The New York herald., 1922-07-08
Third MAN IS GUILTY
| OF VAROTTA MURDER
SantO CusamanO Will Get
Death Sentence in Judge
Talley's Court July II.
JURY AGREES QUICKLY
Kidnapped Boys Mother and
Conspirator From Sing
Sing Clinch Verdict.
COCAINE GIVEN TO CHILD
Italians Ask Public Not to
Blame Them for Crimes of
Sicilian Gangs.

Santo Cusamano was found guilty
Of murder in the first degree last night
by the jury before Judge Alfred J.
Talley in the Court Of General Ses-
sions which had heard his trial for
completely in the kidnapping and death
Of Giuseppi Varotta, 5 years old, last
year. After the verdict had been
handed up Judge Talley remanded
Cusamano to the Tombs for sentence
next Wednesday. He Is the third man
to be convicted Of murder in the first
degree for the death Of the child.
The Jurors in Cusamano's case retired
early In the afternoon and returned to
the court room with their verdict about
1920 o'clock last night.
Judge Talley thanked the jurors and
said it was gratifying to find that they
had not shrunk from performing an un-
pleasant duty. Cusamano started to say
something when the verdict was an
nounced. but he was not permitted to
speak. Marc Moustaki, the interpreter.
told him he could make a statement
next Wednesday.
Judge States Crux of Case.
Judge Talley charged the jurors that
IL they believed the stories of Roberto
Raffaele. now in the death house at
Sing Sing. that Cusamano had partici-
pated in the KIDNAPPING conferences, and
that IL they believed the story Of Mrs.
Salvatore Varotta. the dead boys
mother. they could return a verdict Of
guilty. But II they disbelieved these
stories. Judge Talley said. they must
acquit the defendant.
While the jury was out the slain boys
father said: IT am anxious to see
Cusamano convicted. He took my boy to
his home about o'clock the day he was
kidnapped, May "a. 1921. doped him with
cocaine and then took him away at night
in barrel
Judge Talley received a letter from a
number of Italians in this city disclaim-
ing relationship with Siciians. whom
the letter blames for crimes. The Judge.
without giving out the names Of the
signers. gave copies of the letter tc
the press. 1t follows:
THE present varotta case. which Is
entirely the work of Sicilians, causes
many Italians throughout the city to
very much regret that the public does
not differentiate between the Italians
and the. Sicilians. The average Ameri-
can identifies the two races, using the
name Italian to include both the un-
educated Sicilians, whose crimes are SO
numerous. and the more highly en-
dowed Italians who have contributed
so much to the forward march of civili-
zation.
Compared to Filipfnos.
while it is true that Sicily is under
the Italian Government the relationship
is comparable to that of the Philippine
Islands to the Government of the United
States. Sicily being originally populat-
ed by Arabian pirates and later the
island was in turn overrun by Phoene-
clans. Greeks, Romans, Teutons, Nor
mans, French. Spanish and Australians.
The Sicilian Of to-day is a strange
mixture Of many races and this. added
to the influence Of the climate on a peo-
pie. probably accounts for the high rate
Of criminality among them. The edu-
Gated among the Sicilians as well as the
unrelated Italians feel that Americans
should understand that there is a differ
ence, so as not to Unfortunately blame
non-offending Italians for the crimes of
the Sicilians. Perhaps our newspapers
can help enlighten the public"