New-York tribune., 1910-01-28
MADE FALSE BILLS
GOT DEATH THREAT.
Witness Says Gang Forced
Him to Print COuntcrfeitS.

HUN ~ IFiHI COUHICTT Gus.
Antonio Comito. the principal Witness In
the trial of the eight men charged with
counterfeiting, looked little worried as
he took the stand Yesterday in the Crmi-
nal Branch of the United States Circuit
Court. The prisoners looked haggard and
worn Their counsel declared that they had
had nothing TO eat since the recess Of the
day before. Marshal Henkel promised that
they should be fed
Judge Ray al the beginning asked the
turynen not to read anything about the
case. Then he asked that sensatonalism be
omitted from the accounts of the proceed
ings. II would be unfair. he said. to ex-
clude the newspaper men from the court.
as it might. put them out of business, and
the high price of provisions would cause
suffering among them. He smiled. and
everybody smiled. and then Abel /. Smith,
who is prosecuting the accused men for the
government. began to examine Con1ito from
the place where the story had been dropped
at adjournment the day before.
Comito shrank back as Mr.. Smith flashed
the stiletto found in Marshal Hcnkers room
several days ago after call from friends
of the prisoners for permits TO visit them
in the Tombs
who owns this dagger" asked the pros
ecutor
The witness didn't know. Mr.. Smith put
the glittering weapon into the sheath, and
Marshal Henkels men. who were many in
the room. looked relieved
sTTLETTO CAUSED ALARM.
The marshal has permitted the stletto in
cident 10 grow in Importance as the days
since its discovery on the sofa In his room
ho.-. .r,1 l11.a .aI
TO have slipped out of the pocket of one of
the visitors by accident Yesterday des-
perate plot TO assassinate the whole federal
complement in the building was evolved
from the discovery. To guard against
bombs. stilettos, assaults and the like the
marshal excluded from the court all for
eigners who were not witnesses. The at
mosphere was not quite so thick as on the
day before.
The story told by Comito under examina-
ton was full of penny-dreadful incidents.
The process of printing the spurious Cana
dian bank notes was explained in detail;
visits to the lonely farm near Highland, n.
Y, by the men on trial, and Journeys TO
this city by the witness and the meeting
here with alleged leaders OF the band, now
among the eight defendants, Guseppi Mo-
relic and Isnacio Lupo. were recited. There
had been threat to blow Comto's brains
out. and this had kept him at work for a
long time.
While Comito was running the printing
press boy was on guard outside the iso-
lated farmhouse. He was relieved from
time to time by one of the defendants, the
witness said. adding that Antonio Cecala,
now on trial. told him year ago to hurry
with the work on the Canadian notes.
There was a call for $4,000 of the United
States 50 silver certificates, Comito said
Cecala informed him. The plates for these
were ready.
In twenty DAYS the witness testified 5000
Of the spurious s. silver certificates had
been printed. Soon otter this Lupo made
visit 10 the farm. 1t was o'clock in
the morning when ne came and Comto
said that Lupo had rifles, revolvers and
ammunition. Mirabeau l.. Towns, counsel
for the men, objected when Mr.. Smith tried
TO bring out something. through the wit
ness, about the past of Lupo and Morello.
He said it was part of a stage proceeding,
and he was in the midst of address when
Judge Ray cut ii short.
"Oh, don't make speech. Make your OBJ
lection" the court said, and the attempt to
bring ont the history Of the men was
checked at least for the time being
Then there came time when the accused
men were gathered at the farm to count
the proceeds Of the sale of the spurious
bills and notes. according TO the witness.
They were dsgruntled, he said. He con-
tinued:
THREATENED WITH DEATH.
"Morello told me l had done a filthy job,
and he should throw the bills in my face
LGpo said they should burn the bills on my
head. Morello said that only 5000 of the
s. bills had been sold and only $500 collect
cd. They decided TO get new plates and a
new man. and I should help him. They
said to me. You know what we are do
ing and Almost any one can be an in
former If I informed on them l was told
my brains would be blown out
Comito identified several packages Of the
spurious notes. He said he was badly treat
ed after the new man came. He was Gu-
seppi Callachio. one of the eight defend
ants The witness said that Callacho made
1900 Of the 81 silver certificates. Then
Comito made an attempt to leave the farm,
but one OF the defendants. Salvatore Gina,
objected.
Il said, This is not my business the
witness continued. Gina said: You Gala
brian, if you had to deal with some people
they would cut you up into little bits L
went back to work"
AS ne adJourned the court Judge Ray said
that he would sit later to-day. Comito left
the courtroom under the protection of Sc
cret Service men.
Lupo, against whom bankruptcy proceed
ings were begun last week, received an ex-
tension of time yesterday before Judge
Hand in the United States Circuit Court
until February is TO apply for a discharge.
This granted on the application of
Lupo. who. through counsel, explained that
he was trial. and could not attend to the
matter at the present time.