The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-07
sed Priest t ellis
Story Of His I'm
naculate Life. -
SOBS AND CURSES
E r O M HEARERS
Prisoners Rushing To and Fro in
Cage and shrieking, Together
With Tumult Of Others,
Raise Such Din That
Court Is Forced to
Adjourn.

Adjourn.
Viterbo. Italy, April 6.-From the
beginning. nearly four weeks ago. the
trial of the Camorrists. who are
charged directly with the murder OF a
fellow member OF the organization,
Gennaro Cuoccolo. and his wife, ana
Indirectly with many other crimes.
has been marked by scenes of Yio-
lcnce. pathos. real or assumed in
furiated rage and sometimes inde-
scribable confusion. The session to- day
was a combination 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 the story of what he
said was an immaculate life, told Of
his suffernGs through false accuse
tons and the efforts Of the carabi-
necrs, and described his martyrdom so
wildly and in so touching a manner
that all the prisoners We're soon in
tears and many Of the spectators in
the courtroom sobbcd bitterly.
Sobbing Breaks Silence.
Though almost in state of physical
exhaustion, Vitozzi spoke with
vigorous voice, and ut times with
melodramatic effect. He charged the
cara binccrs with having treated him
cruelty One of them had struck him
In the face; he had been severely
beaten and had been kept for days on
bread and water. He ended his recital
of most effective pcroration in high
ftoWn language, and the silence was
broken only by sobbing; then one of
the prisoners in the cage shreked and
fell to the floor. 1t was Minichiello,
who had been stricken with syncope.
In AN fn J. al.
In an uproar, and the men in the cage
worked themselves into frenzy, rush
ing to and fro, shreking and hurting
curses against their "eXecutioners.,'
The others joined in creating u din,
the like of which has seldom been
heard in court OF justice.
Armed guards went into the cage
and carried Minich'cllo out and
restoratives were administered. The
president of the court promptly ad-
journcd the sitting.
The priest. who weepingly pleaded
that he had celebrated masses for the
repose OF the soul OF the murdered
King Humbert. was called to explain
how misery had acquainted him with
such strange bed-fellows as Erricone
the usurer; Rapi, the gambler. and
others of the band OF thieves and cut
threats who made up the Nenpolitan
Camorra.
Has Been "Good Priest"
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 evil The
priesthood is intended to combat what
is bad, and thus we know it."
II was Nitozzi who secured the re-
lease of Erricone whose proper name
is Enrico Alfano; Giro Alfano, Ibclli
and Rapi when they were first ar
rested, charged with completely In the
murder OF Gennaro Cuoccolo and his
Wife. the beautiful Sorrcntina"
The priest went TO the authorities
and said that he had learned in the
confessional the identity of the as
sassins, and that the men under arrest
were innocent. He was believed, and
not only secured the freedom OF his
friends. but subsequently denounced
De Anfelis and Amadeo as the muir
derers. These men had some difficulty
in discrediting the priest.
AS he testified day, Vitozzi could
not or would not control his emotions,
and aided by his attorney, who inter-
rupted with countercharges against the
carabineers. caused such an uproar in
the court that President Bianchi was
forced TO suspend the sitting
The priest has suffered physically
from his long confinement In prison.
and when he was summoned to the
bar he advanced slowly, leaning on his
cane. At his elbow was his physician,
who explained to the court that nc
would have to give his patient frequent
stimu!ants to save him from fainting.
Nevertheless, the prisoner spoke in Il
strong voice. in the tone OF the preach
err lie proclaimed himself innocent.
expressing surprise that the fact that
he was the godfather or Erricone
should have been used against him
he had never done wrong. and knew
evil only as servant of the church
must know 1t in order TO fight it sue
cessfully.
Appealed to Queen Mother.
When l was arrested he contin-
ued. II petitioncd the Queen Mother.
recalling TO her mind that at the time
of King Humbert's assassination ! ce!-
ebrated masses for the repose Of his
soul for eight days. l also asked
queen Helena for my release because
was ILL., Instead of attracting com.
passion. ! was sent to the prison hos
pital."
The remembrance OF his experience
was too much for "thc guardian angel
Of the Camorra," and he sobbcd vio
lently. The president exhorted him 10
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