CATALAN TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1927, Page 9

CATALAN TRIAL

GAEEBALDI INDICTED

CONFESSION OF INFAMY

DID HE SELL HIS FRIENDS?

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) PAEIS, 22nd January.

Giving evidence at the Garibaldi trial, Detective Leluc declared that Scivoli, who was 1 suspected of plotting to assassinate Signor Mussolini, first aroused doubts concerning Garibaldi. Detective Leluc journeyed to Nice, and there interrogated Garibaldi, who admitted his relations with the Italian agents Sail and Lapolla, from whom he received money.

Garibaldi's counsel declared that his client was not aware, till it was too late, that Salla was a Fascist agent. , Scivoli gave evidence that Garibaldi requested him to go to Italy. He obtained a passport, but when he learned that the police were expecting him he suspected a betrayal. He was convinced of this when his passport photos were discovered among the papers of an Italian agent. SCENES OF TUMULT. The trial continues to be an indictment of Garibaldi by M. Torres, upon oharges of selling the.Catalan plans to the police. Garibaldi proves to be the most pugnacious. There have been many scenes of violent tumult, in which the Judge, M. Torres, Garibaldi, and his. counsel were all shouting at the same time, but M. Torres' tremendous bass dominated the hubbub. Garibaldi accused the police of extracting , his confessions by torture, but the po- ! lice denied this. There was a dramatic scene when the Italian Sesquiharino entered the wit-ness-box to support the allegation that Rizzoli, one of Maeia's followers, betrayed the plot. " Eizzoli shouted: "Coward! . 'Police spy! I will track you down. 6nly my respect for justice prevents me strangling you now. " The public laughed and cheered when Garibaldi's counsel withdrew the wit- ! ness without testifying. THEATRICAL EFFECT. ' ■ A packed Court awaited the denouement. The usual curtain-raiser was the j triumphal entry of Maeia's jolly con- : quistadors, accompanied by lively greetI ings from friends, as though the parI ties were playing amateur theatricals. One mother raised her baby aloft and [ waved it before the eyes of the paternal plotter. Finally Garibaldi entered alone and took an isolated seat, looking haughty and self-composed. ■ Garibaldi's counsel argued that the police exceeded their duty when they searched his house and detained him without warrant.

The Court replied that it would reserve its decision in that connection. ■Counsel for the prosecution admitted that Macia was an idealist Francophile, but alleged that he possessed arms and hatched a mad plot on French soil at the risk of embroiling France with a neighbouring country, forgetting he was a guest of France. Garibaldi also possessed arms. He admitted it was not proved that Garibaldi was mixed up with the, Catalans'"plot, and it was doubtful whether Garibaldi intended to help or betray Macia. Garibaldi confessed to the police that he had sold .his friends; but explained-that hewas forced to make that statement Counsel flung his finger in the direction of Garibaldi, saying: "A man of his lineage should have preferred to die betore confessing infamy." Garibaldi showed no emotion beyond uVt B°f a liP at this st4smg LICKHT SENTENCES. Garibaldi and Macia were sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined 100 francs. .Their accomplices were sennrdiowT 11^'8 imprisonment-d