REVELATIONS OF THE CAMORRA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 102, 20 June 1911, Page 8

REVELATIONS OF THE CAMORRA.

o COXSIDEBATION IX ITALIAN PRISON. UXCOXCERNED PRIEST. There is no diminution in the interest in the trial of the Carnorrists at Viterbo (writes the correspondent of an English daily), and no abatement of Die anger of the caged prisoners against the informer Abbateinaggio, Tne latter created a senration on Tuesday, May 1, when he declared that every man on entering prison was asked if he belonged to the Camorrn, and that according to Ins answer ho was put other witii the Carnorrists or with those outside that’ organisation. Ahbatemapgin, declared emphatically that..before the judges the Camorra enjoyed a -quasi-official recognition. In all the big psnitiarics and convict settlements in South Italy, it was more powerful to-day than in the sixties. Wherever three Carnorrists are gathered together in gaol they have the right of nominating a primate, and • hose groups o! primates :n livers paits of the poison or settlement in their turn elect a sort of Poniilex Maximus. Jl some innate claiming to to a, Camorrist is suspected, then the secretary of the par field i - branch is written to for testimonials, and tin’s clandestine coir n spordoiiCo »,$ convey'd .through inmates about to le rehasod, and generally with the connivance of the warders. • Those discli sures apparently greatly- disturbed ti e prisoners, who oegan burling epithets at Abbi.-tepiaggio, Rrricone ohouting, ‘He deserves thirty years in prison ’ Throughout the whole nf tlio exciting time, father Vitv/d real his Inoviary, conveying the impression that the question did not ccuce.i n him. After this Ahhatemaggio and Sortino were confronted. The scene was most dramatic. They stood opposite each other before the President, suiToundeld by Carabineers, some of whom even stood between them like cats watching mice, ready to spring. Ahbatcmagg'o amazed everyone with a marvellous description of the Guocolo murder down to the minutest particulars, saying occasionally to Sortino: “But you know better than I, as you were there.” He took up a penholder to demonstrate how. Guocolo was struck. Sorfcino interrupted him by exclaiming that it was imnessihie to murder any one holdinig a knife as described by Abbatcmaggio, and the accused nil ridicule! him, saying his demonstration was-absurd. Sortino defended himself with great ability and vigour, pointing out Minposed contradiction? and impossibilities in the statement of Abbatornaggio. He said that while, according to the infer mo>', all the- murdcrei n changed clothes, he apparently did not, although he had. as was alleged, actively participate.l in tne Minders noth vf Guocolo .•.no Ins wife.