The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-27
CAMORRA CRIMES
REVEALS ROMANCE
Light Thrown on Careers of
Cuoccolo and "Beauti-
full Sorrentino.'

Viterbo, Italy, Feb. 27-The docu-
ments with the aid OF which the gov
eminent hopes to convict Enrico AL
fano and forty of his associates of
and thus rid Italy Of the lead
ing spirits in the dread Camorra, re-
veal that Gennaro Cuoccolo and his
wife. the beautiful Sorrentino," the
killing of whom led TO the roundup OF
their band, had romantic, but far
from worthy careers.
Part of the story which will be laid
bare when the trial opens on March
II, may now be told. The victims
were about of an age. The husband
at the time of his death was ~. They
lived in the Via Nardones. opening
into the Piazza San Ferdinando. only
a few steps from the royal palace in
pretty fourth floor apartment
Here. after the discovery of Cuoc-
colo's body at Tore del Greco, the
police found the lifeless form of the
wife stretched upon the bed in a
charmingly furnished chamber. The
pink silk night gown was perforated
indicating the position of numerous
wounds. Among them was the char
acteristic dagger cut known as the
fregio, the wound given to one who
has broken an oath.
Mark of Evil Life inflicted.
II inflicted upon an honest woman
or girl it is made by slash on the
cheek, but if given to a woman OF
doubtful character it is always upon
the body. In the case of Maria Cuti-
nelli Cuoccolo the assassins left the
mark of an evil life.
Then began the police search for
the records of both victims. Cuoccolo
in his youth had been condemned for
theft, swindling, opposing the police
and other offenses, but for ten or
twelve years before his death he had
not been before the authorities and ap-
parently had become respectable. He
was accustomed to define his situation
by saying:
Even if / have married a beautiful
woman of not illiberal habits l am
content, as she is faithful wife, and
anyway, my marriage was the result
of VOW. At the age of 80 years
was i'll and vowed to San Genarro
my patron. if l recovered, to rescue
some unfortunate woman from sir
and make her my wife. San Gennarro
heard my prayer and have kept my
word Since then I have been tran
quill and home loving and have only
once risked compromising myself
when in public in the Galleria TIMBER
to, I boxed the ears of Enrico Alfano
called Erricone."
Motive of Murders Discovered.
The oft repeated story reached the
ears of a detective and led him to in
vestigate whether the murders might
not have been due to the hatred of Err
ricone and his companions. Erricone
denied that Cuoccolo had struck him
and swore that he had not ever
known him. Nevertheless the police
persisted on this clew and learned
that Cuoccolo had been in active serv
| ice in the Camorra, limiting himself
however, to organizing thefts and tax
ing the lions share of all operations
|
among criminals as clever organizers
At the same time the police archive:
show that on various occasions the!
acted as police spies. Notes writer
in pencil have been found in which the
two denounced thefts and crimes ar
ranged by persons affiliated with thu
Camorra. These papers, through thu
connivance of certain persons, were
inspected by the Camorra and wer'
the cause of suspicion of the Cuocolo
and of hatred against them.
| Having established the double deal
| ings of Cuoccolo. the police set abou
to prove his death was at the hands o
his criminal associates. Erricone ant
several friends who were with him a
the Mimi a Mare on the night of tn
murders were arrested.
Police Fooled by Priest.
Public opinion applauded the police
but soon afterwards all of the prison
ers We're released on the grounds tina
the evidence against them was insult
ficient Popular indignation was in
tense. and it was charged that the pc
lice shared the profits of the Camorr
in crime.
Now it appears that the release o
Erricone and his gang was due to tn
Intervention of a priest. The Rev Fl
Giro Vittozzi. who is Erricone's goo
father. went to the judge and solemn
ly said:
Il swear in my sacerdotal characte
that you are about to condemn thos
who are innocent. / know the rea
murderers, but cannot reveal thei
names, as they came to me with tn
seal of the confession
The priest put the authorities il
communication with one Ascrittort
who was alleged to have confesse
the murders. This man denounce
two others. De Angels and Amodee
All three were fugitives from justice
When found they established alibi:
but in the meantime Erricone and hi
associates had been released
Later the priest was accused of b.
ing a member of the Camorra and tn
investigation turned again toward FL
ricone and his companions who wer
arrested again on new and further ey