THE PALACE OF JUSTICE IN ROME; SIGNOR DOLCI WITH HIS ATTORNEY; CROWDED COURTROOM; THE JUDGE; SIGNOR MATTERELLA AND HIS SUPPORTERS.




Initials RM/S/CCT/BB



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Background: A COURT IN ROME YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) ADJOURNED UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY A DEFAMATION SUIT BEING BROUGHT AGAINST THE SICILIAN REFORMER, SIGNOR DANILO DOLCI, FOR PUBLICLY NAMING TWO FORMER ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MEMBERS AS HAVING ALLEGEDLY SOUGHT AND RECEIVED THE AID OF THE MAFIA -- A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION -- IN A SICILIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. SIGNOR DOLCI IS BEING SUED BY A FORMER TRADE MINISTER, SIGNOR BERNARDO MATTARELLA, AND A FORMER TRANSPORT UNDER-SECRETARY, SIGNOR CALOGERO VOLPE.

SIGNOR DOLCI HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR YEARS TO BREAK THE POWER IN SICILY OF THE MAFIA AND ITS USE OF BLACKMAIL, INTIMIDATION AND MURDER. HIS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SIGNOR MATTARELLA AND SIGNOR VOLPE ARE CONTAINED IN DOCUMENTS HE PUBLISHED LAST YEAR. SIGNOR DOLCI SAID HE COLLECTED THE DOCUMENTS WHILE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES OF POVERTY IN SICILY.

BOTH SIGNOR MATTARELLA AND SIGNOR VOLPE HAVE STRONGLY DENIED SIGNOR DOLCI'S ACCUSATIONS. LAST WEEK, THE SICILIAN-BORN AND 60-YEAR-OLD SIGNOR MATTARELLA TOLD THE COURT THAT HIS SUCCESS IN HE ELECTION WAS DUE TO HIS HAVING BEEN A LEADER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ACTION MOVEMENT IN HIS DISTRICT FOR 24 YEARS.