New-York tribune., 1911-04-06
A GAMBLERS TESTIMONY
Rapi. Supposed Treasurer OF the
Camorra, Also Denies Crimes.
LARGE GAINS AT PLAY
Che eckered Career of Prisoner
His Gentlemanly Bearing-Says
Return Was Voluntary.

Viterbo. ltaly April 5.--Giovanni Rari
the supposed treasurer OF the camorra
was beard In his own defence to-day. lie
made a general denial Of completely In the
murder cf the Cuoccolos. called attentior
70 discrepancies in the testimony Of Gen
naro Abbatemaggic. the informer. and
sought TO impress tine jury by the asser-
ton that having escaped the jurisdiction
~ tho court he voluntarily returned n
stand trial.
Eapi. also known as "Professore.' has
the hearing of gentleman. He wears
stylish clothes and looks like retired
general Of the army, his eirth having in
creased notceaby during his confinement.
Speaking In a carefully mo6ulated tone
and with precision. the prisoner showed n
desire 10 emphasize his social superiority
over the other thirty-hve defendants.
Rapi Is high class professional gam
bier, and has experienced tho usual ups
and downs Of follower OF chance The
surveillance % tho Italian police becoming
oppressive he went 20 Paris. and when ex-
PEELED from the French capital he set up
business in London, subsequently return
ing 10 Italy with Fat purse. all Of which
he lost there.
He founded The Unione del Mezzogiorno
Of Naples. 10 the success OF which many
OF the aristocracy are said 10 have con-
tributed their fortunes IN single night :
play. He conducted gambling places also
a, Rome and Ostend in his Neapolitan
resort Gennaro Cuoccolo. the murdered Ca
morr!st. is asserted 10 have gathered in
formation OF its patrons. Rapi had many
bankers. politicians and journalists among
his acquaintance.
AS a young man Rapi bore an uncnviab ble
reputation. An incident Of his early career
involved n woman companion. This woman
had another sdmirer lower in the social
scale than Rapi. This man met violent
death. The authorities questioned Rapi,
but could prove nothing against him. When
they continued their surveillance he le't
the country going 10 Paris whore he re-
maned until the end OF 1902. Then with
other foreign gamblers. he was driven out
OF that city. goinG TO London. whore he
remained during nearly the whole OF 1910.
Referring 10 this period in his life the
prisoner said that not being I'm Naples In
1902 It could not re true as Abbatemaggio
said. that he was then acting as the re-
ceivcr Of stolen goods for the Camorra.
Rapl returned to Italy with $4,000, which
he lost in establishing the Southern Club
OF Naples. which he described as "a noble
institution. aiming at the moral resurrec-
ton Of Southern Italy" The police say
that The club was dangerous gambling
house. The story told by the prisoner re-
garding his movements from the time OF
the murder Of Cuoccolo and his wife vas in
substance as follows:
"On the day that cuoccolo Is supposed 10
have been killed ! went with Enrico Alfano
10 try ont some carriage horses. We
reached Tore del Greco, where we met
some of Alfano's friends. and ne all dined
together. ! did not suspect that the dinner
had any sinister object, and nothing out OF
the ordinary was said I paid tho bill, as 7
was considered the richest Of the party.
When was arrested. with the others pres
ent at the dinner. | gave this plain eX-
planatio of tho situation. and it was suffi-
cient to bring ABOUT the release of al Of rs.
Later obtained permission 10 rc-enter
Paris, and was about 20 recoup ms
earlier losses, when. hearing that ! was
again accused. I willingly returned 10 Italy.
announced the hour Of the train on which
would arrive. Carozzuti. the carahincer
and police spy profitinC by rho inforna ton
that ! had so generously given, met me AZ
the railway station and placed me under
arrest"
Rapi added that h- had hcen teacher in
the schools az Naples, but went 10 France
Ia find more renunerative work
Willie in France did you cali Yourself a
professor OF the University OF Naples -"
asked the president of The court
Rapi replied: II do not see rhy. as
instructed hoys who ultimately went to the
university. | should not call myself pro-
fessor Of tho university"
Rspi took particular pains TO refer as
frequently as possible 10 his acquaintance
among the aristccracy in Naples a GER
tain count had invited him 10 stsv at his
villa at Castelariarn, where he was living
With an American. At this point Signor
RomuaIdi counsel for dc Angels, one of
the prisoners. interrupted to say: Il sup.
pose YOU acted as interpreter"
signor Bovio. Rapi's lawyer, Jumped 10
his feet end shouted: Shut up. II is not
permitted 10 ridioule an accused man"
Komualdi retortsd. AN Of the LAWYERS
have taken one side or the other"
President Bianchi theoretically called FOR
order. and the case went on.
Rapi denied all tho acc,sstions. and in
III of weeping said:
II know that these tears will be r.
preach n me, hut dedicate tho hitterest
NJ them IN that poor distressed old woman.
my aged mother. who now has been CRYING
for more than three years over her jnpo
cent son. MAY the one rho is responsible
for this suffer as he deserves
He then turned on Ahhstomsszio and
cured him yoluhly