Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-23
BUTCHER QUOTES The LAW
Camorrist Prisoner Astonishes Court
and Auditors with knowledge.
BEAUTY OF NAPLES ON THE STAND
She Says Only Reason for Her Arrest
Was Refusal 10 DenOunce an
Innocent Man whom She

VITERBO. Italy. April 22.-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 the assizes daily fully
assured of some sort of entertainment
Today Vincenzo Avolio, the butcher who
disputed the law with the Judge; Antonio
Percuoco. the seller of tortoise shells,
frankly expressing She hope that he would
get some free advertising out OF his mis-
fortunes, and Maria Stendardo. the beauty
OF Naples" who chose imprisonment rather
than betray tn man she loved, were the
principal actors in this strange mixture of
comedy and pathos.
The two men are charged with being
present at the meeting Of Camorrist leaders
at the Aida tavern in Bagnoll on May 2e,
1906. when Gennaro Cuoccolo was con-
demned to death. When Avolio DOTTED 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 fash
ionable array. He is a handsome man, but
none was prepared for the oratorical ex-
hibition which he made. He spoke like
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 Il read passage after passage In sup
port of his claim that there was no excuse
in law for his detention as q suspect in the
Cuoccolo case.
President Bianachi listened attentively
for some time. appearing much interested
and not little amused and when he
thought the court and jury had been suf-
fleienty instructed in the law he inter
rupted:
But Avolio. you usurp my profession"
Unabashed the prisoner responded:
II might say much more, but / do not
wish TO steal the thunder Of my lawyer"
Hopes for Advertising.
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
Il am not a murderer or the companion
OF assassins. ! am a business man and
trade in tortoise shells. send my goods
to the United States. particularly Chicago
and l do hope in the midst OF my misfor-
tunes that this trial will be a good adver-
tisement for my wares"
Woman Denies Guilt.
There was special interest in the examln-
alton which followed of Maria Stendardo
who is the only woman among the priso-
ners. She is the common law wife of
Nicola Morra otherwise known as Red
Sandy" and one of the alleged principals
in the murder. Her career has been
romantic one
Now 20 years old, she retains much of the
beauty that attracted numberless sutors
In her youth OF humble birth, she was
given in marriage st an early age TO
dock laborer and with him set up a loCN5in
house which attracted the attention Of Il
police. Maria visited the local delega,
and thereafter the palsEEo amendola We
not disturbed. Soon afterward Maria me
Nicola Nora and. the state alleges, be
came a power IN the Camera.
All these allegations she denied today
saying.
u was arrested only because l was thu
friend and companion OF Nora and refused
TO comply with the wishes Of the CaTabin-
eers that denouncO the man that love
and whom ! know TO be Innocent"