Evening star., 1923-12-30
GARD SHARP CHARGES
STILL GROW IN ROME
Fresh Noble Names, May Be Tar
I nished and Slurs Cast on
Z Honored Houses.
THREE CLAIMING SAME SON
One Medical Expert Says Soldier
s Mute Is Not an italian.

delphia Public Ledger. Copyright, isz0.
ROME. December 10.-As the date OF
the trial of social leaders charged with
c1rd swindling at the aristocratlc
Roman clubs approaches fresh reveia-
tions continue to be made in the press
which go to show that the evil has been
deeply rooted and has gone on virtually
undisturbed for some time. When the
trial opens it is believed that 1resn
noble names will be called in question
and further slurs cast upon honored
houses.
AS is of course known. two Roman
mobiles already have been asked to resign
their clubs-Don Antonio Pignatelli ana
Don Guida Antici Mattel.
These gentlemen virtually were ex-
psaled from the Circolo della Caccia'
Romes most aristocratic club. because
they did not take measures to pnssS prossSS'
The Circolo della Caccia, or Hunts
mems Club, has as honorary president
King Victor. and all the princes OF
royal blood, as well as man., foreagn
kings and potentates. are members.
So, too are most of the foreign am
bassadors living In Rome, BESIDES
number of celebrities, including. Dan
nunzio. The card sharping is alleged 10
have taken place at this club. at the
Circolo degli Scacchi and at the ber-
mini.
Traces Covered Up.
A good deal of underground work is
believed to have taken place recently
With a view to covering the traces OF
those who do not look forward to the
forthcoming trial with any particular
pleasure. Several distinguished Roman
hanr ri q
ing the last weeks. Several servants
of the clubs where the swindling took
place acted as accomplices OF their noble
patrons and there Is reason to peneVe
that a good deal of the actual card
sharping was done by members
Foreigners were often victims. The
latest revelations speak OF ricn
Englishman who was approached AT
his hotel in Rome. introduced to one
$4,000. The actual plundertng TOOK
place in the private cardroom OF one
of the best known hotels In Rome.
Efforts are being made to ootaln tne
presence of this foreigner at the trial.
but as he is not in Italy and pro oapIy
does not want his folly published Tar
and wide he will prefer TO remain III
melancholy incognito.
The name of a rich Brazilian Is also
mentioned in connection with these
Or. Sparano Italian by birth). who
Is alleged to have been peeled, as
the Roman expression goes, for 1,Uoo,-
900 lire. News from Rio de Janeiro,
however, throws doubts on the extent
of. the loss, since 1T appears tnat LIZ.
Sparano Is not a rich man.
The trial is in the stage before the
MAGISTRATE. 1t ought to come on In
month or six weeks, but 1t Is not I'M
probable that several adjournments
will be granted.
Three Claim Mute NJ Son.
The curious case Of the deaf-mute
ex-soldier who has lost his memory
and is claimed by no less than three
women as their son looks as II II
would never be finally settled. Owing
to- formal questions OF procedure ano
clashtng local authorities, the anan
has been dragging on for some years
ing the last twelve months Is tnat
third mother claimant has come for
ward to assert that the unfortunate
ex-soldier is hers.
More than a year ago the youth wae
called Fornaro, living in the noun
tain village of Rocca Spinalveti. He
was accompanied on the journey oy
two Red Cross soldiers. The party
lost its way up the rugged mountain
path, and It was the deaf mute who
was able to make signs to his COM
panions indicating to them the where
abouts of the house belonging to the
FSornaro family.
Although it may have been merely
aisguess or an intuition on the oeat
mans part, the fact convinced the
authorities that he really belonged to
the Fornaro family. After remaining
with these people. the deaf-mute was
sent to a hospital. A photograph
published In a newspaper drew the
- x1yidn R0ffQrtnn
the young man. AS soon as she saw
the photograph she declared the
soldier was her son.
Another Comes Forward.
Since then a third woman has come
forward with a claim, convinced tnat
she is the mother of the unhappy and
mpch discussed young man. The last
few months have registered a criss-
cross of legal acts and protests. The
Signora Battarino tried to carry the
young man away by force, but was
prevented.
A medical examination OF the hero
off this tragi-comedy indicates that
certain marks and moles, which the
widow Battarino states her son had,
exist on the body of the ex-soldier,
but even here there are differences
which leave room for doubt. the
Sfgnora Battarino has said: Il shall
kill myself as soon as have certain
pTDOl Inat ne Is not my col. ohtii
then / want to live in order to know
the truth"
The local policeman and the parish
priest of the little place where the
son OF the widow Battarino used to
live before the war cannot come to
any definite decision regarding his
identity. While they are half in
cItned to swear that he is the son Of
the widow. they. too, have doubts.
One medical expert called In states
that the young man is not even an
Italian, but an Austrian or a Hunga-
rian flung by fate into an Italian
hospital after war. The authorities
nrnmise an AxhaustiYe induirY.