Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-03
Abbatemaggio Cool Face
Of Camorrist EpiiheiS.
Revelations Continue on VIII
ness Stand al Vilerbo, Italy.
Former N. Y. Mayor Mcclellan Gives
Interesting Interview.


made the Camorrists trial today of
more than ordinary interest. These
We're the presence of George B. Nc
'Clellan, former mayor of New York, in
whose term of office Lieut.. Petrosino
arrested Enrico Alfano, the alleged
head of the Camorra for which
Petrosino is believed to have paid the
penalty of his life and the confrona-
ton of Abbatemaggio the informer by
Corrada Sortino whom he accused of
being one of the actual assassins of
Cuoecola. The scenes of disorder We're
even more marked than usual, the
prisoners in the cage interrupting the
witnesses necessarily and shouting
curses on his head Put through it
all the sitting continued, and Abbate-
maggie told again the story of the
Camorra and details of the crime.
Ex- Mayor Mcclellan. who appeared
to be an object of great interest to
the Gagged prisoners. remarked on the
unusual method of the court. While
Abbatemaggio repeated the details of
the murder of Cuoccolo. Sortino stood
before him, and at times it seemed as
though the two men were about to
spring at each other Gardeners
were placed as a guard between them,
and the two prisoners one on the wit
ness stand, and the other before the
bar, We're forced to content themselves
with baneful glances and the clinching
of fingers.
Though the morning session was
stormy one, that in the afternoon pre-
scented still more disturbed conditions.
Several times a violent scene was pre-
vented only by the intervention of the
guards. Sortino defen ded himself with
skin and pointed out contradictions
and impossibilities in the statement of
the informer. He ironically called at
tention to the fact that Abbatemaggio
in his accusation had declared that
those directly concerned in the murder
had changed their clothes, with the ex-
eeption of Sortino, although he was
guilty of two murders. 1t was ridieu-
lous to say he wore false beard, be-
cause until May. 1906. he had a natural
one, and therefore false beard would
not have rendered him unrecognizable
to the police. Abbatemaggio inter
rupted at this point, saying:
Thirteen months later all the police
who knew you had been changed"
CThe Cuoccolo murder occurred in June
1865.
With reference to the evidence he
had received stab in the hand. Sor-
tino declared that he had cut his fin
gers with scissors not Cuoccolo's knife
and that the wound had been dressed
at a pharmacy adjoining his house
as a witness would attest. Abbatemag
gio testified to the route followed by
Sortino after the murder of Cuoccolos
wife and Sortino shouted;
You insinuate that ! had "a cab to
carry off the stolen goods
Erricon jumped to his feet and cried
out excitedly:
1--WE found the cabman you tried to
suborn into saying that lie carried Sor-
tino, but he refused.
All the prisoners took the occasion
to begin a demonstration, which the
president of the court had difficulty in
duelling. Sortino shouted so vehem-
antly that Abbatemaggio could not be
heard When the disorders was at an
end Sortino turned in the direction OF
Mr.. Mcclellan and said ironically. IF
we are acquitted here we will go to
America where you viii accuse us of
the murder of PetroSlno.
In answer to questions by the attor-
neys for the accused Abbatemaggio
denied that he had ever been police
spy.
yiterbo. Italy. May 2.--Gennaro Alb
batemaggio, upon whose revelations
the state has built its case against the
Camorra, was called to the witness
stand today to confirm the written con-
fession made for the Carrabineers aft
er he had been tricked into damaging
admissions by the police spy Marshal
Capizzuti.
The informer stood the supreme test
of his courage well, repeating his story
eoolly and at times eloquently, while
his ears rang with the curses of the
other prisoners in the great steel cage.
Every statement that he made was de-
MED In chorus and when he concluded
Enrieo Alfano, the alleged head of the
Camorra rose, and shouted:
"Abbatemaggio deserves 80 years in
prison"
The informer began with tho state
ment that the Camorra existed in a
we'll organized form both outside and
inside the prisons of Italy. The first
question put to a man sentenced to i'm
prisonment when he enters the prison
was he said, whether he was a Canon
rist and If so whether he was a full
fedged Camorrist or a Picciotti, the
latter being one who has not taken the
final degree in the criminal society.
Each Camorrist has under him As Pic
CLOTHS or recruits who are on,prebation
and who may become Camorrists prop
er only when they have proven their
ability to commit crime without de-
lection. The witness said that the
rank of the prisoner in the society was
asked in order that the Camorrists and
the Pieciottis might be grouped separ
ately and communication between the
older members and the aspiring can
didates be avoided.
Abbatemaggio's testimony was con-
stantly interrupted by protests, accom-
panied by ugly epithets and impreca-
TONS George b. Mcclellan, former of
New York occupied a seat in the space
set apart for the lawyers, where the
prisoners stared at him until the pro-
ceedings opened. Mr.. Mcclellan has