AT LAW FOR FOUR YEARS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1931, Page 7

AT LAW FOR FOUR YEARS

IDENTIFICATION MYSTERY i

WOMEN FIGHT FOR HUSBAND

RESULT OF A LOST MEMORY

‘PROFESSOR” IS CRIMINAL

By Telegraph—Press Assn Copyright. Florence, May 1.

An amazing case, drawn opt for four years, has settled the mystery, which baffled criminologists and psychologists, whether a man who had lost his memory Was Professor Canella, who was missing in war time, or a notorious criminal, Mario Bruneri, who escaped from gaol. Signora Canella’s positiveness that he was her long-lost husband was supported by the testimony of the Bishop of Verona and many lawyers. Similarly Signora Bruneri’s certainty was supplemented by the police and finger prints. The Court of Appeal has decided that the man is Bruneri, who will now serve eight years of his unfinished sentence. Meanwhile he has fathered Signora Canella’s two young children. The case is unique in the history of the Italian Bar. Four years ago a vagabond was arrested for stealing in Turin Cemetery, and, as he seemed to have lost his memory and to be ill, he was taken to the mad-house infirmary. On the publication of his photograph, it was recognised by Signora Canella as that of her h'ueband, a distinguished Venetian professor, who was believed to have fallen on the Macedonian front during the war. Hie wife had refused to believe in his death, and for 12 years had awaited his return in the family villa on Lake Garda. After a dramatic meeting at the mad-, house with , “the unknown,” there was a mutual Recognition, and Signora Canella was allowed by the authorities to take the sick man home, where he was received with open arms by the Canella children, relations, and friends. An anonymous letter interrupted the reunion. It said that “the unknown” was Mario Bruneri, a printer who had served two sentences in gaol and had a third warrant out against him. The. Canella family fought this theory, but lost their case in the Turin Tribunal and in the Court of Appeal, which gave sentence favouring the Bruneri identity. The Rome Court of Cessation annulled this sentence on the ground of irregularity in procedure, thus enabling the Canella family to bring the case again to the Court of Appeal in Florence. Signor Farinacci, the former Secretary of the Fascist Party, who is now a barrister, is defending the Canella family. Italy is divided between the Brunerites and Catiellites, and the case is discussed in every cafe.

Signora Bruneri and Signora . Canella each declare that the unknown is her husband, and the children of the gaol-bird and those of the distinguished ■ professor and officer call “the, unknown” father with equal insistence and. emotion. Signora Canella. does not intend to give up the . fight. She announces that. as a final step she will take recourse to the highest tribunal in Italy. The can® has already cost Signora Canella?s father £5OOO.