New-York tribune., 1910-01-27
BOGUS MONEY TRIAL
FEAR FOR n WITNESS.
Efeht Corsicans and Italians
Up as Counterfeiters.

In the corridors on the fourth hocr or
the Federal Building there lurked yes
terday natives Of Corsica. Sicily and other
parts of Italy. In the Criminal Branch or
the United States Circuit Court eight OF
their friends were on trial before Judge
Ray on charges of counterfeitinS and con-
sniracy The atmosphere of the court
room WAS thick and malodorous. There
Was no ventilation, and about one hundred
end fifty foreigners crowded the small
area
Il will prove 10 you that Antonio Comito
was forced. st the point of revolver, 10
engage ia counterfeiting." was the start
ling rejonder made by Abel l. Smith. As
.istant United States District Attorney
who is trying the case. TO one of the coun-
sci for the prisoners I'm the course of an
argument regarding the admission OF evi-
renee.
Couito was the first witness. Before he
was called several hours were spent in the
choice OF a jury. Many talesmen were
rejected because Of expressed prejudice
toward the accused men, 1t was soon
after the noon recess that the jury box
was filed.
In opening for the government Mr.. Smith
recite6 charges against the men. who
were Ignazio Lupo. who while under an
eighteen years sentence in Italy for muir
der escaped 10 this country, and who
WAS said to have been in Palermo when
Petrosinc was murdered; Gfuseppi Morello,
under six years sentence in the same
country for forgery; Antonio Cecala, Sal
vatore Gina, Vincenzo Giglio. Giuseppi
CalIichio, Giuseppi Palermo and Nicolo
Sylvestra- Lupo and Morello were said
TO have been the leaders of a large band
engaged III the manufacture and distribu-
ton OF spurious money.
Mr Smith said that the men were
charged with having made the counterfeit
bills and coin on an abandoned farm near
Highland. n. Y About $4,000 in this
spurious money, II was charged, had been
circulated. The headquarters were said
to have been in this city, in East 9th
street and the principal seizure OF the
counterfeit money was made in the home
of Ieoluca Vassi in Third avenue. The
government prosecutor said that he would
prove that each OF the indicted men had
participated in the crime.
Mr. Smith has an exhibit stiletto with
o siK-inch blade that is as keen as razor,
which was found on sofa in Marshal
HenkeTs room after friends Of the prison
ers called there a week ago for permits
10 see them in the Tombs. There was talk
about plot to kill somebody, presumably
an informer, but none was in the
Federal Building there was no killing. But
this stiletto caused the Secret Service men
TO be very alert yesterday
They were distributed among the spec
tators in the sitting courtroom and in
the corridors, and there were deputy mar
shals as we'll to aid in sUppressing trouble
A. the Assistant District Attorney pro-
a5ed adj "a
way was blocked by swarthy men. and a
few women tried TO get in. Mr.. Smith told
OF the engagement Of Conito by Cecala
to run a printing press. ostensiby in
Philadelphia, the purchase Of the plant
and its removal to Highland. Gina and
Giglio lived on the farm up there.
After declaring that he would show
that Lupo and Palermo tried to bribe
Secret Service men to let them go, Mr.
Smith called Comito to the stand. The wit
ness told OF his meeting with the accused
mon, the purchase Of the plant, and
he went along receipted bills were pro-
duced TO substantiate the story. Persons
from whom the press and other things
were brought were in the courtroom and
were identified by Comito.
Comito objected 10 the farm house he
said He told Gina that it was not a
and drink, and not to doubt. few days
later Cecala appeared with a steel die
and ordered him to print bills from it.
This die was for Canadian s. bills. The
witness said that he objected then de-
clared that he did not know how to do
that sort Of printing. Cecala said that
he would teach the witness. At this point
court adjourned until this morning
The band of counterfeiters, after whom
the Secret Service men went about a
year ago, consisted OF thirty-six men OF
that number twenty have been sent to
prison for terms ranging from one year 10
seven years. There are sixteen men under
indictment, OF whom eight are on trial
There was objection by their counsel
Cesar B. F. Barra, Mirabeau L. Towns and
William Byrnes. because they were not all
tried at once, but the court refused to in
terfere.
II was said yesterday that money had
been raised for the defence among the
Italians of this city. and that the fight in
behalf of the prisoners would be vigorous
and prolonged. Comito. the first witness,
will be protected by Secret Service men.
An attempt 20 kill him is feared.