Italian squabble ends with assault charge
Today (Monday), at the Borough police court, Lorenza Rea, 5 Silver Street, was summoned by Pio Curfayno for assault on March 26th, and Mrs Lorenza Rea was summoned by Speranga Citrono for assault on March 26th. The cases were taken together, Mr GE Royle being for the defendants, and Mr J Whitfield for the prosecution.
Rea pleaded not guilty, and when the woman was asked to plead, Mr Royle said that she pleaded not guilty. He added: She doesn't speak English; she doesn't know what it means. (laughter.)
When Mr Whitfield was opening the case Mr Royle said Citrono's name was Rea, her mother having been named Citrono before marriage.
Mr Whitfield said she took the name of Citrono.
Mr Royle: Well, I have warned you. If there is a conviction in that name. I shall have it quashed, (loud laughter.)
From the statement of Mr Whitfield it appeared that the complainants had been out with a piano-organ, and when they were putting it away for the night, the male defendant attacked and struck the man, and the woman attacked the girl, Speranga Citrono. The assault was unprovoked, although there might have been some little jealousy. He asked the magistrates to impose such a penalty as would ensure peace amongst the Italians.
The male complainant, cross-examined by Mr Royle, denied that he had a knife in his hand, he never carried a knife in his life. If witnesses swore he had, they were wrong. He denied, too, that he had used opprobrious names to the defendants.
An English witness, named Simpson, a bootmaker, who has a shop in North Street near to where the assault took place, testified that Curfayno had not a knife. He saw the male defendant punching Curfayno.
Mr Whitfield: There generally is a knife suggested in these cases.
By Mr Royle: His attention was drawn to the affair by quarrelling. He did not know what preceded this.
Jabez Heffer, landlord of the Criterion Hotel, said he saw a scuffing from the distance, but when he got there the affair was practically over. He saw no blows actually struck, although Mrs Rea put up her hand as if to strike the girl. Later, he saw that the male defendant's face was hurt.
Pasquali Citrono and Speranga Citrono also gave evidence.
The defence
The male defendant went into the box and said Curfayno used foul names to him and his wife.
Mr Royle: You swear that?
Defendant: No - I never did swear at all. (Loud laughter.)
Mr Royle: You swear on your oath that that occurred.
Defendant: Oh yes.
Continuing, defendant said he then made an attempt to get hold of him and Curfayno had a knife which he was taking from his pocket. Witness then closed with him to stop him using the knife. The girl Citrono or Rea interfered, and then Mrs Rea seized hold of her.
By Mr Whitfield: He never struck Curfayno at all. What witness had said as to him hitting Curfayno was untrue. Asked as to how he accounted for the bruises later, defendant said he did not touch Curfayno. His wife did not strike the girl either. She simply took hold of her by the dress and lifted her.
Joseph Raine, 5 Clarence Place, said Curfayno put his hand in his pocket, he then drew it out, and immediately Rea rushed at him. The girl Citrono went to pull Rea off, and Mrs Rea then pulled her off. He could not see what Curfayno had in his hand.
An Italian female witness swore that she saw the knife Curfayno had.
The female defendant also gave corroborative evidence.
Mr Royle said that the case was simple if the magistrates were satisfied that there was a knife in that.
(Laughter.) If the knife was brought upon the stage Rea had a right to belabour Curfayno. In all such cases there was little to choose between one side and the other. If epithets such as has been spoken of, had been used, even a "cold blooded Englishman" would have retorted with his fists. The English evidence was entirely in Rea's favour.
The male defendant had been before the court on several previous occasions.
The magistrates fined Rea 42s including costs, and Mrs Rea 21s including costs, or in default a month, or fourteen days respectively.
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Weather for Scarborough
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South
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Sunny spells
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