The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-01
Enrico ALT ano Holds
Crowd in Court
Spellbound.
HE is INNOCENT
OR GREAT ACTOR
Never Before Has Italian Court
Of Justice Heard Such Scath-
ing Arrangement as Comes
From Lips of Alleged
Prince Of Criminals-De-
MES All Charges.

Nitcrbo, Marct 31.---Thc lovers OF
tile dramatic llu their III at to-day.s
session OF the ial of the tnirty-six
Camorrists for murder. lnrico Al
fano, generally called Erricone, the
Terror Of Italy. reputed TO be tho act
ual head of the criminal organization.
vas under Interrogation and held the
spectators spellbound with the elo-
qucncc OF his dcnials
The man is innocent or q consum-
mate actor. As he proceeded the slen-
der figure seemed u grow until 1t
dominated the courtroom, and friends
and enemies alike shrank from the
gaze that he fixed, first upon one ana
then another. while he poured forth
the most scathing arraIgnment OF the
authorities that has ever been heard
IN an Italian court Of Justice.
Il am Il victim Of yellow journal
ISM" nc cried. Il have been ruined by
oarbinecrs, who have made me appear
as an ASA ssin."
Erriconc could not have done it bet
ter II he had rehcarsed the part for
years. tie bcgar modestly and calmly.
gradually raising his voice ana dis
playing his emotions until he had his
auditors CENTRALIZED One could have
heard pin drop when President
Bianchi commanded tsrriconc TO come
from the prisoners steel cage ana
take place before the bar. Quietly
Erriconc stepped forth and assumed
natural attitude. without any at
tempt a the theatrical just in front
Of the Justices bench.
Denies Tbs. Accusatfon..
lie replied to me preliminary ques-
tons in {. voice that was pcnctratInr
but not loud. lie denied cutcEorlca;fv
the accusations or tho inforner
nennaro Abbatcmaggio. lie said that
ne was not III n position 20 condemn
The .Cdoccolos t. death. I'M,
The story thrt I, have ever, been tha
neat 1ot tie Shnlorra Is Il legend" nc
SAID: y was neither it's head no.. lis
lie admitted chat In youth 10 r,s
;,,trosant and quarrclsonie. anc evon
ilad comm tied some excuses "I,,,t..'
NE Ne ASKED. what youth of my class in
. so,n mas ,,1t been arrogant. quarrel
As the questioning proceeded ISrri.
cone showed signs of irritation. nnnily
trembling with excitement. AS Tie
ihTustS of the president and crown
prosecutor went home. Erriconz's face
hardened with anger until he look Cd
nRe a savage animal about TO snr;ntr
- upon rs prey Suddenly he Abandoned
Zee rein TO his feelings in a. nernr,.
lion that was truly eloquent.
,1 sn!s chnrncter Was Ruined.
r LAYING, admitted his youthful en-
character was ruined ''by the sensa.
,ionalism OF that newspaper. tho
Mattino' Continuing. he said. thai
decd In ~, aithough ! now regret the
per OF the STAFF Of that paper an.
J.. oacneu me, when was arrafgned
IN court as murderer, and I couJd
nor nelp shifting in his face
"a r:lh i,ra
~, ,.lshlng me appear an assassin TO call
Ne :, ass Sslns Is lnhuman cruelty. No one
n n1s rlgnt to so stiigmatize us. not
serve his own ends, becomes an IN.
demncd.' 'ceH con
s President Bianehi, interrnpting. be-
seeched Erricone to calm himself bnt
the only effect was TO cause the nris.
oner to burst into tears, and. sobbinr
Violently. he continued .
For four years have suffered per
secution and mar,yrdom Constantly
De1ore my eyes is picture Of nv
Gear, innocent brother dying in a
e ars /, n n adjoining my own. In my
through the agony of death He was
e. and the beautiful image OF his
creator: He died innocent"
other Prisoners Affected
For n moment Erricone paused. and
inc only sound came from the pris-
0ners' cage where Gennaro IbelIi, al
iicSeu mead or the CamDrra In the
Vesuvian villages. leaning his head
AZ against The steel bars, cried like n
There was a sigh Of relief among
the spectators when Erricone rot HE
feelings under control. and launched
into n denuncation of Abbotemagg
lie described the informer as poor
young man whom he had helped nv
giving him employment
The crimes laid at this mans door
are numberless, and the machinatfons
with which he Is credited almost he
yond belief. Al his. headquarters in the
carte Fortunio where he received his
gents, his victims and the police, Or
rtcone was wont to smile bIandly upon
those who mentioned the Camorra, and
say: -
''Do you really believe there is such
q thing? why, those arc stories of
other times"
The prisoner was we'll prepared for
o-day's examination, which was a
thorough one. lie denied every accusa-
Continued on Seventh Page)