Evening journal., 1904-07-29
United States District At
torney John p. NieIds
Gives Reasons for
Peeke's knowledge of
De ellis Actions
Judge Bradford Viii
Charge Jury Either
Late This Afternoon or
the First Thing TomOr-
row Morning

After sitting five days in the case Of
f. c. Benedict Peeke, charged in
United States Court with conspiracy
the jury will probably be charged late
this afternoon or the first thing tomor-
row morning.
Each side was allowed one and a half
hours in which to address the jury this
morning and promptly at II o'clock
United States District Attorney John p.
Nields began his argument.
Mr.. Nields in beginning his address
TO the jury Immediately took up the
question of Peekes veracity as a wit
ness in his own behalf. He said: He
is a trained witness and consequently
knew how to act. He knew what to
tell and what to say while on the stand.
The fact that these Italians were inn
posed upon showed a discretion on the
part of the defendant in extorting
money from them. He employed a
man named De ellis, barber as in
terpreter at 81 per day. He found him
a useful man and kept him in his em-
ploy. 1t remains for you gentlemen to
decide whether Peeke was cognizant Of
De ellis actions"
Mr.. Nields took up the Antonio De
Leonardo case and went over the evil
dence given in this particular instance
in detail. Following this case the Dis
trict Attorney took up each of the other
eases in the order in which they were
heard and argued that it was entirely
impossible that the defendant could
have been ignorant of De ellis ac-
tons
Can you believe. gentlemen" said
MIR. Nields TO the jury, that this $2-a-
day barber Cmeaning De Cillis) pulled
the defendant around at will without
the defendants knowledge of what was
going on?"
Gentlemen. I appreciate the feelings
of Mr.. Huston l.. Peeke. who came
here to defend his brother and L know
that you do. But, what is my duty?
What IS your duty? Here is a man who
held an important position in the serv-
ice Of the government and who is
charged with . grievous offense. You
must judge him from the evidence you
have heard. aside from any personal
1 feelings you may have in the Qhse."
Mr.. Nields at this point announced
that he would later go over the evil
dence IN detail.
I. Argument For Defense.
5. Attorney Reiter. one Of the counsel
for the defendant, addressed the jury
for half hour before adjournment was
taken until 2.30 o'clock this afternoon.
lie spoke feeiingly of the kindness
SHOWN toward him and his associate
counsel, Mr.. Peeke, by the court and
the various Federal officials with whom
they came i'm contact. He said that il
was with deep feeling that he offered
the thanks of himself and Mr.. Peeke
and said no matter what the verdict
in the case might be. he would return
10 his home in Sandusky, Ohio, salts
fed that he had been fairly treated
while in Wilmington.
Mr. Reiter said if the defendant was
guilty of the crime charged against
him he should be rallied up and pun
ished. He said, however, that he was
firmly convinced Of his clients inno'
cence.
At 2.3O o'clock this afternoon argu-
ment on both sides will again be taker
up and there is a probability that the
jury may be charged today.
Yesterdays Proceedings.
Peeke again went on the stand yes.
terday afternoon and taking up eacl
4 case where the government had pro
+ duced evidence showing that money haS
q been paid to John De ellis and turned
over by the latter to the defendant, de-
MED in each instance knowledge of tn
transactions.
He said he had never received none!
from either De ellis or any Italian.
Referring to the case of Pasqual
Morandala. Peeke said that he and ID
ellis accompanied by Secret Servic
Agents Grifin and Burns, went to tn
rag shop conducted by the Italian il
81 Philadelphia and took him to the secre
M service Office.
Morandala denied he was the maj
named and resisted so much that Agen
Griffin slapped him in the face. Ior
andala was directed TO go to Whining