Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-01
ERRICONE UNDER The GRILL
Real Head of Feapolitan Camorra il
Cross Examined.
HE DENIES ALL ACCUSATIONS
Man with Remarkable Career Ridi-
cuIes Traditions of HE Power
Political CRATER and
Bandit.

called Erricone, the terror Of Italy, re-
puted to be the actual head Of the criminal
organization, was under Interrogation and
held the spectators spellbound with the
| eloquence of his denials.
The man is innocent or a consummate
actor. As ne proceeded the slender figure
seemed to grow until II dominated the
court room and friends and enemies alike
shrank from the gaze that he fixed first
! on one and then another, while he poured
forth the most scathing arraignment OF the
authorities that has ever been heard in an
italian court OF justice.
! Il am victim OF yellow Journalism" he
cried. Il have been ruined by carabineers,
who have made me appear az an assassin"
Prisoner EnthraIIs Auditors.
Erricone could not have done it better
II he had rehearsed the part for years. He
began modestly and calmly, gradually rats
ing his voice and displaying his emotions
until he had his auditors enthralied You
| could have heard a pin drop when Presi-
| dent Bianchi commanded Erricone to come
| from the prisoners steel cage and take A
| place before the bar. Quietly Etrlcone
| stepped forth and assumed a natural atti-
| tude, without any attempt at the theatri-
cal, Just in front of the Justices bench. He
| replied to the preliminary questions in a
voice that was penetrating. but not loud
He denied categorically the accusations Of
the informer, Gennaro Abbatemaggio. he
said he was not in a position to condemn
the Cuoccolos to death
The story that I have ever been the
head of the Camorra is legend ne said.
Il was never It's head, nor its tail"
| He admitted that in youth he was AFRO
CANT and quarreisome, and even had com
/ mittpd 90
what youth of my class in Naples has
not been arrogant, quarrelsome and guilty
Of boyish excesses2'
! PerOratiOn Is EIoquent.
As the questioning proceeded Erricone
showed signs Of irritation, finally trembling
with excitement. AS the thrusts OF the
president and crown prosecutor went home
Erricone's face hardened with anger. until
he looked like a savage animal about to
spring on its prey. Suddenly he abandoned
all his composure and gave free reign 10
his feelings in a peroration that was truly
eloquent.
Having admitted his youthful excesses
Erricone declared his character was
ruined, by the sensationalism OF that
newspaper. the Mattlno."
Although" he continued, II now regret
the deed all my nerves rebeled as a mem
Der of the staff of that paper approached
me when 1 was arralgned in court as a
murderer, and I could not help splitting
in his face.
Then the carabineers damned me by
making me appear as an assassin To
call us assassins IS inhuman cruelty. No
one has a right to so stismatIze us; not
even confessed criminal who to serve
his own ends, becomes an assassin only
after he has been condemned. .......
President Bianchi, interrupting, beseechsd
Erricone to calm himself, but the only
effect was to cause the prisoner to burst
into tears and, sobbing violently he con-
| tinued:
For four years 1 have suffered perse-
cution and martyrdom. Constantly before
my eyes is picture Of my innocent brother
dying in a prison cell adjoining my own
In my ears ring his laments as he passed
through the agony Of death He was young
and the beautiful image of his Creator. He
died Innocent
For a moment Erricone paused ana the
only sound came from the prisoners cage
where Gennaro Ibelli, alleged head of the
camorra in the Vesuvian villages leaning
his head against the steel bars cried like
child.
| It was dramatic moment and there was
sigh of relief among the spectators when
Erricone got his feelings under control and
launched into denunciation of Abb
batemaggio. He described the informer as
poor young man whom he had helped by
giving him employment as a stable boy.
Erricone said that Abbatemaggio had re-
turned his generosity by stealing from him.
matchmaking him and finally trying 10
ruin him.
"Ametta a brigadier Of the carabineers .
remarked the president, has declared that
you are a camorTist." ~
ErricOne replied:
"All Naples knows that Ametta is dis
reputable. He is the companion Of evil
women"
But Ametta has been accused, tried
and acquitted"
IAn Naples knows how certain ac-
quittals can be obtained" was the re-
joinder of the prisoner
Career OF ErrieOne.
Erricone began his business career as an
errand boy in flower shop. Early In life
he had a place Of his own. Then he estab-
lshed a grain market and specuiated In
cattle, bargaining with the farmers who
visited the fairs. He grew wealthy and
became a userer with an office In the cen-
ter Of the city. He wore fine clothes and
his carriages and horses attracted much at,
tentIon as he drove through the streets OF
Naples.
Some years ago ne surrendered the high
! est place in the Camorra, the head Of the
heads OF the society, to Luigi Zucci, but
IL is charged that he continued in control
OF the organization His nominal office
was head Of the Vicaria the most populous
and troublesome district OF Naples.
He was repeatedly charged with RESPONSE
| bility for or completely In crimes Of bur
gIary, the white slave traffic, fraud against
the electiSn laws and business corruption.
Several times arrested, he was invariably
discharged because OF a lack OF evidence,
/ OF at the worst received light punishment
/ These escapes are said to have been due
20 his influence with the authorities, many
Of whom owed their offices 10 his control