"TOO MANY FALSE TEARS.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 March 1926, Page 9

"TOO MANY FALSE TEARS.”

Murder Trial In Italy,

PROSECUTOR’S “WHITS* WASHING ” SPEECH. Ey Cable--Press Association—CcpyrKht. Australian and N.Z.'Ceble Association. (Received .March 2-1, 7.15 p.m.) ROME, March 23. At Iho close of the evidence tendered in the Matteotti trial, at Chioti, flic public prosecutor in a .singular whitewashing speech, said he refused to pour tears on the tomb oi Matteotti, over whose grave too many false tears had been shed already. If was not a political trial, but one in which five unfortunates were anxiously awaiting their fates. These five have a vision of the grave, nauseous with all its •stench, as when the decayed remains of Matteotti were taken out. They fought bravely in the war, and bore decorations of valour.

The prosecutor claimed that Duiniui was guilty of unintentional death, following on the culpable sequestration of Mattentti'.s person. The other prisoners were accomplices in a. minndegree, such as kidnappings, which were common at t.ho time, and regarded as practical jokes.

[Signor Giacomo Matteotti, a Socialist member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, who was believed to be in possession of incriminating documents, disappeared from his home in Rome on •lune 10th, 1021. Suspicion of foul play immediately arose, and became a certainty within 48 hours. Ho had been kidnapped and murdered. Two persons, Filippo Filipelli and Amerigo Domini, were arrested, and both made statements in which they incriminated persons in high office. 'This led to the resignation of General do Bono, Chief Commissioner of Rolice, and Signor Ahlo Finzi, Under-Secretary of the Inferior, and to the arrest of C. Rossi, eniel of the Press Bureau, and Marine! U, a member of the directorate of Ibe Fascist Party, on suspicion of connivance in the murder. Signor Mussolini likewise relinquished the portfolio oi Home _A flairs to Signor Fcdernoni, Minister low Iho Colonies.]