New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-02
FIND WHITE S[AVERS'
GUILTY IN QUICK TIME
Jury Out Only 20 Minutes IN
Trial of Frank FilaSto and
Joseph Ribuffo.
HAD LONG ELUDED LAW
Conviction Considered Signal
Victory for Government
Filasto a Protege of
Tammany Hall.

Frank Filasto. of No. 293 Mott street,
prot6ge of Tammany Hall. was con-
victed yesterday with his chief lieu
tenant. Joseph Ribuffo. Of Paterson,
y. j.. of violating the white slave
oct. Judge Hand. in the United States
District Court. remanded both To the
Tom5s and will impose sentence on
Saturday.
The conviction OF Filasto was con-
sidercd a signal achievement by the
agents Of the Department of Justice
and BY John T. Walker, Assistant
United States Attorney, who has been
prosecuting white slave" cases for
several years. In the many cases of
this kind that were investigated during
that time there were constant indica
tons that Filasto was behind the traf-
fic, but no sufficient evidence could be
found against him until Annie Greece,
one of his numerous victims, was per-
suaded that the Camorra death sign
meant nothing TO a person that was
under the protection Of federal author
tiles
Posing as a fruit merchant, FilastO
conducted the white slave" traffic on
q wholesale scale. He had friends. "
correspondents and agents in many
large cities where Italians are to be
found in great numbers, for he
catered" practically only to Italian
trade" His victims were mostly those
OF his own country. but many were
Hebrew girls, whom he found de-
sirable. because they either spoke Ital-
ian or picked it up quickly.
Filasto rarely did anything TO com
promise himself. and managed to keep
entirely in the background by letting
his agents carry out the instructions
he gave them secretly. AS soon as a
pretty young woman was found by one
Of his accomplices and reported TO him
as prospect" Filasto made plans tC
get possession of her and then ordered
his henchmen to carry them out
Where persuasion failed and prom
ises of easy life and great emolument
made no impression, threats OF
Camorra vengeance were used. If they
proved OF no avail, the woman wa:
confronted with the choice between &
stietto or the life that Filasto wanted
her 70 lead
Filasto's income from the trade
was said 10 be 5000 10 $500 a weel
from women forced by him into dis
orderly houses. Besides this he earned
large commission" for supplyin.
women TO establishments in othel
cities. He owned six disorderly house
IN Paterson. y. j.
II took the jury less than twent!
minutes TO return a verdict OF guilty
against both men. Judge Hand con
GRADUATED the jury on its independents,
and the promptness with which i
found a just verdict in case that haC
disclosed such repellent features.
There was no outburst on the part o
Filastos friends who crowded tn
courtroom. A score of Italians show
cred congratulations on Mr.. Waike
and on Chief William NJ. Offiey an,
George Craft, agents OF the Depart
ment of Justice, for having rid tn
Italian colony of a dangerous man.
The evidence brought out at the tria
of the men furnished many valuable
cIews, and 1t is understood that tn
agents of the Department Of justice
will now be able TO proceed agans
other white slavers."