New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-17
THINKS MUS|CA HAD
BOAT TO FLEE COUNTRY
Prosecutor Here Probes Owner
ship of Evelyn, Held in New
Bedford by Courts Order.
PART IN FRAUD, MAYBE
Creditors of Manipulation Of
Hair Concerns Stock Want
Old Fruiter-Philip Pleaded
Guilty of Grand Larceny.

The steamer Evelyn. formerly in the
fruit trade. now lying at pier in New
Bedford. Mass, under a court order
and minus her llfeboats and interior
woodwork, is believed TO have been the
means OF escape devised by Philip
Musica, who is charged with thefts
amounting TO more than 100000 and
has pleaded guilty to grand larceny.
William Dean Embree an Assistant
District Attorney. will go over the
testimony taken before a referee in
bankruptcy regarding the Evelyn and
question Philip Musica about the boat
before sentence is pronounced.
Mr. Embree has reason 10 believe
that instead Of planning to make good
his frauds by cornering the human hair
market and manipulating the stock "
the United States Hair Company, 81
which he was president. Philip Musica
planned to take himself and his family
out OF the Jurisdiction of the courts Of
this country when his fraudulent in
voices and bills Of exchange could no
longer be concealed. There is also pos
sibiity that the Evelyn was intended
as refuge only as a last resort. and
that Philip had no serious fear of need
ing her. At any rate she was on the
west coast Of Africa when his need
was greatest, and he and his family fed
TO New Orleans TO take ship.
Creditors Want the Vessel.
A grand jury inquiry remotely con-
nected with the purchase OF the boat is
now under way and il is probable that
indictments may be found. The pur-
pose Of the hearing before the referee
is to determine whether the boat shall
be turned over TO the creditors Of the
Musicas. Fred Alessi. who was captain
of the boat. claims an equity in her. II l.
alleged by Ezra 2. Prentice, receiver,
that Philip supplied the money wi.n
which the boa was bought, and that
Captain Alessi's name appears upon the
bill Of gale only because Philip wished
his father 70 remain in ignorance Of his
purchase. That, 1t is pointed out, lends
color 10 the idea that the boat was
bought for flight. Philips father was
ignorant OF many of his eldest sons
most daring projects. and probably
would have Withdrawn from the whole
proposition II he thought that their
straits might be so desperate as 10 re-
quire sudden fight.
At any rate. ii was agreed that
Philip was 10 get one-third Of the
profits on the boat. Captain Alessi one
third and an agent Of Philips one
third Philip says that the boat was
to be repaired sufficiently 10 make
three or four voyages and then was to
he sold as junk in Genoa. Captain
Alessi was 10 have charge Of the boat.
Last November Captain Alessi sailed
from New Bedford. having aboard. &C.
cording TO Philip s. Saitta. the attor-
ney who represented him at the bank
ruptcy hearings. 275 negroes, bound
for the Cape Verde Islands, at Sl9
apiece. After that Captain Alessi
cruised along the west coast Of Africa,
picking up such business as he could.
He was there when the indictments
were found against Philip, his father
nd his two brothers.
Last spring Captain Alessi and the
Evelyn started back 10 New Bedford,
by way OF the Bermudas. There were
on board 800 negroes, bound for the
farm lands and cranberry boys Of Mas
sachusetts. The negroes did not Ike
the boat, they did not like the food and
they did not like Captain Alessi. BY
the time the boat reached Bermuda
they vowed they would sail no further
with Captain Alessi. In order 10 get
his $4,000 cargo TO New Bedford Cap
tain Alessi left the Evelyn in charge
OF the first mate and journeyed north
by another boat
The Evelyn flew the flag of Uruguay.
When she was the Fortuna. a 9o0-ton
fruiter, she sailed under the Italian
flag. Philip Musica says the change
was made to avoid trouble with Turk
ish cruisers and because Of Captain
Alessps license. II is significant. how
ever. that Uruguay is one Of the few
countries from which the Musicas
could not have been extraditsd