Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-22
QUOTES LAW TO JUDGE
Prisoner Says There Is No Excuse
for His Detention as a Suspect.
HOPES ARREST WILL DO GOOD
Witness Who Deals in Tortoise
Shells and Trades in America,
Seeks Free Advertising.

VITERBO, Italy, April 2o.-There is not
dull moment in the trial of the Camor-
rists. The auditors never know what to
expect, but they crowd every available
place in the court of assiZes daily, fully
assured Of some sort of entertainment.
Today it was Vincenzo Avolio, the
butcher, who disputed the law with the
Judge; Antonio PercuOco, the seller of
tortoise shells, expressing the hope that
he would get some free advertising out
Of his msfortunes, and Maria Stendardo,
1.-The beauty of Naples who chose i'm
prisonment rather than betray the man
she loved. that were the principal per-
comedy and pathos.
The two men are charged with beins
present at the meeting of Camorrist lead
ers at the Aida Tavern in Bagnoli May
26, 1905. when Gennaro Cuoccolo was
condemned to death.
Prisoner Dressed in Fashion.
When Avolio doffed the apron Of his
meat shop for other attire he chose the
best in texture and cut, and when
called for Interrogation this morning
he fairly dazzled the spectators with
his fashionable array. He is hand
some man, but none was prepared for
the Oratorical exhibitions which he
made. He spoke like a scholar.
AvoliO made the usual unqualified
denial Of guilt but went further, and
at the proper moment drew from his
pocket a small copy of the Italian
criminal code and from 1t read pas
sage after passage in support OF his
claim that there was no excuse IN
law for his detention as suspect in
the CuOccOlO case.
President Bianchi listened attentive
ly for some time, appearing much in
terested and not a little amused. and
when he thought the court and jury
had been sufficiently instructed in the
law, interrupted:
Avolio Is Unabashed.
But. Avolio, you usurn my profess
SION"
Unbashed. the prisoner responded:
II might say much more, but I do
not wish to steal the thunder of my
lawyers
Antonio Percuoco, smiling graciously,
was next called for examination. He as
sured the court and jury that he was as
innocent as a babe. He had not been at
Bagnoli at the time the sentence of death
was passed upon the Cuoccolos. Then in
a whimsical vein, he concluded:
II am not q murderer or the companion
Of asSaSsinS. L am a business man and
trade in tortoise shells. I send my goods
to the United States, particularly Chi
cagO, and / do hope in the midst of my
misfortunes that this trial will be good
advertisement for my wares"
Woman Prisoner Testifies.
There was special interest in the exami-
nation which followed of Maria Stendardo,
who is the only woman among the pris-
oners. She is the common law wife of
Nicola Nora, otherwise known as "Red
Sandy and one of the alleged principals
in the murder. Her career has been a
romantic one.
Now thirty years of age, she retains
much of the beauty that attracted num-
berless suitors in her youth. OF humble
birth, she was given i'm marriage at an
early age to dock laborer and with him
set up a lodging house which attracted
the attention of the police. Maria visit
ed the local delegate and thereafter the
Palazzo AmendOla was not disturbed.
Soon afterward Maria met Nicola Nora
and, the state alleges, became a power in
the Camorra.
All these allegations she denied today,
saying:
Il was arrested only because l was the
friend and companion of Nora and re-
fused to comply with the wishes Of the
carbineers that I denounce the man tina
L love and whom I know to be inno-
cent "