The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-16
ARE CHARGED WITH LIBEL
Pr0prietors Bell and Watkins OF
Times Placed Under Arrest.
DID NOT HAVE A HEARING
They Entered Bail st Once for Their Ap.
poarauce Mt Court What Frank
Cariucci Has to Ssy-Affidavits
That lie Produces.

Proprietors Bell & Watkins. OF the
Times, were arrested yesterday after
noon on warrants issued at the instance
of Vito Girardo and Rinaldo Lalii,
hotelkeepers of Dunmore. by Alderman
o. b. Wright. In the Information on
which the warrants We're issued 1t Is
set forth that the complainants were
libelled and held up to public contempt
by articles which appeared In the Times
on Aug. z and 8. 1t is contended that
these articles gave the public the i'm
preston that THE Malta. certain oath
bound organization of unsavory repu-
tation. held meetings in the hotels of
the prosecutors on Willow street, Dun
more.
1t is set forth that this charge or
insinuation Is wholly untrue. and that
no such organization as the Malta ever
met in the hotels of Mr.. Girardo or
Mr.. Lalli. Messrs. BELL and Watkins.
after the warrants Were served. went
before Alderman Wright. waived 4
hearing. and entered bail for their ap-
pearance at court.
Causc OF the Arrests.
The arrest of the proprietors Of the
Times is the result of articles that
have appeared In the Times charging
that there Is an organization known
this city and vicinity In discussing the
matter Frank Carlucci, one of the most
prominent Italians of the city. said last
night:
I'VE feel aggrieved at the attacks
that the Times has made on our people.
They are very unjust and have ten
dency to injure us In the eyes of the
people of this community. whose fav-
orable opinion every. good Italian is
striving for. Ten of us waited on Edi-
tor Bell Monday and asked him to give
us the name of the person who inspired
the articles against u.s. or else retract
the damaging assertions made He
treated us with scant courtesy and We
have therefore appealed to the law
which Mr.. Bell says we have such little
respect for. We have not finished yet,
and propose to begin other suits against
himself and partner besides those IN
which Mr.. Lalli and Mr.. Girardo are
prosecutors.
The statement published in the
Times alleging to be an interview with
Frank Agli was untrue. as the follow
ing affidavit sworn to today before
Mayor w. L. Connell proves:"
The Agh Affidavit.
Lackawanna County, S.: City of Scran-
ton.
Before me, the subscriber. mayor Of said
city, in said county, personally came
Frank Agli, of Scranton, who. upon SOL
emn oath according to law, said that the
statement made in the Scranton Times, a
newspaper published in the city of Scran-
ton, on Aug. l3. 1895, to wit: II don't care
whether you say 1t in the paper or not, but
Il you want to you can do SO, all the lower
class OF Italians want to do is to steal and
kill and then say nothing about" etc,
etc, IS untrue in every respect and Is in
tended to injure me before the Italian peo-
pie Frank Agli.
Sworn and subscribed this 18th day of
August. 1895. w. L. Connell, Mayor.
The following affidavit, which Mr..
Carlucci also produced. he said, was
truth in the story in the Times con-
cerning the existence of Malta here:
State of Pennsylvania, County OF Lacka-
wanna, IS:
Before me, a notary public duly COM
missioned and residing in Scranton. Pa,
personally appeared Emiddio CriscuOlo,
who, being duly sworn according to law.
deposes and says: II never told the re-
porter of the Scranton Times or anybody
else in regard to the statements made in
the Times under date Of August 7th and
Sth, A. d. 1895. or any other time, con-
cerning the existence Of a "Mafia" society
In this city; and further that / never re-
ported that had been threatened by any
of the Italian societies or by any person
in any form whatever; and further that
am the person called and named in the
Times as "Leferve:' and futher that this
affidavit is made voluntarily by me and not
through threats or fear of any person or
society of persons. / am a friend of the
Times reporter. but never spoke to him
about the Mafia and do not know Of the
existence Of any such society.
Emilio CriscuOlo.
Sworn and subscribed before me the 18th
day Of August, A. d. 1895.
Watson Browning. Notary Public.
Witnesses present: Frank Williams. V.
Cassese Nicalo LETTER.