New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-21
FRAUDS ON GOVERNMENT.
FORGERIES BY HUNDRED
Spurious Naturalization Papers Sold
to Ineligible FOREIGNERS.

Through the detection of case of forged
naturalization papers in the United States Dis
trict Court yesterday the federal authorities got
a clew to a system of wholesale forging of such
documents which has been going for year,
and which. it is thought, will assume gigantic
proportions. The federal authorities think that
thousands of foreigners have obtained spurious
naturalization papers. in most cases not being
aware of the fraud.
Secret Service agents have been working
naturalization frauds here for some time know
ing that. through underground method. hun
dreds of Turks and Syrians were getting their
final citizenship papers in Rhode Island. par
ticularly in Providence. 1t is known that there
in that State number of Turks and Syrians
who have been acting professional witnesses
for New-York countrymen, who would visit
Providence, and while there get their full citi-
zenship papers, witnesses there swearing not
only that the applicant had lived continuously
in the United States for five years, but that in
addition ne had lived for year previous in
Rhode Island secret Service Agent Hoag, of
Washington, last Tuesday caused the arrest of a
Turkish resident of this city. said to be Inter
ested in a Turkish importing firm in lower
Westinghouse. charge of getting his pa
pers in this way. 1t said at the time that
other arrests both in this city and in Rhode
Island, would follow.
Giuseppe Ferraro. button maker. of No. 355
West One-hundred-a -thirteenth-st, appeared
yesterday as a witness n behalf of Antonio
Mitano. laborer. of No 800 East hundred
and-seventh-st who appeared in court to get
his final citizenship papers. Ferraro said he
had obtained his final papers on February 16.
Deputy United States Marshal Noon, hear
ing this assertion informed Commissioner
Alexander that he had recollection of the
man having been before him.
bo6 tba do he
10Th examined and also those for weeks prior
and subsequent 10 that date, but record of
any Giuseppe Joseph Ferraro could be found
The Italian insisted that he had obtained his
papers in that very room on the date mentioned
The commissioner sent Ferraro to his home TO
get the certificate. He returned with what ap
peared to be a certificate OF naturalization.
A glance told the commissioner that not only
was his signature TO the certificate forged, but
the paper itself and the seal OF the United States
Court as well Ferraro declared that on the 18th
he went to the clerks office of the court. accom-
panied by a witness 20 get his papers, to which
he was entitled having lived in this country for
five years He approached by a man who
demanded his business.
II told him / wanted my papers" said
Ferraro "and he told he would get them
He asked me a few questions. took down my
full name and went out. Later he came back
handed
So 90 This 1 knew was the correct fee. and I
paid it. Thinking 1t was all right. went home
with the certificate"
Ferraro pointed to door leading to the clerks
office. but which is kept locked and never used.
as the room in which this occurred. He could
give no description of the man from whom he
got the papers other than that he was an
American. saying he had not noticed him
closely Neither could he give the name of the
witness who accompanied him. and whose
sworn affidavit the papers were to have been
issued This witness, he said, was an American
friend of his but he did not know his name, nor
could he give his address He promised to try TO
find him.
F'erraro asserted that he had not been ques-
toned as the law requires. Neither had he been
taken before any Judge to be sworn nor had he
e,,ar soon Commissioner Alexander before.
A couparson of the certificate produced by
Erarraro with the originals issued by the United
States District Court showed many discrep-
ancies The paper was the same. but there
uera a number of noticeable differences in the
nr,ntine The agile on the top of the certificate
was noorlv executed and badly blurred The red |
saaI was exactly the same size. and the impress |
sion of the seal of the court was. with one slight
exception, identical with the original An at.
ten,nt had been made to initiate the signature or
Condnissioner Alexander. although ii was poorly |
done and the name spelled 'Aexand-r.
Commissioner Alexander TOOK Ferraro before
Irnitad States Commissioner Shields. where he |
was charged with having a forged document or
the United States without a satisfactory ex- |
nIanatton therefor. He was committed TO Jail |
In default of So 900 bail The penalty for con- |
yiction is five years
r5aderaI Building hoping to get his citizenship |
-,anars ON Ferraro's affidavit, disappeared.
commissioner Alexander said whoever forged |
tho certificate and seal had not done so to issue
one or two. and that probably many hundreds |
would be discovered.