Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-05-12
RAVE AT
THE INFORMER IN
CAMORRA HEARING
Abatemaggio, Traitor to tbs
Cause, Reveals It's Workings
Amid Howls of Accused.

viterbo, Italy, May S.-Gennaro
A~bbatemaggio, on whose revelations
the state mas built its case against the
camorra, was called to h witness
stand today to confirm verbally the
written confession made for the carab-
lneers after he had been tricked into
damaging confessions by the police spy
Marshal CapiZzuti.
The reformer stood the supreme test
Of his courage we'll, repeating his story
coolly and at times e~loquently, while
ne was assailed with the curses OF the
other prisoners In the great steel cage.
Every statement he made was denied
In chorus and when he concluded, En-
rico Alfano, the alleged head of the
Amorra, arose and shouted:
"Abbatemaggio deserves 80 years In
~2rison!"
Crime Is systematixed.
The informer began with the state
ment that the camorra existed In a
Uell-organized form, both outside and
inside the prisons Of Italy. The first
question put to q man sentenced TO I'M
prisonment when he enters the prison
Was, he said, whether he was a ca
morrfst, and, IL so, whether he was a
''ull-fedged camorrist or a picciotti, the
after being one who has not taken the
inal degree in the criminal society.
Each camorrist has under him As
picciottis, or recruits. who are on pro-
baton, and who may become ca
norrists proper only when they have
proved their ability to commit crime
without detection. The witness said
the rank of the prisoners In the so
:iety was asked in order that the ca
morriste and the nicciottis might hS
grouped separately and communication
Jetween the older members and the as
bring members be avoided.
Abbatemaggio's testimony was con-
Itantly interrupted by protests from
the prisoners, accompanied by ugly
epithets and imprecations.
George B. Mcclellan, former mayor
Of New York, occupied a seat in the
space set apart for the lawyers, where
he prisoners stared at him until the
proceedings opened.
Mr.. Mcclellan has taken much in
Eerest I'm the case, particularly "a IL
was during his tenure of office that
Lieutenant Petrosini arrested Alfano
In Brooklyn. and was subsequently
Ilain when he visited Italy.
Abbatemaggio's story Of the murder
IF Gennaro Cuoccolo and his wife Is
lready known. He claimed to have
been one Of those chosen to commit
he actual crime INT to have escaped
his assignment by feigning Illness.
long after the murders he fell in with
LdpIlLSuLls ~ HC 49,
| ambition to be married and the fact
hat poverty stood in his way
The police spy theraupon told him
hat he would furnish the necessary
| ,unds, If the other would tell him
| enough OF the Cuoccolo murders to
| permit him to become a member OF
| The camorra through the use of his
knowledge. Abbatemaggio was tempt
| I'd and fell, and, when 1t was too late
| % retract, learned hat his friend was
IN officer of the law. After some
| persuasion, he decided TO max the
best of the situation by becoming a
witness Of the state.
OF the prisoners, the priest, Cttro
Qitozzi, alone maintained his COM
,osure during Abbatemaggio's recital.
He Names Assassins.
The informer named Corrada Sor-
ino as one of the assassins of Cuoc-
colo and Sortino was summoned from
he cage to confront his accuser.
| Standing before the bar. the carabi-
,eers between them, the two men
ylared at each other for a moment,
when Abbatemaggio continued. He
surprised all with his graphic descrip-
ion Of the murder, and going into
minute details gave the day and hour
81 each event from its inception TO
The commission Of the crime. He de-
clared that everything that Sortino
rad said in his examination was false.
! Occasionally, when interrupted, he
| bowed with mock Difference TO Sortino
md remarked:
But you know better han I do,
rs you were there"
At one point the t~echnicalities of
| ,he killing were involved in the dis
quite. Abbatemaggio had taken a pen
holder from the Judges bench and used
Il as a weapon to Illustrate the knife
thrust that ended the life of Cuoccolo,
| when Sortino interrupted.
TT Is impossible to murder any man
when holding a knife as o are hold
ng that pen holder"