Evening star., 1945-04-30
Bodies Of MussoIini,
Mistress, II Fascists
ReviIed by Mi|anese
BY GEORGE PALMER.
Associated Press war Correspondent

Associated Press War Correspondent.
MILAN, April 30.-Spat on and
cursed, the body of Benito Mus
solini was the object today of the
vengeful wrath of the italian
people whom he had promised a
place in the sun, but had led in
stead to defeat and misery.
The former Italian dictator. his
young mistress, Claretta Petacci,
and II Fascist leaders were shot to
death by Italian Patriots at Guilano
de Mezzergere, near Como, Saturday
afternoon.
Taken prisoner was Mussolini's
war minister. Rudolfo Graziani.
Mussolini and his followers were
attempting to flee to Switzerland.
Graziani declared he sought to give
himself up.
No Formal Trial.
There was no formal trial, and
after the executions at 4:1O pm.
the bodies were piled into a truck
and brought to Milan for public ex-
hibition.
Yesterday the corpse of the 61-
year-old former dictator was hung
by the heels in the Piazza Guindici
Martiri in Milan. BY his side was
the body of his mistress, 25-year-old
daughter of a Milan doctor, blood
smeared across her breast. Flanking
them we're the bodies of five other
Fascist leaders.
, Angry Milan citizens pushed and
showed against the Partisans guard
Ing the bodies. Some succeeded in
breaking through and splitting on
II Duce's body. One man emptied
the clip of his automatic pistol into
the lifeless form. Another punched
the once-famed jutting jaw.
Mussolini was shot through the
head by the Partisans after he was
captured Friday by sergeant ap-
preaching the Swiss border. He and
the other Fascist leaders were fee
ing in truck convoy.
Mussolini wore. German officers
coat and was driving north when
the sergeant spotted him.
He spent Friday night in a cell at
San Domingo Prison in Como. He
was reported in a terrible state of
agitation, and made attempts to
strike up conversations with his
guards.
why is no one here to defend
me?" he was quoted as saying.
far a 0yo rapNrfAl ~ u &11L
the men who ordered him shot,
Save my life and I will give you
an empire"
He died shouting: mo! MOI" to
the firing squad. eyewitnesses re-
counted. The bullet that killed him
entered from the back in the man.
ner prescribed by Italian tradition
for dishonored persons.
Duce Fled Milan.
GRAHAM. held prisoner by an
American captain and a strong Par
tisan guard in a hotel, was quoted
as saying Mussolini and his cabinet
left Milan April 25-last Wednes-
day-for Como.
Graziani said he attempted to
make contact with Milan's partisan
chief and offer his surrender, but
was told to surrender at Como. Un-
able to communicate with them, he
to an American liaison
captain, who took him to Milan.
The square in which the bodies
were dumped was one in which IS
partisans were executed year ago.
Besides Mussolini and his mistress,
the others reported executed in
eluded:
Allessandro Pavolini, secretary of
state In Mussolinis puppet regime;
1t. Gen. Achille Staraci, a former
vice secretary OF the Fascist, party;
francesca Barracu, vice president of
the states council Of ministers;
eaolo zerbino, minister of the in
terior; Fernando Messasome, min
Ister Of popular culture.
Ruggero Romano, minister of pub
bic works; Augusta Liverani, min
lster of communications; Paolo
Porta, Fascist party inspector for
Lombardo: Luigi Gatti, a prefect;
Goffredo Coppa, president of the
Institute of Fascist Culture; Err
nesto Dacquanno. director of the
Stefani news agency.
Mario Nudi, president of the
Fascist Agricultural Association;
Col. Vito Casalnuova of the Fascist
National Guard Nicola
Bombacci, described as one-time
Communist leader who turned Fas-
cist; Gen. Attic Teruzzi, former
chief of the Fascist militia; Hinter-
mayer, a propagandist; Gelormini,
LOST.