The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-16
Vanderbilt and
 MussOlini Story
(Continued from Page l

Vanderbilt declared he was rid ing with Mussolini near Rome when the premier's car struck small girl, and that he could not see how any he made in the five years following the incident could have been taken to construe that Musso lini was a "hit-run" driver. He said he had affidavits to substantiate all points on his side of the controversy.
 Vanderbilt said he had "been roasted over the radio, denounced editorially, and threatened physical ly," since Buffers address.
 Then" he was asked, "why not make plain, simple statement of the facts in the case and an ex- 'planaticn of your puzzling silence?"
 "All right" he replied, "here
 My first shock came when the newspapers broke General Buffers hit-run story and made the state ment that he had got the story from me. The papers immediately asked for a reply, but I refused until l could get the full text of the speech and learn exactly what was said. In the meantime, the Italian ambassa- dor issued a statement that Musso- lini said he had never met me and that he had never toured Italy with an American.
 My mouth was firmly sealed un- til I could produce proofs both that I had met Mussolini and also driven with him.
 This took time and events were moving fast. Apparently, however. the Italian government learned of my efforts and day or so later came out with the statement that I had been granted a short interview such as is granted to hundreds of travellers, but it still denied the auto trip.
 "Within the next week or so l had accumulated definite proof that I had been given an interview with Mussolini which resulted in 4.O00 word story that had appeared in American papers, and with it two official Italian documents containing cordial thanks from Mussolini
 During these trying days. fully recognized the delicacy of the inter- national situation. Finally the state department accepted Mussolinfs denial of the hit-run incident, offer- ed it's apology for Buffers statement and the whole thing as far as Italy was concerned, was squared off.
 "In the meantime, besides printed evidence of my Mussolini interview had secured aff1davits from many sources, proving that had taken the trip. First, sworn statement from one of Mussolini's staff who had seen me go motoring with him; another from a servant of an American fam ily who occunied the apartment above Mussolini in the Caetani Palace in Rome and who had seen me return from the trip; another affidavit was offered to me by Q priest who would be glad to testify to the trip provided I could arrange for his transfer out of Italy; and finally one from a secret service agent who was on the trip and was an eye witness to the accident.
 "Next came the threatened court martial of General Butler and my offer to go before the court to testify. which testimony would have included all my affidavits and the whole story of the meeting at which General Butler heard my account of the accident. This. without doubt would have opened the question again with Italy, for it would have been my word under oath against the Italian foreign once'S statement that I had never taken the trip. Maybe this had something to do with abandonment of General Buffers court martial.
 "Now before I get to the real story of the trip-a word regarding the meeting of the lecture bureau heads. General Butler. myself and other speakers were gathered for the
 
 DISTRICT OF WATERBURY, ss.
 Probate Court, February 14th, A. D..
 ESTATE OF Pellegrino De Cicco. late of Waterbury. in said District, deceased
 The administrator having exhibited his administration account with said Estate to this Court for allowance, it is
 ORDERED. That the 18th day of February A. D. 1881, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, at the Probate office in Waterbury, be and the same is as- signed for a hearing on the allow ance of said administration account, with said Estate, and this Court di- rects the administrator to cite all persons interested therein to appear at said time and place. by publishing this order in some newspa per having circulation in said District, at least 3 days before said day of hearing.