Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-14
Forty-one Members of Ca
mora, Held Most Des-
perate Criminals Of Mod
ern Times, in Court.
FAMOUS OLD CHURCH
SERVES AS COURT
Building is Constructed in
Form of Cross. in One
Wing Of Which Prisoners
Are Confined in Cage.

|
Viterio, Italy, March 1.-THE tria
Of the forty-one members of the Neapo
itan camorra, which has terrorize'
Italy for many years. was begun TO-DAY
A jury was chosen more readily thai
had been anticipated, and early in tn
afternoon Bianchi. the president OF tn
court chosen by the minister of jus
tice to preside, opened the interroga
tion of the accused. He limited hi
questions to an inquiry into their per
sonal records. The prisoners are
charged with the assassination of fel
low members in the camorra, Gennart
Cuoccolo and his wife, Maria Cutinell
Cuocolo, known as the Beautiful Sor
rentina" Behind this charge are allie
cations of nunberless murders and
robberies perpetrated by what Is
known as the most desperate organiza
ton of criminals in the history Of mod
ern times.
May Solve Petrosino Murder.
The real purpose of the government
| Is to rid the country of this band. 1t
is believed evidence will be brought
out that will throw light on the assas
sination of the American detective
Lieut.. Joseph Petrosino, at Palermo,
in March, 1909, after he had been sent
to Italy by the New York police depart
ment to seek information regarding
italian criminals.
1t was Petrosino who arrested Eli
rico Alfano, better known as Erricone,
the alleged head Of the camorra, after
the latter had fed to New York City.
The American officer sent Erricone
back to Europe and he was taken into
custody at Havre. Petrosino's death IS
believed to have been the price paid for
running down the man who for years
had defied the authorities of his own
country. .s'
The murders of the Cuccolos, follow
ed by revelations made by one of the
camorrists, Eeinaro Abbatemaggio, re-
suited in the present proceedings,
which, were ordered by King Victor
Emanuel and pressed by Signor FAM,
the ministerNof justice.
At daylight an enormous crowd gath
cred in the vicinity Of the former
church OF San Francisco, which has
DSon CTaQSlOEnCO 1IlLO d court. ..'' j
Prisoners Heavily Guarded.
Other crowds surrounded the Medi-
eval monastery of Gradi, now peni-
Tertiary, where all but two Of the pris-
oners have been confined, and the
prison of San Lupara, in which the in
former, Abbatemaggio, and the one
woman prisoner, Maria Stendardo,
have been held.
There was much excitement when
the vans Transporting the accused. ap-
peared from under the arched doors Of
the prison. The procession proceeded
to court amidst angry murmurs from
the people. Precautions were taken
against an attempt to free the prison.
ers, who had many silent sympaehizers
in the throng. With the driver of each
van was seated policeman and car
bineer. Another soldier sat just inside
the door, Mounted carbineers sur
each van.
When the doors Of the court were
opened, as many Of the crowd as could,
rushed In. occupying every available
place.
Description Of Novel Court Room.
The building Is constructed in the
form of cross. At the head OF the
cross in the place once occupied by the
choir are the benches for the three
judges and court officers. The left
arm of the cross holds the seats for
the jury.
The right arm contains the big iron
cage occupied by thirty-six of the &C
cused and smaller cage in which the
lnformer, Abbatemaggio. Is isolated
from his former associates.
Between the two arms of the cross
are the benches for the lawyers and in
the nave are seats for the witnesses.
At the opposite end Of the church near
The entrance is a place reserved for the
public. Over the heads of these in
what was originally an organ loft Is a
tribune for women. The press gal
larry extends over the benches, and the
Inquisitor's desk stands directly over
the tomb of the famous Painter Lo-
renzo Da Viltro whose celebrated pic
ture, "The Marriage of the Virgin"
was one of those which made beauti-
ful the ediflce.
The building is lofty one, and in
order that the voices may carry better
4 large awning has been spread at the
base of the dome. It was noticed to-
lay that the awning hid the inscription
which must be seen in every judicial
court of italy, Law equal for all, and
he spectators were quick to point out
that the accidental concealment was
4 bad omen for Justice.
The crowd in the square before the
court building was SO great that COM
oany Of infantry was called out to
reinforce the marbineers and police in
order.
Prisoners Show Rrayado. |
The attention Of onlookers was alb
,orbed by the appearance and be-
lavior of the prisoners. The general