Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-30
IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE
The Penalty Given King Humberps Murderer
Defended by Anarchist Lawyer.

| Milan, Aug. 29-The trial Of Bresci
| the Anarchist. who. July %, shot and
| killed King Humbert of Italy. at Mon
| ga while His Majesty was returning
| from gymnastic exhibition opened
| here. today. An immense crowd OF
| people gathered about the court room
| from early morning, seeking admission
! to the court room, where only a few
| places were reserved for the ticket
| holding public. The hearing began at
| 9 o'clock. Bresci sat in the dock, calm
and almost Indifferent. His counsel,
Signor Marteli. head Of the Milan bar,
ana the Anarchist writer. Signor Mer-
limo. made requests on various ground
for an adjournment. which was refus-
ed. 1t is said that Bresci wrote to the
judges declaring that he would not re-
ply to the interrogatory. Soldiers and
gendarmes We're plentifully stationed
about the court.
While the Indictment. which was very
long. was being read. Bresci was APP
parently unm0ved and scanned the
faces Of the audience without any signs
of fear or effrontery. The indictment
showed that the assassin ipdulged in
inCessant target practice and that h
prepared bullets so as TO render them
more dangerous.
The witnesses were then introduced
There Were II. prosecution and > foi'
the defence The examination Of Bres-
ii followed. He decided to Kill King
HumbeTt after the events in Milan and
Sicily, ITO avenge the misery Of the
people and his own" He added: ~
acted without advice or accomplices.
The prisoner admitted the target
practice and the preparation Of bullets.
He spoke in a low. firm voice and said
he fired three shots at three yards with
his revolver. Two wooden targets We're
here placed on the table before the
judges. Two hours suspension of the
court cnsued and then the witnesses
We're heard.
a brigadier of gendarmes, Salvatore
recapituated the story of the assassi
nation Of the King. He said he saved
Bresci from the crowd. who nearly
lynched the assassin. who was covered
with blood. Gen. Avogadro Des Con-
ties di Quinto. the Kings aide de camp.
who was with His Majesty when the
latter was killed, recounted how the
King was shot, saying that in answer
crime. His Majesty replied II think
-" The King stopped in the middle
If the sentence. said Yes" and then
expired. The testimony Of witnesses
Galimbert and Oliviers did not adducc
new facts. The royal groom, Tupi, de
posed how he seized Bresci by the
throat, and a witness named Ramella.
who lodged with Bresci. and a friend
three days prior to the crime said the
prisoner was always perfectly calm.
Bresci at the close OF the trial was
pronounced guilty and was sentenced
to imprisonment for life, as that pen
atty is the most severe which can be
imposed under the laws of Italy for
murder. on which charge the Anarchist
was tried. 1t was at first believed
Bresci would be tried on the charge
OF treason, in which case the penalty
would have been death.
Signor Merlino said he only wished
to do his duty and defended Anarchy
on the charge that it had inspired the
crime. All parties, he declared. had
their regicides. commencing with
He asked that those in whose hands
the prisoners fate lay would not act
in spirit of vengeance. but of jus
tice. He claimed eXtenuating circum-
stances for the accused man.
Signor Martellie asked that the YER
dict be tempered with Indulgence to-
wards an irresponsible man condemned
Of crime committed in a state of ex-
He spoke of Brescis previ-
Gus conduct and implored pity for the
guilty man. Bresci was given an op-
portunity to speak and said:
Sentence me. l am Indifferent. l
await the revolution"
The persons who were to deliberate
On the verdict then retired.