The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-03
MT. Mcclellan Is Witness to Dramatic Recital of Ca
 mOrra InfOrmer
SARTINO NAMED AS
 ACTUAL MURDEREI.
MT. Mcclellan Says Procedure of Italian Court Differs Much From Anglo-Saxon System-ln-
 telligent Prisoners

presence of George B. Mcclellan former mayor of New York, in whose term or office Lieutenant Petrosino arrested En- rico Alfano, the alleged head of the Ca- mora, for which Petrosino is believed to have paid the penalty with his life and the conformation of Abbatemaggio, the fnformer by Corrada Sortino, whom he accused of being one of the actual as- sassns of Cuoccoio.
 The scenes of disorder were even more marked than usual. the prisoners in the cage interrupting the witness necessarily and shouting curses on his head. But through it all Abbatemaggio told again the story of the Camorra and details of the crime
 MT. Mcclellan. who appeared to be an object of great interest to the caged pris- oners, remarked on the unusual methods of the court which he considered in many respects admirable.
 While Abbatemaggio repeated the de- tails of the murder of Cuoccolo Sortino stood before him and at times it seemed hs though the two men were about to spring at each other. Carabiners were placed as a guard between them and the two prisoners, the one in the witness stand and the other before the bar, were forced to content themselves with bane- full glances and the clinching of fingers.
 Scrtino defended himself with skill and pointed out contradictions and alleged inn possibilities in the statement of the in former. He ironically called attention to the fact that Abbatemaggio in his accusa- ton had declared that those directly con- cerned in the murder had changed their clothes with the exception of Sortno, al- though he was guilty of two murders. It was ridiculous to say that he wore false beard. for until May, 1905, he had a natural one, and therefore a false beard would not have made him unrecorniz- able to the police
 Abbatemaggio interrupted at this point, saying:
 Thirteen months later all the police who knew you had been changed dhe Cuoccolo murder occurred in June, 19O0.
 Route of Alleged Murderers
 Abbatemagsio testified to the route fol- lowed by sorsino after the murder of Cuocolo's wife, and sortino shouted:
 You insinuate that I had a cab to carry off the stolen goods.
 Erricone jumped to h,s feet and cried out excitedly:
 we found the cabman you tried to euborn into saying that he carried Sor- tino. but he refused"
 All the prisoners took occasion to be- gin a demonstration which the president had difficulty in quelling. Sortno shouted 60 loudly that Abbatemaggio could not be heard. When the disorder was at end he turned in the direction of MT. McClel- Ian and said ironically:
 "If we are acquitted here we will go to America where you will accuse us of the murder of Petrosino."
 Tn answer to questions by the attor- neys for the accused, Abbatemagglo de- nied that he had ever been police spy.
 The informer stood the supreme test of his courage well. repeating his story coolly and at times eloquently, while he was assailed with the curses of prisoners in the great steel cage. Every statement that he made was denied in chorus and when he concluded. Enrlco Alfano, all legged head of the Camorra, rose and ehouted:
 "Abbatemaggio deserves 90 years In prison"
 Abbatemaggio's story of the murder of Gennaro Cuoccolo and his wife is al- ready known. He claimed to have been one of those chosen to commit the actual crime and to have escaped this assign ment by feigning illness.
 George B. Mcclellan former mayor of New York occupied a seat in the space set apart for the lawyers, where the prisoners stared at him until the pro- ceedings opened.
 Long after the murders, Abbatemagglo fell in with Capizzuti to whom he con- Aded his ambition to be married and the fact that poverty stood in his way. The police spy thereupon told him that he would furnish the necessary funds if the other would tell him enough about the Cuoccolo murderers to permit him to be- come a member of the Camorra through the use of his knowledge Abbatemagglo was tempted and fell and when it was too late to retract learned that his friend was an officer of the law After some persuasion he decided to make the best of the situation by becoming witness for the state.
 Men Glare at Each Other
 The informer named Corra da Sortina as one of the actual assassins of Couc eolo and Sortino was summoned from the cage to confront his accuser. Stand ing before the bar. tho carabneers be- tween them the two men glared at each other.
 Abbatemaggio surprised all with his a graphic description of the murder, and. 2 going into miute details, gave the day and hour of each event from its incep- tion t6Othe commission of the crime oc- easionalAy when interrupted. he bowod with mock difference to Cortino and re- , marked: .,ss-ss
 "But ydu know better than do, as you were there {"
 Some oA the prisoners who had been ~A>~~~~~>~~~~~
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