The sun., 1910-02-17
STORY OF A KILLING
Wolf" TELLS HOW he SLEW
"A MAN IN SICILY.

Aue9e0 COunterfeiter on Trial Reveals
Incidents OF stOrekeepIng Near
Palermo, with Homicide on the side
:, No COunIerGeIter. HO Declares.
Ignacio Lupo. the Wolf. as he is known
among the Italians in this oity, testified
in his own defence late yesterday after
noon in the trial in the United States
Circuit Court Of the eight Scilians charged
with counterfeiting. So far as Lupo's
testimony had to do with the making and
passing OF the bogus two and Ave dollar
notes it was merely a general denial.
When he began telling how he shot down
a man in Italy in 1890 his story was fol-
lowed intently by all in the court room.
The fact that Lupo had killed a man
came out when Giovanni Lupo. his brother,
was forced to admit il on a severe cross
examination by Assistant United States
Attorney Abel I. Smith. Giovanni had said
ON direct examination that in June, 1908.
his brother Ignacio had been assessed
$4,000 by the Black Hand Society. Gio-
vanm went with Ignacio TO the Brooklyn
Bridge. where. at 9 o'clock in the morn
ing, they paid over the money to a man.
Judge Ray interposed to inquire why they
felt compelled to pay such large amount
OF money to one man. when il would have
been easy to overcome him. All the wit
ness would say was that they were afraid.
,. Mr.. Smith then asked Giovanni:
Did you know Salvatore Morello?"
Lupo admitted that he did, and was
finally induced TO admit that Ignacio had
shot him and had fed. Ignaoio was con-
victed in his absence, which 10 frequently
done in Italy, on March -. 1899. and was 4
sentenced to twenty-one years imprison-
ment.
When the Wolf himself was called to the
witness stand Mirebeau l.; Towns ques-
toned him about this murder OF Morello.
Lupo told the story in detail and fire.
quently wept. Morello was a young dry
goods merchant near Palermo. Lupo said.
where Lnpo also had a dry goods store.
Monello often went TO Lupo to make pur-
chases and Lupo gave him credit for 500
Ira. or about 500. Morello. Lupo ex-
planned, was new in the business and
He was Jealous OF my business said
the witness. who was allowed TO tell the
story In his own way. and he would 60
among my customers to solicit trade from
them; / used TO give Francisco Vitalli
day Morello asked me why sold that man
any goods. l had imported some silk
handkerchlefs from England for Vltalli
and Morello wanted me TO let him have
them, and said he didn't want me to sell
= Il didn't like this and todd Morello l
wouldn't be dictated to in my business. |
At this Morello said he would get all OF
Vitalhs customers away anyhow and l
had better obey him. I told Morello he
ought not TO prevent an old man from |
earning his living. Morello went away |
warning me but continued to sell goods |
TO Vitalli. Ny clerk went to Morello's |
one Saturday to collect money due me- |
but Merello refused TO pay IT, saying he
h. FOL Aat
He came and said he wasn't going TO pay |
me until stopped selling TO VitalIi and he |
swOre at me. We had a fight. he drew a
revolver on rne and ired at him and he |
fell TO the floor"
Lupo, broke down and wept. saying |
between sobs that he didn't intend to kin |
Morello. His family advised him to go |
to foreign country for two or three
years. He went first to Liverpool. where
be engaged in the fresh fruit business for
between three and four months. From
there he went to Montreal and Buffalo.
aud thence TO New York, where he arrived
six months after the Morello homicide.
Here he went into business with his cousin
1T 500 r st Seventy second street. Subse-
quently he hsd u Wholesale grocery store
At s2lO-II-I2-Is Mott street lie had this
business for five years and went into
bankruptcy in 1908 as a result OF the panic.
LuPo said he couldn't get bis goods out
of bond and that he owed bills for $50 900.
dOtnitVcu. OShlB 6J k1hkubAnos ~,
Y, where the counterfeit money was made.
He said he never met Antonio Comito.
who turned informer and is the Govern
nent 8 chief witness in the present case.
He denied that he ever met any Of the
at Gina o farm neac Ei@I'' nd, |
md he also denied that he ever Saw ,.-.,
,f this counterfeit money or the Appara-
us with which il was made.
Another witness called yesterday was
iro Terranova. Lupo's brother in law
md half brother Of Giuseppi Morello,
lao one OF the defendants. This witness
wore that the police and detectives had
1een bounding the Moreilo and Terranova
families since 1908, when Morello was
arrested in connection with the barrel
murder mystery. He said they were all
1eld UP and searched at the celebration
IL the opening OF the new Police Head
quarters. He added that he was held up
and searched only last Saturday. He I
,aid he didn't know why this was done as !
had ever been ound ON him.
On cross-examination Terranora denied
III knowledge OF the barrel murder He I
llso denied that he knew anything about
Benedetto Bardonio. the murdered man.
The Government has evidence that
'ome Of the witnesses for the defence are
lot telling the truth and it was intimated
yesterday that there would probably be
Ieyeral arrests for perjury.
The defence expects to close its case
o-day.