Recess

Racing on from climax to climax in a Roman courtroom, the unfolding story of Italy's sensational Montesi affair seemed more and more to be leaving behind its protagonists: obscure young Wilma Montesi, whose dead body was found on a beach near Ostia nearly a year ago, and Silvano Muto, the editor who stood on trial for spreading "false and adulterated news" about her death. To the millions gobbling up each day's revelations of debauchery in high places, the fate of Wilma and Muto seemed of secondary importance compared to the speculations swirling about the "Marchese" Ugo Montagna, stage-struck Socialite Anna Maria Caglio, his onetime mistress, and Piero Piccioni, son of Italy's Foreign Minister.

Last week a letter written by La Caglio in the form of a last will and testament turned the whole trial topsy-turvy. "Who knows what will happen to me?" said the letter, ferreted out by a newsman and subpoenaed by the court. "I have too many Christian scruples to commit suicide, but knowing both Montagna and Piccioni, I am afraid to disappear without leaving a trace of myself. Unfortunately for myself, I have learned that Ugo is the chief of a dope ring responsible for the disappearance of many women. He is the brains of this organization, while Piero Piccioni is the assassin ..."

As the letter appeared, both Montagna and Piccioni were on call to testify at the next session. But before they could take the stand, prosecution and defense agreed that the "serious accusation" of the letter "had brought an entirely new element to the trial." The judge concurred and this week ordered the trial of Editor Muto suspended indefinitely. Instead, he recommended, there should be a new and wider investigation of the whole shocking affair.

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