The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-04-01
LOVERS OF DRAMATici HAVE
PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT IN
cAMoRRlsTs' TRIAL.
|TALYS TERROR TALKS
Erricone, Heputcd Head Of Dread Or
panixation, in Stirring Tones De.
nounces Actions Of Abbatennaggio,
the Informer-Pours Forth Scathins
Arraignment Of tho Authorities.

viterbo. Italy. March 3i.--rhc lovers
OF the vamatc had their fill at to-
days session OF the trial OF the 30
Camorrists for murder Enrlco Alfano.
generally called Erricone. the terror of
Italy reputed TO be the actual head
or the ciminal organization. was under
interrogation and held the spectators
spellbound with the eloquence Of his
denials.
Az he proceeded, the slender figure
seemed 10 grow until 1t dominated the
courtroom and friends and enemies
alike shrank from the gaze that he
fixed first upon one and then another
while he poured forth the most scath-
ing arraignment Of the authorities that
has ever been heard In an Italian court
of justice.
Victim Of yellow Journalism.
i am victim Of yellow journalism
he cried. Il have been ruined by
Carabinecrs Mho have made me appear
as IN assassin"
Erricone could not have do,A Ii bet
ter II he had rehearscd the part for
~.
gradually raising his voice nnd ds-
pln.ing his emotions until lie mad his
auditors enthralled.
One could have heard a pin drop
when the president commanded Erri-
cone to come from the prisoners steel
cage and take place before the ba,
Quietly Erricone stepped forth and as
sumed natural attitude without any
attempt at the theatrical, Just In front
or the Justices bench. He replied to
the preliminary questions In d voice
1haf was penetrating but not loud He
denied categorically the accusations Of
the informer. Gennaro Abbatemaggio
lie said he was not In position TO
condemn the cuccuolos to death.
THE story that | have ever been the
head of the camorra is a legend" he
said. i was never its head nor its
! tall"
] He admitted that In youth he was
quarrelsome and guilty OF boyish ex-
cesses.
As the questioning proceeded Erri-
cone showed signs of irritation, finally
trembling with excitement. Az tho
lhrusts OF the president and crown
prosecutor went home, Erricone's face
hardened with anger until he looked
ike savage animal about TO sprinp
rpon Its prey. Suddenly he abandoned
nll attempts at composure and gave
free reign TO his feelings In the perora !.
ton that was truly eloquent.
II was dramatic moment and there
was sigh of relief among the spec
tntors when Erricone got his feelings
uhder control and launched into n do
nnnciation OF Abbatcmaggio. lie 10.
scriped the informer as a poor. youny
man whom he had helped by a,vina :
him employment as stable boy,
Erricone said that Abbatemae.
mad returned his generosity by steal
ing from MIN, blackmaling him and
finally trying to ruin him.
Erricone declared that his Character
was ruined "by the sensationalism 81
that newspaper. the Mattino.
Then the carabineers damned mo
Y by making me appear as an ASSASSIN !,
he continued. For four years ba,,a
suffered persecution and martvrae,,,
Constantly before my eyes is a Mo
tnre OF my innocent brother dyiha -
n prison cell adjoining my own IT,
my ears ring his lamentations as H.
passed through the agony OF death. IT.
led innocent"
For moment Erricone paused am
Dtbe only sound came from the mic.
soners' cage. where. Gennaro Ibbeli al.
legged head OF the camorra In Tho ya.
suyian villages. leaning his haad
against the steel bars, cried like !
child. :
Erricone said that Abbatelnaepio.,
tale of secrets confided 10 otha,
4 Camorrlsts was absurd. "Abhata.
y lnaggio," he said was considered /,
spy Of the police, He went into ~
game having nothing TO fear. When
was arrested he took possession of an
sold the harnesses In my stable"
IN emphasizing what he called ~,
abslrdities of Abbetemaggios aec,sa,
tions. Erricone instaneed the CAV "a.
turn from Tore del Grece OF the 81
legged assassins after the murder q
cuoccolo. He told of the gatherlng :
friends at the railway station n "a,
farewell to lbelli and OF their drink
ing together
Even said he, III we Were vii,
animals, was II possible for us i,
act like this after numbering ma,
and while preparing to murder ii,
wife. This Is savagery which, only
crfmfna1 mind like that nf AL.