Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-31
LUKED TO OUR SHORES
AN ITALIAN VICTIM TELLS A
 PATHETIC STORY.
Further Work of the Congressional Com. mlttes-How the Poor Immigrant h Swlndled by Lying "Cutthroats."

Swindled by Lying "Cutthroats."
 NEW YORK, July 31. 1.-Copgressman Ford, Chairman of theCongressional Immigration Committe, did not preside at yesterdays investigation. he having received tele- gram in the morning announcing the death of a sister in Lansing, Mich.
 After a private conference. Congress- men Oates, Morrow, and Guenther entered the Committee-room at quarter to twelve o'clock, and the session was begun, with Gen. Oates presiding. The Committee would have adjourned out of respect to the Chairman, but several witnesses had been subpenaed whose presence it would be difficult or, at any rate, inconvenient to secure upon another occasion, aud it was therefore decided, in accordance with the wish of Chairman Ford, to proceed with the investigation to-day and tomorrow, and then take short adjournment for few days until Congressman Ford can re- turn from Michigan, whither he proceeds this afternoon to attend to the arrange ments of hls sisters funeral
 The first witness examined to-day was another of the sidewalk brigade of Ital- ians, one of number of recently arrived immigrants who have been unable to ob- tain work in this city and whose pres ence before the Committee has been se- cured as good demonstration of the
 
 from Italy, and whose plain unvarnished stories Of the manner in which they were induced to come to this country were thought very desirable. His name was Nicolo D'Aloc He said he was native of Palmuh, province of Cahiti, Italy, where he lived until he came to this country. He was ffty-six years of age and landed in this country on June 22. He could not read or write; he WAS farm hand and earned from ten to fifteen cents a day and food for himself; he had & wife aud four children whom he had left at , home; he also had 8 small winery; his family all worked and earned a little money; it cost himself and his family 1 from three to four francs day Tor living, | including clothes; he was induced to come to this country by man who told | him that plenty of work could be obtain ed in America at Sl.5) day; he was | furnished, as we'll as several others, | with free ticket to New York and ! letter to q man. named NJ. Bereadini, ! at 34 Mulberry street New York city, who he was promised, would find hlm work; 1 in return for the free ticket he and his 1 wife signed contract to pay to the man tn 1 Palmul who induced him to come to this country, out of his first wages earned in ] this country, the sum of 250 francs; he had i no money when he landed in this country, and he had not done a days work since he arrived here; he had been provided with food and lodging by two benevolent socie- ties.
 Gen. Oates asked the witness if he would accept work at fifty cents d day, in reply ' to which he said, what could he do with thati it would not do more than to keep him in food and clothes and there would be nothing to send to his family.
 The witness said that here he had to buy every uhlng but at home he could pick up a little corn, etc, which, with the aid Of his winery, assistedAm maintaining himself and his family; he also had shares in some little agricultural ventures, from which he obtained something; he would go home if he could; 1t was his intention when he came here to make this country his home, il hc succeeded i'll getting work; of the thirteen men in tho party with whom he came to this country from his native place only three had obtained work; "boss" named Vincenzo Tella from Philadelphia came to the place one day and picked out from the different parties at 34 Mulberry street twenty one men; those men paid or agreed to pay $ each for work to the boss, $5 for a fee and & for steam
 boat fare "Why could not the other men do the sameAagree to pay such fee out of their first &rning }" Because they did not have the chance; they were not sell ected; the contract to pay the man in Italy 25O francs was in writing before witnesses and in it had stipulated to pay the money
 by the end of August on the representa- ttons of the man who induced him to emi- grate the he (the wituess) could earn the
 money in the first month he spent in
 America.
 The witness said that the man iu Palmuh
 who induced him to emigrate, and whose name was Cerrecini, had sent out men on
 the same terms for some years past; all
 who were sent out last year had paid the 250 francs each that they had stipulated
 to do; they all made contracts the same
 as the witness; about thirty were sent
 out by Cerrecini last year. Cerrecini
 kept general village store at Palmuli
 when the witness arrived in this country
 he and his companions were met by 8 "runner'' at Castle Garden in the em-
 ploy of Bereadina of No. 34 Mulberry street, and Viucenzo Tella of Philadelphia; {;
 he had learned since his arrival in this city
 that the cost of a passage from Naples to
 this country was only 1l6 francs, although
 Cerrecini had charged him 250 francs, and
 he (the witness) had signed contract to
 pay that sum therefor; they could not do
 anything to Cerrecin; it was his business
 to do as he had done; if they attempted to prosecute him they might get imprisoned themselves; Cerrecini had served them all the same; all those who came out with
 the witness had been deceived by the false } representations of Cerrecni: all who had come out during the past twelve months
 had been deceived; after the 31st of Au- gnst, if the principal of the debt of 25C ! francs were not paid, Mir. Cerrecini would
 add interest to the debt at the rate of 2l
 per cent. per annum.
 Commissioner Guenther-'Is that the usual rate of interest in ltalya" (Laughter) The wltnes replied that the rate of interest was from 10 to % per cent; that 10 per cont. was the lowest.
 Congressman Guenther-"Have you any persons in Italy known as usurersf' The witness replied that when the people were hard up they went to those fellows whom they call cutthroats (this with signifcan, gesture), and borrowed money, paying at { the rate of $ for l.
 Congressman Oates" l have known ol men who do the same in this country ' TLaughter.l The witness, continuing, said that Cerrecini was one of those cutthroats ; and so, too, were his friends in this country, | Reraadidn TelIa