ANGRY CROWDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 69, 19 September 1944, Page 5

ANGRY CROWDS

ANTI-FASCIST TRIAL

GAOL OFFICIAL LYNCHED IN ROME

{By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. ILIO a.m. LONDON, Sept, 18.

Riotous scenes occurred in the Palace of Justice in Rome this morning when Pietro Caruso, former Police Chief of Rome, was about to come up for trial in the first big anti-Fascist trial, says Renter's Rome correspondent.

An angry crowd of about a thousand, including many widows of men whom Caruso is reported to have sent to their death, swept into the Court and even occupied the jury's seats, crying, "We want Caruso. We want justice." The Courtroom presented a fantastic scene. Ten men armed with revolvers, who were ready to shoot Caruso the moment he appeared, were discovered and were disarmed. The Courtroom was a seething mass of people, with boys hanging precariously from balustrades high in the air. A British officer .appealed to the crowd to go home and wait for the result of the trial, pro.mising that justice would be done. Large numbers of Italian police did not attempt to interfere, beyond verbal protests.

Finally, ;at 10 a.m., an hour after the trial sho.uld have started, it was announced that it had been temporarily I suspended. Caruso was held in a small xoom near the Court. An angry crowd swarmed outside, swearing to lynch him. There was a big crowd also at the exits .of the palace, uttering the ■same threats.

Dr., Canetta.. former governor of Regius gaol, .one of the principal witaesses .against Caruso, was recognised ■by the crowd and attacked. Bleeding and half-dead, Canetta -was thrown into ■the nearby liber, and -as the body floated downstream people in a boat followed and beat the ihead with oars. Then they dragged ithe body from the riyer, -after which the mob carried it to Regina gaol and hung it up at the (entrance. Many women participated in the attack. ENTIRELY ITALIAN AFFAIR. The trial at which Caruso and Canetta were to have was an entirely Italian ,affair, the only Allied officers present being observers from the Allied Control Commission, states Renter's Rome correspondent. The Romans' demonstration followed a big i •campaign an the Leftist, particularly1 the Communist, newspapers, against ■ the delay with which justice is being '• meted out to Fascists. Caruso, who is: 45, worked with the German S.S. Colonels Kappler and Dollman. He ter-; rorised the city with five special inquisition scjuads which were notorious for their violent and ruthless methods. Caruso is' liable to the death sentence, because on March 24 he handed over to the Germans 50 Italian political prisoners, whom the Germans shot, to-: gether -with 270 other victims. This was .a .reprisal for the killing by Partisans of 32 German S.S. men during a ceremonial parade in Rome. Caruso is also charged with violating the extraterritorial rights of St. Paul's Basilica and with Joking out 65 political refugees who sought shelter with the -monks. Caruso's secretary, Roberto Occhieto, is appearing on similar charges. It is believed that the trial will be resumed under more suitable security ■conditions. Caruso and Occhieto this afternoon were returned safely to ■prison after the crowd had dispersed. | Observers, who express the opinion h that the disturbance reflects weakness on the part of the Italian Government, the agents of which made little effort to preserve order, suggest that the shadowy powers which the Allies granted to the Italian Government may i be partly responsible for this.

The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of .Great Britain says .that the issue now facing the Bonomi Government is whether it can maintain order ,and proceed with the trial. It will be regarded as a sign of weakness on the part of the Government if the trial is postponed or transferred.