New England.

Limone is to resume testifying on Monday.

John Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com.