WAR CRIMINALS

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22459, 21 September 1944, Page 6

WAR CRIMINALS

TRIAL OF CARUSO ASSISTANCE TO GERMANS TORTURE OF PRISONERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received Sent. 21. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 20 Great police precautions were taken today when the trial of Pietro Caruso, began, but only about sixty of the public were present in court. The place and time had been kept secret. Many hundreds of police surrounded the building and its ap-

proaches. Caruso was charged with collaborating with the Germans, also with responsibility for torturing political prisoners and handing over to the Germans a number of men who were subsequently shot, together with about 300 other victims. With Caruso in the dock was Roberto Occhieto, his secretary, on similar charges. Caruso entered the court on crutches as a result of injuries received in a car smash on June 4 while speeding from Rome as the Allies were marching into the southern part of the city. The court dismissed Caruso’s request for a stay of proceedings until after the war because of the absence of witnesses. Caruso for 65 minutes maintained that what he did was in obedience to superior orders. Murdered by Germans

Professor Ascarelli, president of the Medical Commission that is examining the bodies of persons allegedly shot by the Germans in caves ir* Rome, said that 338 bodies have so far been found, of which 39 were headless, probably because they were hit in the neck by explosive bullets. The victims, whose hands were tied behind their backs, were made to climb over the bodies of those already dead so that a mound was formed.

Caruso from the dock said that Kappler, of the German police, stating that he had orders from Kesselring to take reprisals for alleged attacks on Germans, demanded 100 prisoners. Caruso claimed that he had the number reduced to 50.