FUNNIEST TRIAL IN HISTORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 316, 1 June 1911, Page 6

FUNNIEST TRIAL IN HISTORY

GROTESQUE SCENES IN THE I CAMORRA CAGE. Viterbo, April 7. When the Camorra trial was resumed to-day it was noticed that the prisoner Rapi was absent from the cage. It was learnt subsequently that he was suffering from a" sore throat, having strained his voice too much in his excitement during yesterday's proceedings. ! Father Vitozzi resumed his evidence, continuing his description of the attempts made to make him appear guilty ! while in prison and his maltreatment by the judges during the preliminary investigation. He especialy complained that the Judge Detilla had insulted him, calling him a Camorrist and a pig. "This cowardly, savage judge," he almost shrieked, "trampled not only on the human, but on the Divine law. I reminded him that he must die. 'Beware!' I Baid, 'beware! Anathema! Anathema!"' Father Vitozzi displayed such intense excitement that the president urged him to be calm. When he had become somewhat quieter, the president asked him if he knew Abbatemaggio. Father Vitozzi answered that he did not, adding that the statement made by Abbatemaggio I were false. "I will ask hiro," he said, "to swear on the ashes of his father and on those of his dead son, hoping that lie will b« touched." Abattemaggio: "I will swear on anything you please." Father Vitozzi, turning on Abbatemaggio like a viper: "I will curse you down to the seventh generation." Abbatemaggio, calmly: "I am sorry ■for you." Father Vitozzi, changing his tactics and becoming pathetic: "No curses. I remember lam a priest. I must pardon even those who injure me. I want,' to take you to my bosom." The priest soon became tragic again, and recounted how the look of hair of "that holy soul, his mother," had been seized, The judge insisted that the lock in question was the lock of his mistress. "What nonsense!" exclaimed the witness. "It was grey! Can anyonel imagine a greater profanation?" J Again invoking the soul of his mother,' he declared that he had fasted for fortyeight hours (during the whole of his interrogatory) supported by Divine force. The recollection of the insults to the memory of his mother was too overwhelming, and he began to weep and sob. Finally, he fainted, fallin; against tho iron bars of the cage. Lawyers and Carabineers rushed to his assistance, and the president ordered him to be given the yolks of half-a-dozen eggs beaten up to counteract his weakness. During the afternoon sitting the president asked him if it were true that he was present at a banquet given by the : Camorrists at Castellamare, where he removed his gown and danced and sang obscene songs. Father Vitozzi answered that he was present at the banquet referred to, but «aw no Camorrists there. He said he had a good tenor voice, but only used it for Gregorian chants. He hoped that he would soon be released and be again singing in the church at Viterbo. After Father Vitozzi had several times given indications of going off into a fresh faint, which were met by the prompt and effective intervention of the president, the sitting was adjourned.— Router.