New-York tribune., 1911-04-08
PRIEST FA|NTS At TRIAL
Tells of Alleged Attempts to Con-
meet Him with Camorra Murders.
ACCUSES THE |E70RMEn
Abbatemaggio unmoved by
Threats-The Witness Highly
Praises His Own Career.

Praises His Own Career.
vi,erbo. Italy. April THE trial OF the
Csmorrists was interrupted again to-day
when Giro Vitozzi. the accused priest
weakened by a self-imposed fast. tainted
He was under Interrogation. and had
worked himself into such a state OF mental
and physical exhaustion that nc tumbled
over against the steel bars Of the prisoners
cage.
| LAWYERS and carabincers rushed to his
assistance, and in the CONFUSION fres'"e"'
Rianchi declared the sitting suspended.
The court ordered vtozzi TO break his fast
with the yolks Of half dozen eggs
The climax came opportunely for Vitozz''
following his declaration that he mad ao-
stained from food for forty-eight hours'
He had been telling a story OF his alieseo
persecution in prison. and the rec'ta' wa'
not without dramatic effect.
with me In my CELL" said the priest
had a lock OF hair from the head OF ,na'
holy soul. my mother. This was 'aHe"
from me on the order Of n magistrate VINO
insisted that the hair was that or some
woman companion Of mine. What nom
sense. Why. 1t was even gray ~" ""'
ono imagine a greater proclamation
| Here the accused man invoked 'he 'o"'
Of his mother in support or his statement
and the recollection of what he descr'peu
as the insults 10 her memory Overwhelming
..t... nf X.
Between his sobs he cried out:
II have been fasting for forty-e'sn'
hours. supported during my whoie ih'erro-
cation nv divine power" With these woros
| he collapsed.
| Giovanni Rapi was not present when the
| trial was resumed this morning. IFS phS-
.iclan certified that he was suffering from
a sore throat. as a result OF having shout
ed too much during his Interrogation
Judges Charged with Unfairness'
The proceedings opened with the reca'i
Of yitozzi. The prisoner described attempts
which he said had been made 10 make MN
anpear guilty Of completely in the muruei
or cennaro Cuoccolo and his wife. Whiie
he was in prison. he said, he was con-
Fl ~ f9d a
denounce certain persons as guilty OF the
Cuoccolo assassnations. acdine '"", II -
voc necessary he would send the priest 10
| America. as Erricone had peeh Sent
yItoZzi said that he did not know the i''a"
who approached him The name gwen nun
was fictitious -,
rha nrisoner tod OF the alleged aDuse oA
him nv the examining judges dnrihs "'S
preliminary examinations and whi'e ne ""'
in nrison. Judge Detila. he said nao ~,
suited him. calling him "a Camorr'S' p'''
"This." said vitozzi. was cowardiy' say
ooe and inhuman. while the judge ous"' u
renresent honesty .o,
rro,v,nr more excited as he continued
Vitazzi shouted: -, tho
.'T,,oee iudr,s tramrloa not only on 'ne
human hut on the Divine law. rei'''II"
ad them that they mus: die. saying De-
| ware beware the ailathema-
I-rrine the priest to calm himself. fres'-
;sort Rian.hi INQUIRED whether ne kne"
Connaro Abbatemaggio. the inioriner'
"No ~ replied Vitozzl, who added: All
,ho e,otements of Abbatemaggio are raise
7 viii ask him TO swear on the ashes OF
r,e father and on the asnes ot ms oeau
con honsnc that he will be touched
Abbatemagso Breaks Silence.
A, this thrust. Abbatemaggio. who had
us,ored calmly from his solitary cage.
broke his usual impassabiity or manner
and replied:
"I will swear on anything you please.
| E,nroged. Vltozzi turned on his accusef
| and cried
dAu IN
generation"'
81 am sorry for you.' rejoined the in
former.
At this the priest suddenly changed his
tactics, and in voice filled with pathos,
said
mo. ] will not curse you. rcmem-
her that I am priest and must pardon
even those vino inJre mc. wish TO tale
YOU TO nv BOSOM
In the same emotional strain. Vitozzi
continued with the reference to his moth
er's gray hairs until he was overcome.
At the resumption Of the trial i'm the
afternoon. Vitozzl continued the recital Of
his own history. glorifying his HE without
! stint.
President Rianch asked him il IL was
true that he was present at n dinner given
hy Camorrists at Castellemare. where. it
was said. he had removed his gown, danced
an1 sung vicious songs.
Nitozzi answered that he was present at
| a dinner. but saw no Camorrists He
added that he had a good tenor voice hut
| used ii I'm singing only the Gregorian
chant. lie expressed the nope that he
soon would be released and sing in tho
| church at Viterbo.
Several times Vtozzi appeared about IN
iaint but he was calmed BY the president.
who finally adjourned the sitting.