Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-07
FASTS FORTY.ElGHT HOURS
Accused Priest Physically and
Mentally Exhausted.
COURT SITTING SUSPENDED
President Dianchi Orders Prisoner to
Break Fast With Yolks of
Half Dozen Eggs.

kllkhbO, Italy, .Aprll s-ASdn tou1y
the trial OF the Camorrists was inter
rupted when Giro vtozzi. the accused
priest. weakened by . self-imposed fast,
tainted. He was under Interrogation and
had worked himself into a state Of men
tai and physical exhaustion until he tum-
blsd over against the steel bars OF the
prisoners cage. Lawyers and carbineers
rushed to his assistance. and In the con-
fusion President Bianchi declared the sit
ting suspended. At the same time the
court ordered vitozxi to break his fast
with the yo]ks OF half q dozen eggs.
The climax came opportunely for vi
tosxi, following his declaration that he
had abstained from food for forty-eight
hours. He had been telling . story OF his
alleged persecution in prison. and the re-
cital was not without it's dramatic effect.
with me in my CELL said the priest.
II had a lock Of hair from the head OF
that holy soul, my mother. This was
taken from me upon the order OF q mag
istrate, who insisted that the hair was
that OF some woman compani OF mine.
What nonsensel Why, il was even gray.
Can any one imagine greater profans-
tion?"
Seized With Fit Of Weeping.
Here the accused man invoked the soul
Of his mother In support of his statement.
and, the recollection Of what he described
- the insults to her memory overwhelm
ing him, he was seized with fit OF weep
ing. Between his sobs he cried out:
II have been fasting for forty-eight
hours. supported during my whole inter-
rogation by Divine power"
With the words he collapsed.
Giovanni hapi was not present when
the trial was resumed today. His physi-
clan certified that he was suffering from
q sore throat as a result of having "criod
too much during his interrogation"
Tells Of Attempted Bride.
The proceedings opened with the recall
Of Vitoxxi. The prisoner described at
tempts which, he said. had been made
to make him appear guilty OF completely
in the murder OF Gennaro Cuoccolo and
his wife. While he was In prison, he
said, he was confronted with q man who
offered him SO to denounce certain per-
sons as guilty OF the Cuoccolo assassfna-
lions, adding that II it was necessary he
would sand the priest to America as Er-
ricone had been sent. Nitozzi said that
he did not know the man who approached
him, and whose name as given him was
fictitious.
The prisoner told OF the alleged abuse
of him by the examining judges during
his preliminary examinations, and while
he was In prison. Judge Detflla, ne said
had insuited him, calling him a "camor-
''This," said vitozzi, was cowardly,
savage and inhuman. while the judge
ought to represent honesty"
vitozzi Il Sympathetic.
Growing more excited as he continued
VitozA shouted: So ~.
These Judges trampied not only upea
the human. but upon the divine law. I
reminded them that they must die. say
ing. Beware. beware. the anathema-'
Urging the priest to calm himself, Pres
idsnt Bianchi incurred whether he knew
NO." replied VHozzi, who added:
"An the statements OF Abbatemaggio
are false. ] will ask him to swear on the
ashes OF his father and on the ashes OF
f b. dead ss son. hoping that he will be
At this threat Abbatemaeeio. who had
listened calmly from his solitary cage.
broke his usual impassibility Of manner
Vitozxi i Sympathetic.
Il will swear on anything you please"
Enraged, vitozN turned upon his &C.
cuser and cried:
Il will curse you down to the seventh
generation
Il am sorry for you," rejoined the in
former
At this the priest suddenly changed his
tactics, and in a voice filled with pathos
said:
me, j will not curse you. / remember
that am priest and must pardon even
those who tn5ure me. I wish to take you
to my bosom"
In the same emotional strain Vitozzi con-
tinued with the reference to his mothers
gray hairs until he was overcome and the