New-York tribune., 1911-04-23
PRISONER QUOTES LAW
Alleged Camorrist Says There's
No Excuse for Detention.
NEW SURPRISES AT TRIAL
Seller of Tortoise Shell and
Beauty of Naples" Also on
Stand at Viterbo.

SCduQ dL VlC0TUO.
Viterbo, Italy, April 22.-There is not
dull moment in the trial Of the Camor-
rists. The auditors never know what to
expect. but they crowd every available
place in the Court OF the Assizes daily
fully assured of some sort OF entertain
ment.
Vincenzo Avolio the butcher, who dis
puted the law with the Judge; Antonio
Percuoco, the seller Of tortoise she'll to
Chicagoans. frankly expressing the hope
that he would get some free advertising
out Of his misfortunes, and Maria STEM
dardo, the beauty Of Naples" who
chose Imprisonment rather than betray
the man she loved. were the principal
performers to-day in this strange MKT
ure of comedy and pathos.
The two men are charged with being
present at the meeting Of the Camorrist
on May 26. 1905. when Gennaro Cuoccolo
was condemned to death, the state being
engaged Just now chiefly with those ac-
cused Of formulating the plot resulting
in the murder Of Cuoccolo and his wife.
When Avolio replaced the blood -smeared
apron Of his meat shop for civilian dress
lie chose the best in texture and cut,
and, called for Interrogation this morn
ing, he fairly dazzled the spectators
with his fashionable array. He Is
40 ortn n
pearance. but none was prepared for the
oratorlcal exhibition which he made. He
spoke like scholar, with surprising
effect
Unqualified Denial Of Guilt.
Avolio made the usual unqualified de-
NAL of guilt. but went further, and at
the proper moment drew from his pocket
small copy of the Italian Crimihal
Code and from 1t read passage after
passage in support OF his claim tlat
there was no excuse in law for his de-
t,ntion as a suspect in the Cuoccolo
case.
President Bianch listened attentlvely
for some time. appearing much inter-
ested and not little amused, and when
he thought the court and jury had been
sufficiently instructed in the law inter
rupted:
But. Avolio, you usurp my profess
SION
J'nabashed the prisoner responded: L
might saw much more, but I do not wish
Ior y
Antonio Peruoco. smiling graciously,
was next called for examination. He
assured the court and jury that he was
az innocent as a babe. He had not been
at Bagnoll at the time the sentence Of
death was passed on the Cuoccolos. Then,
in a whimsical vein, he concluded:
Novel Advertising Dodge.
'T am not a murderer or the companion
Of assassins 7 am business man and
trade In tortoise shell. l send my goods
to the United States, particularly to
Chicago, and 7 do hope. in the midst Of
my misfortunes. tina. this trial will be
a good advertisement. for my wares
There was special interest in the ex-
animation, which followed, Of Maria
Stendardo, who Is the only woman
among the prisoners. She is the COM
mon law wife OF Nicola Nora. other
wise known as "Red Sandy" and one of
the alleged principals IN the murder.
Her career has Deen u romantic one.
Now thirty years old, she retains much
4, hot fsd ,1.o .1a
suitors I'm her youth. She has the man
ners Of woman Of the nobility. OF
humble birth. she was given in marriage
at an early age TO a dock laborer. They
set up n lodging house which attracted
the attention of the police. The meagre
fortune Of the husband was threatened.
The beautiful Maria visited the local
Delegate. and thereafter the Palazzo
Amendola was not disturbed. Soon af-
terwards Maria. beautifully goWned.
frcquented the most fashionable res
taurants. She met Nicola Nora and,
the state alleges. became a power in the
Camorra. controlling certain low ele-
ments and exercising powerful influence
in higher places.
All these allegations she denied to-
day, saying:
II was arrested only because | vas
the friend and companion of Nora and
refused to comply with the wishes Of the
carabineers that I denounce the man
that love and whom know TO be inno-
cent
Maria said the house which she kept
with Nora was no different from other
places OF the kind then and now exist
ing, and she added that their relations
were just the same as those existing be-
tween personages high in society, Of
whom 1t was impossible to speak dis
paragingly.