A TRAGI-COMEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7891, 22 December 1903, Page 2

A TRAGI-COMEDY.

CURIOUS STORY OF AN ITALIAN LOVE QUARREL. An Italian love quarrel led to a trial for murder at Old Bailey on October 22. Incidentally, a curimiß light was thrown upon the customs appertaining to a Neapolitan courtship. Despite tlio gravity of the charge, the Court could not restrain its laughter at much of the evidence that was given. The prisoner was Oerardo Oappuccitto, alms Cerrone, an artist's model, aged seventeen, and he was indicted for the murder of Felice Ruggieri. The case arose out of a quarrel in Backhill, Clonkenwell, respecting a girl named Oerrone. The girl was in the prisoner's company when they met Pietro Bonanito, Who slapped her face. Drawing a revolver, tiio accused' fired at Bonanito twice. One of the bullets struck Ruggieri, who was passing by, and he fell dead. Bonanito, in the witness-box, denied that he threatened to make a cross on the girl's face. Be- only slapped hex by way of a joke, as he had don© many times before during their courtship. Mr Justice Bigham : A sort of caress, I suppose. Then, just show the jury how you caressed the girl by slapping her face. To the amusement of the Court, the witness gently tapped the ledge of the box. He went on to deny that ho carried a revolver. He had given the pawntickat of liis pistol to the brother of his cousin. Another Italian who witnessed' the tragedy gave a demonstration of the manner in which Bonahito slapped the girl's face. To illustrate' it realistically, he smote his own cheek. There was a series of minor witnesses. The Judge said to one of them: " Do you understand English?" and promptly received the reply, " No." In the end, the jury found the prisoner* guilty of manslaughter, and ho was sentenced to three years' penal servitude.