Daily Republican., 1879-05-05
FIFTH EDITION
CASE OF SMUGGLING.
The Captain OF the Italian Vessel
Fischetti, Lying NJ the Walton d
Whann's Works, CaUght at Nau
tical Crook eNneSH

Whann's works, Caught at Nau
tical Crook edness.
A week or so ago there arrived in
Delaware waters an Italian vessel,
named "Fischelti," from Sicily, loaded
with birthstone fer the Walton &
Whann Co., of this city. Owing to the
peculiar formation of the craft, it draw.
ing an unusual depth OF water, it, in
its heavily laden state, was compelled
to anchor at the mouth of the Christi
ana, and there have a PORTION of its car
go taken off by lighters. After three
or four days of this kind of labor the
vessel was enabled to enter the mouth
of the Christiana.
The captain and crew of the vessel,
being all Italians, were unabled to
speak word of English. An effort
was made by the captain to secure the
services of an interpreter. At last af
ter great difficulty one was found in tho
person of Angelo Cardinal, a peanut
vender, at the northeast corner of Fourth
and Market streets. By the aid of An
gelo the services of ID tug boat was Sc
cured and the "Fischetti" was towed to
the wharves of the Walton & Whann
Phosphate Company.
Asid. from the hriluston. there was
large quantity of sweet oil, wine and
other articles which had been put
aboard at Italy. Upon this there was no
duty paid. After Angelo and the cap
tain of the vessel had conversed awhile
they found that they were natives Of
the same part of Italy. In order to
show his generosity the Captain pres
ented to Angelo two gallons and half
Of native wine, three gallons of olive
oil, a lot of vinegar and two silk um-
brellas for which Angelo, in the muni-
ticence or his warm southern heart, re-
turned to the Captain no: as an equivo.
liant perhaps, but as material recogni-
tion of the Captains open heartedness,
a considerable sum Of money, six dol
lars of which sum was in return for
one of the umbrellas.
Angelo took the goods home, and ai-
ter tasting the wine, smelling the vine
gar, investigating the strength of the
oil, and trying an umbrella came to the
conclusion that he had been unmerci-
fnlly"doue for" eggregiously sold by
one Of his own countrymen. Having
an idea that the transaction was an il
legal one and that somewhere upon the
statute books of the country there was a
law which branded such proceedings as
an unmitigated case of smuggling, he
determined to have his money back or
vengeance.
One evening in the latter part of last
week he approached Sergeant Whelan
of the city police and in his broken En-
glish informed him of the facts in the
case. Upon this information the Sar-
geant took action. Thinking there was
some segars in the articles disposed of,
he went to the Office of the Internal
Revenue Collector. Subsequent inves
tigation revealing the fact that there
was nothing disposed of but the things
mentioned above, the Sergeant went to
the Office of Lewis Thompson, Collector
Of the Port of Wilmington.
lHdJ OluCtT at once tOOk dCllOu low
ards the apprehension Of the Captain,
and yesterday he was under arrest. An
interpreter was secured from Philadel-
phia, and the facts as communicated
by the Sergeant and substituted by
Angelo Cardinal we're thoroughly in
vestigated. While before the officers
the Captain seemed greatly troubled
He declared himself entirely innocent
of criminal intent, and that the articles
were disposed of to Angelo partly
through friendship and partly because
of the sickness of Angeles wife, whom
he knew would be greatly benefited
by her native beverage.
He in vindication of his act plead en-
tire ignorance of the laws and customs
Of the country, and therefore hoped no
official recognition would be taken in
the matter. His plea was made in a
vehement manner and amid HIS protes-
tatiens he broke down entirely, and
cried as child.
The sight was distressing one, and
the officers were fully impressed with
the mans innocence. What will be
done in the matter is not decided upon,
as there is much sympathy for the
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