CATALAN PLOTTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1927, Page 2

CATALAN PLOTTERS

DRAMATIC SCEN ICS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.. PARIS, January 21. evidence at tlic trial ol Rieciotti Garribaldi, in connection \vitill the Catalan plot in France for a Spanish rising. Detective Reliic declared that Scivoli. who was suspected oi plotting to assassinate .Mussolini, first aroused doubts concerning Garribaldi. He (Lelue) had journeyed to Nice, and there he interrogated Garribaldi, who admitted rolatons with Italian agents named Sulla and Lapolla, from whom lie had received money.

Garrihaldi’s counsel declared that his client was not aware till it was too late that Salla was a Fascist agent. Scivoli gave evidence, lie said that Garribaldi requested him to go to Italy, lie obtained a passport, hilt when he learned that the police were expecting him. he suspected a betrayal. He was convinced of this when the passport photos were discovered among the photos of an Italian agent. The trial continued to he an indictment of Garribaldi by 'lories upon charges of selling the Catalan plans to the police. Garribaldi proved Lliat he is most

pugnacious. I here were many scenes of violent, tumult, in w hich the Judges, Torres, Garribaldi and his counsel were all shouting at the same time, hut Torres has a tremendous bass voice which dominates the hubbub. Garribaldi accused the police of extracting from him a confession by torture. The police denied this. There was a dramatic scene when an Italian, Seskcbarinn. entered the witness box to support the allegation that RVy.oli. one of Maeia’s followers, had betrayed the plot.

Bizzoli shouted: “Coward! Police spy ! I will track you down ! Only my respect for justice prevents me strangling you now!” The public laughed, and they cheered when Garribnldi’s counsel withdrew the witness without testifying. The hearing was then adjourned. Riciotti Garribaldi and Alaeia were sentenced 'to two months’ imprisonment and each lined one hundred francs in connection with the Catalan plot Jn France for a rising in Spain. Their accomplices were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, anil each fined fifty francs. A packed court awaited the denouement. The usual “curtain-raiser” was a triumphal entry of Alaeia’s jolly Conquistadores, accompanied by lively greetings from friends, as though the parties were playing amateur theatricals. One mother raised her habv aloft and waved it before the eyes of a paternal plotter. Finally Riciotti Garribaldi entered the Court alone. He took an isolated •seat, looking haughty and composed. Garrihaldi’s counsel argued that the police had exceeded their duty when they searched his house and detained him without any warrant.

The Court replied that it would reserve its decision in that connection. Counsel for the prosecution, admitted that Maria was on idealist Francophile. but he allegedly possessed arms, and had batched a mad plot on French soil, at the risk of embroiling France with a neighbouring country, forgetting that he was the guest of France. Garribaldi had also possessed arms. Counsel admitted that it was not proven that Garribaldi was mixed up with the Catalans’ plot, and counsel said it was doubtful whether Garribaldi intended to help or to betray Maria. Garribaldi had confessed to the police that he had sold his friends, but bo had explained that he was forced to make that statement. Counsel then

flung bis finger in the direction of Garribaldi, saying: “A man of bis lineage should have preferred to die before confessing an infamy.” Garribaldi showed no emotion, beyond a twitching of the lip at this stinging taunt. (Received .this day at a a.in.) PARIS, January 23. M. Torres, defending Maria, shook the court room when he dramatically turned to Garribaldi, thundering: “Don’t evoke the memory of your comrades of the Argonne. lest the dead rise from their shrouds, and murmui from their tomb their disgust and horror of you.” He concluded Go, Garribaldi, and resume your place alongside the assassin of Matteotti.” When the applause had died, Garri--I,nidi’s counsel cuttingly referred to Torres’ useless cruelty and especially recounted the history of the Ganilialdi family, causing Riceiotti to hide his face and quietly sob. The judgment was greeted with applause accompanied bv shouts of: •“ Long live Colonel,” in various languages.