Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-30
|NF0RMER SAYS
HF WAS MARKED.
IB1IdBO elHlS
I3eIooS luoIIo1sIH olelS l10T0
DI JAnUNKI0l0
Abbatemaggio Declares He
Was Paid Big Part of
Cuoccolo Death Money to
Pay Him for His Silence.

AUUdIcIudSSlO, IAS COAACooCu SoAAOA
rist, continued his revelations at to-
days session Of the trial of himself
and thirty-five associates, for the mur-
der Of Gennaro Cuoccolo and the lat
ter's wife, the beautiful "Sorrentina."
Strictly speaking, Abbatemaggio's 8
revelations" are nothing more than
sidelights in confirmation Of his orig
nal story as told to the authorities
and published before the trial began.
In his formal statement the informer
told how Cuoccolo had been murdered
because he had betrayed other mem-
bers of the camorra, and also because
there was jealousy Of his increasing
power on the part of Enrico Alfano.
the actual head of that body, and other
leaders.
Cuoccolo's wife was killed to conceal
the first crime. Asked about the 5000
which had been paid to the assassins
Of Cuoccolo, the informer replied that
Alfano had divided the money, giving
$50 to the witness and distributing the
remainder among the actual assassins.
Fernando de Matio, one Of the assas-
sins, protested against the giving of
so large share to Abbatemagg1o, who
had not participated in the killing, but
he was silenced with wink from AL.
fano. Abbatemaggio saw the wink and
understood its meaning. His associates
we're aware that he knew too many OF
their secrets and could betray them at
any moment. Accordingly the sum or
money was to pay for his silence until
the opportunity came to put him out OF
the way, as they had disposed of Cuoc-
culo. Abbatemaggio realized the feeling
toward him, and this, together with
honest impulses, induced him to make
the first revelations, which were fol
lowed by a determination to tell all,
and So the rest Followed.
TumuIt Raised; Sitting Suspended
Abbatemaggio's examination was in.
terrupted by Corrado Sortino, one OF
those alleged to have killed the Cuoc-
colos, who asserted that the informer
had declared that Sortono's brother
was a member of the camorra- Rising
from his seat in the prisoners cage,
Sortino shouted:
"You are liar. My brother is one of
the worlds greatest sculptors. He lives
in Paris, where he Is the intimate Of
notables." =
This gave the excuse for tumult,
the other prisoners and their lawyers
crying out: "Abbatemaggio Is ca
The informer, recognizing trick to
impair his testimony. raised his voice
above the chorus, yelling: II never said
that Sortino's brother was comor-
rist"
The confusion continued and the
president was compelled to suspend
the sitting.
The policy Of the accused is to catch
Abbatemaggio in contradictions or un-
truths, II only in secondary matters,
and so discredit his whole story.
Informer Pleads Fatigue.
The camorrist informer, Abbate-
maggie. after testifying five hours yes
terday against his former associates,
who are on trial for the murder of Gen
naro Cuoccolo and his wife, became so
greatly fatigued that he asked for an
adjournment so he might rest.
He described at create length his
own criminal life and recounted in de-
tail the circumstances leading to the
murder Of CuOccolo. He said Nicola
Nora had proposed the murder and
Giovanni Rapi had insisted upon not
only the murder of Cuoccolo but also
Cuoccolo's wife, and had put $500 at
the disposal Of the assassins to be GER
tain there would be no failure.
Jeered by the Defendants:
When he became exhausted with his
recitals, Ahbatemaggio asked Presi-
dent Bianchi for a postponement, say
ing he was suffering from an injured
foot. He promised that he would tell
at the next session of the court how
he became acquainted with the secreta
of the camorra.
The excitement, which throughout
had been intense, then broke all
bounds. The prisoners jumped to their
feet and shook their fists at the wit
ness. Rapi called out:
t'It is not your foot from which you
suffer; it is fear.'
II never saw a greater coward"
shouted Nicola Nora.
"He isn't man; he is phonograph,
cried Erricone, the chief of the camor-
rists, alluding to report that a Ger
man company had urged Abbatemag-
gio to permit records of his testi-
mony to be taken.
"The phonograph begins to be out or
tune" De Marinis exclaimed.
Abbatemaggio was then led out by
ctrono Guard followed by the curses