CAMORRA TRIAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1094, 5 April 1911, Page 5

CAMORRA TRIAL.

PASSIONATE APPEAL TOiJURY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrlclit' Rome, 'April 3. The trial is continuing at Vitorbo, 50 miles north-west of Bomo, of the39members of the secret society known as the Cainorra, or Black Hand, who are charged with having been concerned in the murder, in atrocious circumstances, of Madame Cuocolo on June 5, 1900. The, woman's husband was also tho victim of the society, of which lie was a member. Tho evidence of tho informer, Abattcmaggio, was concluded after ho had been, under examination, for a •week. The chief of tho gang, Eurico Alfani, is now being interrogated. As a lad Alfani had reorganised tho Neapolitan Camorra until he controlled the horse market, the dockers, and bands of smugglers. It is alleged that Cuocolo and his wife, who were suspected by tho Camorrists of occasionally acting as police spies, had aroused the enmity of Alfani, who nursed his rcvengo for several years. Finally, according to tho informer's story, on the death of the Cuocolos being decreed, by the society, be engaged six desperadoes in murder them. Under examination, Alfani revealed a subtle intellect and displayed real rhetoric. In a passionate, appeal to the jury, lie asked them to consider that the prisoners were sons of Vesuvius—quick-tempered and vivacious, but incapable of committing ferocious murders. Moreover, ho declared, their financial position mado risks unnecessary; they bad made.large profits by selling mules to England during tho time of the South African War, and to Lord Kitchener for (he use of the troops in India. Alfani proceeded to explain that tho reason he fled to America when Abattemaggio made bis revelations was that ho feared he might bo imprisoned for years Wore being put on his trial.