Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-07
Giro Vitozzio on Stand al
Trial Of Camorrists.
Tells Why He Was Companion
Of Thieves and CutihTOats.
Testimony Brings Wild 0utburst Of
Curses from Prisoners Cage.

Gennaro Cuoccolo, and his wife, and
indirectly with many other crimes, has
been marked by scenes of violence.
pdthoS, real or assumed, infuriate rage
and occaSi )nally indescribable confu-
sion. The session today was combi-
nation of all, and it ended with an
abrupt adjournment.
Giro NitozZi, the priest, who is
known as "the Guardian Angel of the
Camorra," occupied the witness stand,
and narrated what he said WAS an i'm 4
maculate life ana his sufferings from
false accusations and the efforts Of the
Carrabineers SO vividly and so touch
ingly that all the prisoners were soon
in tears and many of the spectators In
the court room We're Sobbng bitterly
Although almost in state of phySi-
cal exhaustion, Nitozzi spoke in a Wig
orous tone and at times with meo-
dramatic effect. He charged the CarabI
inceIs with having treated him cruel
ly. one of them mad struck him in the
lace. lie had been severely beaten. to
the extent that blood had been drawn.
and ne nad been kept for day on bread
and water. He ended his recital with
flown language and the silence was
broken only by sobbing; then one OF
the prisoners in the cage shrieked and
fell To the floor. 1t was Minichielo, who
had been stricken with syncope.
Instantly the whole court room was
III an uDroar. and the men in the cage
worked themselves into a frenzy. rush
ing 20 and fro, shrieking and hurling
curses at their "executioners. Erri-
cone cried out: The world has never
seen such cannibals," Rapi shouted
Our persecution is shame to civiliz-
ation."
The others Joined in creating a din.
the like of which has seldom been
heard in q court of justice.
Armed guards went into the cage and
carried Minichiello out by the arms
and legs, and restoratives were admin
isterad.
The president of the court promptly
adjourned the sitting.
Niterbo, April 6.-Ciro NitoZzi, th'
priest, who weepingly pleaded that he
had celebrated masses for the reposc
of the soul of the murdered King Hum
sizes today to explain how misery had
acquainted him with such strange bed
fellows as Erricone, the usurcr, Rapi.
the gambler. and others of the band
Of thieves and cut throats. who made
up the Neapolitan CamorTa.
Throughout my life said the pris-
oner, Il have been good priest but
priests more than others come in con-
tact with the good and the evil. The
priesthood is intended to combat what
is bad and thus we must know it,"
1t was Vitozzi who secured the re-
lease of Errcone, whose proper name
is Enrico Alfano, Giro Alfano, Ibelli
and Rapi when they were first arrested,
charged with completely in the murder
of Gennaro CuocColo and his wife. The
priest told the authorities that he had
learned in the confessional the identity
of the assassins and that the men un-
der arrest were innocent He was be-
lieved and not only secured the free
dom of his friends but subsequently
denounced De Angels and Amadeo as
the murderers. These men had diff
Guilty in discrediting the priest.
As he testified today Vitozzi could
not or would not control his emotions
and, aided by his attorney, who inter
rupted with counter charges against
the 'arabineers, caused such an up
roar in the court that President Bianch
was forced to suspend the sitting.
The priest has suffered physically
from his long confinement in prison
and he advanced to the bar slowly
leaning on his cane. At his elbow wa!
his physician, who explained that h,
would have to give his patient frequen
stimulants to save him from fainting
Nevertheless the prisoner spoke in 4
strong voice, in the tone of the preach
or. He proclaimed himself innocent
expressing surprise that the fact tina
he was Godfather of Erricone shoulC
have been used against him. He ha(
never done wrong and knew evil onl,
as a servant of the church must know
it in order to fight it successfully.
When l was arrested" he continued
Il petitioned the queen mother recall
ing to her mind that at the time O
King Hunbert's assassination | cele
brated mass for the repose OF his sou
for eight days. ! also asked Queer
Helena for my release because I wa
ill. Instead of attracting compassion
was sent to the prison hospital"
The guardian angel of the Camor
ra" so5bed violently. The presiden
exhorted him to be calm, but the pris
oner only Wept the more.
When Vitozzi referred to womal
companion of Erricone's brother, Cirt
who died in JAIL Erricone rose and in
voice charged with emotion. asked per
mission of the court to leave the room
He explained that it was not the hear
ing of his brothers name that got oil
his nerves. but that he did not wish t
be present when reference was mad
to the woman whose name had beel
linked with that of the poor innocen
Giro. The president permitted him t,
withdraw in the custody of Carabin
GERS.
Continued on Page Twelve.)