New-York tribune., 1891-12-27
LOVE AND THE MAFIA.
A NOTABLE MURDER TRIAL IN ITALY.


interest. 1t has become, during the weeks
Of it's progress something more than murder
trial The whole feudal system OF Sicily
is at the bar, and the notorious Mana
and Onerta societies also. But the circum-
stances of the crime and the personality OF the
accused would at any time make it noteworthy
Two brothers, Pietro and Francesca Notarbartoio'
and their servant Calogere Tinnirello, arc ON
trial for the murder of Giovanni Leone. ine
brothers are middle-aged gentlemen who look ana
act exactly as though they were the principal
players in a romantic drama. They are the ver-
liable handsome, aristocratc villains OF the novels
Of the last generation. Singulary handsome ana
graceful, with jet black hair and eyes, and an
air Of elegant ennu and faultlessly dressed--read
n chapter of some old romance and you have their
portraits. Their servant, tee is just such char
acter as would delight the humorous dramatist.
She is short and fat and phepomeEaliy stupid out
stupid in an amusing fashion. The murdered man,
moreover-to bear out the romantic aspect of the
case-was the lover of Catcrira Nctarbartolo the
sister Of the two men on trial.
In the old fashioned romantic way, it appears
these brothers had been in the habit of tyranniz-
ing over their sisters, and bullying and fighting
ell men who dared to pay attentions to them
In spite of this, however, the young ladies sue
ceeded In getting married; all but Caterina, the
youngest When Giovanni Leone came home from
the army to Naples he met her, and they fell
deeply in love with each other. When the father
heard from his wife whom his counting
he exclaimed, My son is ruined" Why ?"
asked she. Don't you know that Francesca
Notarbartolo has beaten all his sisters, always OPP
posing their MARRIAGE" He tried all he could
TO persuade his son to give Caterina up, but the
young man replied Never! She loves me, and
4 ~. ,ol, Nhnto
II should make" Presently it was heard that
francesca Notarbartolo was utterng threats
against the young man, and friends warned the
iLeoncs that there was danger ahead Giovanni's
father went to Caterina and begged her to dis
miss her lover, to ask him to cease visiting
her, but she would not Then Francesca Notar-
bsrtolo quarrelled with the young man and
fought duel with him, in which no harm was
done. Still the infatuated lover persisted in visit
ing his sweetheart And one night the sound Of
a pistol-shot was heard In the mansion Of the
Notarbartelos. Pietro ran out upon balcony
and called for the police, cxclaiming, "Caterna's
lover has killed himself" And young Leone's
body, shot to death, was found lying the stair
way.
The interest in the trial was so great that an
enormous crowds surrounded the courthouse. The
doors had not been open minute before the
room was packed almost to suflocation. Whereupon
the presiding judge, with halfsmile, remarked,
" Evidently there are many people who like to
be stified but here are fourteen, he added look
ing at the jury, who would very much like to
be free in the open air again" However, eX-
ccllent order was maintained. 1t was understood
that the judge would order the room cleared the
moment there any disturbance whatever. At
the close of the first session the crowd made
+to Iao, L.
cut as they had been to get in They wanted
to see the prisoners put In the van and taken
back to their cells. All, ha!" they roared, "wc
shall now see fine gentlemen put in the old cage
Through all these scenes the prisoners maintained
an air of naughty and somewhat contemptuous
reserve.
When Pietro Notarbartolo spoke in his own be-
half there was dramatic scene He protested
his innocence, declared that Leone hod committed
suicide, and told straight enough story This
is all know" he said in conclusion. Then, in
spite of his lordly air OF reserve he burst into
profuse perspiration and visibly tpmbed. He
wiped his brow with his handkerchief. and then
continued This is the TRUTH he exclaimed,
with voice broken by emotion, spreading his
arms wide, with an imploring gesture toward the
jury. a. was arrested; an attempt was twice
made to try me, and now l am at Naples. l feel
comforted in my great misfortune to think am
In a civilized and hospitable city With still
more broken voice. he added I'VE have been un-
Justly prosecuted for some tme-perhaps by those
who knew we were innocent. Patience" Fran
cesco Notarbartolo blushed and wept Pietro,
turning very pale and raising his eyes to heaven,
continued "We have the example of Christ who
ascended Calvary. /, too. can say with Him,
Father, forgive them. for they know not what
they do" These last words could scarcely be
heard even amid the profound silence OF the
court Pietro took out his handkerchief and
again wiped his brow However, in few minutes
more he answered some questions so haughtily and
Others so flippanty that the judge had to rebuke
him. telling him that he must remember that he
was no better in the sight of the law than the
humblest unfortunate who had ever been in that
dock.
When Francesca Notarbartolo was examined, he
was asked whether he did not belong to the Malta
IL is reported that he does. and Is generally
believed. lie denied it, however; or, rather lie
said in shifty way The Malta? l don
understand. What is the Malta? | don't know
ANYTHING about it," This was rather foolish
protestation, for no intelligent Scilian can truly
say that he does not know anything about the
Malta Most people thought the Notarbartoos were
important members Of that society, and that l's
influence was used to lntlmlda'e witheese'
from testifying against them. But the intlmaa'
tion was of no avail, for many witnesses
testified against them in the strongest lmagihaol
manner And moreover it has come out tina
ali Sicily is bound hand and foot, body ant
soul, by feudal tyranny equal to that OF Tn TN
bark Ages and by the secret forces OF uls
Malta and the Omerta The latter is not so wei
known as the Malta, outside of Italy, put II 4
more numerous and powerful. IL has been con con
ciusiyely shown in this trial that these societies
and the feudal system form really triple ieagu
for murder and intimidation, and there Is htll
doubt that as a result, yertabie socia reVo
luton will be effected throughout the island
Not the least interesting feature OF the trlal ha
been the publication of the diary Kept BY Lleuteii
ant Leone, in which he patheucaiiy recorded th
he closiu0 entriPs: