CANNON COMEDY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 2

CANNON COMEDY.

RELIC OF CENTURY-OLD WAR. The cannon that fired the first shot in the war between Ferdinand 1 and the King of Naples, more than a century ago (says the Rome correspondent of an English paper) has inspired three cases in the Calabrian Law Courts. The Prince of Belmonte, the owner of the trophy, made no reply to the Italian War Monument Committee’s suggestion that he should give up the historic gun for the war heroes’ monument in the village of Castellabate. Indignant Faseasti called on him in his moated castle, and, as he was absent, attempted to abduct the famous cannon. It took them three days to remove it, as it weighs three- tons, but on the day the corner stone of the monument was laid the cannon was present at the ceremony. When the prince heard he summoned the whole body of Castellabate Fascisti for theft. Lawyers on both sides displayed great eloquence at the trial. The Fascisti were exonerated but ordered by the court to return the gun. The urine© offered to fetch it, and sent a cart with eight oxen for the purpose. Villagers and Fascisti -for miles around appeared to witness the removal. Somebody threw an imitation bomb, made of a pumpkin wrapped in calico, and the scene ended in- a riot, dining which the prince’s representatives and the oxen were hurt. Another trial was the outcome. Two Fascisti were sentenced, hut they appealed. Now the third lawsuit over the cannon — which still reposes in the village square —has taken place, and the two most eloquent lawyers-' from Naples have fought a verbal duel which has resulted in a. victory for both sides. The too-impulsive Fascisti were ac-

quitted, and the prince was confirmed in hi s light to the historic piece of artillery Counsel for the Fascisti pro. tests that the verdict is improper as the cannon was not summoned to appear at the trial.