Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-03-21
CAMORRiST CLAIMS COERCION
SAYS OFFICIALS TRIED TO COM
PEI rEsrIMoNY.
Completely In White Slave Traffic With
United States Laid to
Defendant.

the Cammorist accused by the govern
ment of having planned and directed
the murder Of Gannaro Cuocollo and
his wife. was before the court on en-
tire day. The crown advocate has a.
serted that Nora and Corrado Sor.
tino beat Cuoccolo to death with clubs
while. their companions stabbed him.
Then they went to Cuoccolo's house,
and accomplished the murder OF Cuoc.
colo's wife, the beautiful Sorrenttno.'
All the details of the crime as stated
! in the indictment were hurled at Nora
during his cross.examination, but he
denied every accusation, asserting In.
nocence of both crimes. His past rec.
ord was also laid bare. He denied
Abatemaggio's statements and renew
ed his attacks on the carbineers, who,
he said, had instituted reign Of ter.
ror in Naples by threatening to arrest
all persons who refused to give evi.
dence against the Cammorists. He
brought specific accusations against
several magistrates and the public
prosecutor.
Magistrate to Defend Himself.
President Bianchi ordered one mag.
istrate to take the stand and defend
himself, which he will do at the re.
sumption of the hearing next week.
President Bianchi reminded Nora
that he had been prosecuted in connec'
ton with fraudulent bills of exchange.
Nora replied that he acted only 40
an Intermediary for Deputy Bonavo-
glia. The president further reminded
Nora that he had forged passports
for the purpose of going to America,
ostensibly as q butcher, but really to
accompany women who were going to
the United States for immoral pur
poses. Nora replied that his mission
to America was not on business OF
any kind.
Nora made a brave showing
the long ordeal. 1t was
plain that he had prepared his answers
long ago and he delivered them in So
lected phrases to make as good an in
preston on the jury as possible. He
spoke with excessive gestures. some
times pitching his voice high. and
again whispering In tone so low as
to be scarcely audible.
He was loyal to his band in every
statement Some Of his past offenses
he unflinchingly admitted. but he was
always careful to avoid discriminating
any Of his comrades. He stoutly de-
tended Maria Standardo, wife Of Cam
orrist, who is alleged to have conduct
ed disorderly house that served ~ .
rendezvous for the criminals. When
ever President Bianchi called Standar-
dos house disorderly Nora protested
vehemently, maintaining that Stan.
dardo was q hard working man who
only rented furnished rooms.
Nora impresses Hearera.
Nora succeeded in some degree II
his attempt to impress the jury and
spectators that he was innocent. He
put forward a strong alibi, declaring
that on the day Of the murder he took
part in the festival of Madonna di
Montevergine. He also betrayed the
Camorrists' line of defense, which will
be to show that the Camorra as Grim
lnal organization Is myth.
President Bianchi severely repfi.
manded Lawyer Battaglia, who laugh
ed whenever the questioning tended
to show the existence of such an asso-
ciation.- The charge Of participating
In the society Is least feared Of al by
the Camorrists, as the maximum pen.
atty is only hve years, and several Of
~I~ l1, M
long.