Musolino's Trial

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7317, 10 June 1902, Page 6

Musolino's Trial

Quarrel among Counsel Tor the

Detoneo,

l\o3ic, April 2:i. The trial of the brigand Musolino is a public- scandal. The prisoner is allowed to interrupt the proceedings with vainglorious remarks on hi.s loyalty and his prowess. His vanity is ridiculous. Although garbed in hideous prison clothes, he spends most o£ his time in the dock in posing and carefully arranging his hair. He also has a habit of plastering down with his wetted linger his massive black eyebrows.

Signer Limuri, the interpreter fer Musolino, an old gentleman, has a heavy loug white beard, which seems to tickle the fancy oC Musolino, who frequently interrupts with such observations as -. "Go on, old billy-goat," or "Greybeard, translate accurately."

The demeanor of Musolino. though condemned by the Press, unfortunately increases his popularity with the people, who are convinced that he was unjustly convicted at his first trial, and Hint coiiquently his subsequent escape and the murders committed by him are justified. Cards expressing sympathy and encouragement from all part's of '.Italy reach Musolino, who triumphantly asserts that he is backed by all the world. Two women of Palermo sent him a holy scapular of the Madonna, asking him to wear it in order to escape conviction. If the epidemic of sympathy affects the jury, a nuscarriiige'of justice is notimpossible.

Musolino's lawyers disagreed on tho course to be taken for his defence ; four of them withdrew, and one remained. The latter is reported tohave challenged liis colleagues to a duel. Musolino openly boasts that if convicted he will escape from prison, if he has to kill sue hundred people- to attain his object.

A witness named Maria Angela Priolo, having described the murder of her son, turned to the prisoner anil cried out, "This brigand killed him !" Musolino •it first turned pale, but immediately became furiou?, cursed the woman, and attempted to strike her. He was seized by the gendarmes, and after a terrible struggle was thrown to the ground. The president of the court ordered the ruffian to be taken back to prison. Musolino shouted, "Yes, I will go there, and I will not return." As he was being dragged out he hurled words of filthy abuse at the judges. Musolino has received £S0 in money presents from admirers, and will spend part of it in publishing the poetry he lias written in prison.