Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-16

been a joke to the outside world, but
to Italy it has been a very serious af-
fair, and has been put through with a
persistent determination to achieve
justice which merits admiration rather
than ridicule.
The Italian system Of criminal pro-
cedure, In many respects excellent,
proved unduly cumbersome In dealing
with a great case like this, where the
witnesses numbered nearly thousand,
and the mass Of evidence accumulated
at the hearings in the lower courts was
prodigious. 1t was mainly because of
the delays in this trial that the reforms
have been planned by the present
chamber of deputies, which, without
altering fundamental principles, will
accelerate procedure at the discretion
of the president of the court Of assizes.
The number of lawyers will be reduc-
ed, and the evidence accumulated In
the lower courts will be disposed OF
more summarily. Yet while the trial
has been to some extent unduly pro-
tracted by the prescribed machinery,
its conduct has been admirable and has
won the highest praise from numerous
American lawyers who have visited
Viterbo. In the preliminary stages of
investigation at Naples the case was
undeniably badly handled, largely be-
cause of a jealousy between the local
police and the national gendarmerie,
the Carabinieri; who took the matter
up when it seemed on the point of fall
ure. But after the case was brought
to the court Of assizes, 1t has been
pressed relentlessly, yet with perfect
fairness. The secrets Of the Camorra
have been probed to the bottom, and
the conviction of its leaders will go far
to break its power.
The Cuocolo case, on which the trial
is based, is in itself Of no great i'm
portance. Gennardo Cuocolo, thor
ough- going scamp, who acted as "bas-
ista" for the criminals affiliated with
the Camorra, finding victims for them
to rob, had quarrelled with some of
his associates over the division of the
booty. and in revenge denounced them
to the police. His end was what might
be expected for an informer in Naples.
The Camorra at dinner held for the
purpose at a suburban restaurant de-
cided upon his death, and he was en-
ticed to a lonely spot on the shore at
Tore del Greco, east Of Naples, and
brutally murdered by his companions
Two Of these, Fastening back to the
city, finished the night by numbering
his wife, La Bella Surrentina," wo-
mar of depraved character, for fear
that she might give the clew to his
assassins. Such murders happen fire.
quently in great cities, and make lit
tie stir, but in this case it gave the
needed opportunity to lay by the heels a
gang, the increasing boldness of which
had been causing alarm. Though the
famous Camorra of Naples had shrunk
greatly since it's legendary days, it had
still great capacity for mischief, and
under "Erricone" and I'll Prufessore,'
it was developing formidable power
which may be imagined by conceiving
the Black Hand in New York as back
ed by Tammany Hall. If its course
had not been checked Naples would
have bacoroe within q few wears one of
the most dangerous cities in the world
The Camorra may be scotched rather
than killed, but 1t will be long before
it dares to raise its head with the old
boldness, and the trial, now followed
by convictions Of the most dangerous
leaders, has brought immense relief to
the city of Naples and its suburbs
Springfield Republican.