The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-23
His Appearance Is Sen.
sation of Day in Canon
rists' Trial.
BUTCHER SPEAKS
LIKE A SCHOLAR
of Naples" Who Chose
Imprisonment Rather Than Be-
tray Man She Loves, Also
One of Principal Wit
nesses--Denies All
Accusations.

Viterbo. Italy. April 22-Thcre is
not a dull moment IN the trial of tho
Camorrists. The auditors never know
what to expect. but they crowd every
available place in the Court of As
sizes daily. fully assured of some sort
OF entertainment To-day It was Vim
cenzo Avolio. the butcher, who dis
puted the law with the judges Antonio
Percuoco. the seller OF tortoise shells.
expressing the hope that he would ger
some FREQ advertising out OF his mis-
fortunes. and Maria Stendardo, the
beauty of Naples" who chose imprfs-
oninent rather than betray the man
she loved. that were the principal per-
formers IN this strange mixture of
comedy and pathos.
The two men are charged with be-
ms present at the meeting of Canon
rist leaders, ut the Aida Tavern, In
ia ia gnoiion. May &c. 1906. when Gennaro
Cuoccolo was condemned to DEATH
In Fashionable Array.
When Avolio DOTTED the apron OF
HIS meat shop for other attire. he chose
tho best In texture and cut, and when
called for Interrogation this morning.
he fairly dazzled the spectators with
his fashionable array.
He IL handsome man, but none was
prepared for the oratorical exhibition
which he made. He spoke like a
scholar Avolio made the usual I'M
qualified denial of guilt. but went fur
Their, and at the proper moment drew
from his pocket small copy of the
italian criminal code. and from 1t
read passage 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
~ 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 but, Avolio, you
usurp my profession
Unabas shed the prisoner responded:
IT might have said much more. but I
do not wish to steal the thunder OF my
lawyers
Antonio Percuoco, smiling gracious
ly was next called for examination.
He assured the court and jury that he
was as Innocent as babe.
Only Woman Examined.
There was special interest In the
examination which followed OF Maria
Stendardo, who is the only woman
among the witnesses She is the COIN
mon law wife of Nicola Morra. other
wise known as "Red Sandy and one
OF the alleged Principals In the muir
der. Her career has been Il romantic
one Nom tHiil ~ seatS u 49, 'i.S
retains much of the beauty that at
tracted nunlberless suitors IN her
youth. OF humble birth. she was given
In marriage at an early age to a dock
laborer. and with him set up 1udS-
Ing house. which attracted the atten-
tion of the police. Enria visited the
local delecato, and thereafter the Pa
lazzo Amendola was not disturbed.
Soon afterwards Maria met Nicola
Nora, and the state alleges became
a power In the Camorra. All these
allegations she denied to day. saying:
II was arrested only because was
the friend and companion Of Nora,
and refused TO comply with the wishes
of the cara bineers that l deaounce the
man that love. and whom I know TO
be innocent s4