Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-08-14
Rev. Colo mbino Galassi
Makes Startling Charges of
Conditions at Port Reading
RESULT OF the PADR0NE
SYSTEM THERE
Dismiss Case Against De-
Vito and MassIno for Alleged
MIsappropriatIng Money

action against Antonio Messino and
Joseph De Vito, of Port Reading yes
terday, Rev. Columbino Galassi in
tends to carry an extensive investi-
CATION into the manner IN which he
AYERS they conduct what he terms
slave camp under the padrone system
at Port Reading. After they had
been released from q charge of hav-
ing Illegally retained 81 belonging to
| Rev. Galassi, thep riest said there
had been an unfair trial and he i'm
mediately started a new action and
declared he would keep after the
padrone system in the Port Reading
Italian colony until they desisted
their alleged persecution.
Immediately after Justice Of the
Peace Pickersgill had dismissed the
complaint for lack of convicting evil
dence, Rev Galassi went before JUS
tice of the Peace O'Hara and had
warrants issued for the defendanats.
He declared a determination to have
them prosecuted for this particular
act and would then begin series of
attacks for what he termed illegally
| Fleeing Italians, selling liquor with
out license and numerous viola
tions of the labor laws He stated
complaint would be made to the
county authorities, to the State
Board of Health, the Department OF
Labor and Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad Co.
The priest is bitterly opposed to
the padrone system as conducted by
the De Vito Company at Port Read
ing. He says Italians are thereby
swindled out of practically every
cent they earn, that the county is
swindled out of numerous liquor
fees and that the people living in
the colony are subjected to condi-
tions which he terms outrageous.
The hearing before the Justice Of
the Peace Pickersgill, lasting from
3 o'clock to shortly after o'clock
yesterday afternoon, was frought
with excitement and at times bitter
ness rose so high that 1T looked as
though blows would be struck.
Thomas Brown appeared as counsel
| for Rev. Galassi and Alfred s. March
was present in behalf of the defend
ants. Recorder Pickersgill dismiss
| ed the complaint on the testimony Of
| the defense, that an order had been
| given to the De Vito Company for 81
| to be paid to Rev. Galassi at time
when the maker of the order had no
money due, and that De Vito and
Messino were officers of the De Vito
| Company and therefore could not be
| held criminally responsible for an
act of the concern. They maintained
the order had been drawn on the
De Vito Company, intending that the
company should pay 1t. The amount
in question was part of 50 alleged
to be due Rev. Galassi for expenses
of a celebration which the priest
| himself had paid. Rev. Galassi
AYERS there were Indications that the
| case was fixed up'' before he en-
tered the court room, having been
told by a relative that 1t was dis
cussed prior to his arrival This,
Mr.. Pickersgill emphatically denies,
declaring that together with Mr..
March and County Detective Richard
A. Peltier, he discussed excise vio-
| lations and other matters of judicial
note.
Once during the hearing Mr..
March thought Rev. Galassi was
whispering to a witness on the
stand. He interrupted the proceed
| ings and complained. Justice of the
Peace Pickersgill took the priests
part and declared he did not inter-
! fere with the witness. Mr.. March
asked that he move farther away
| from the witness stand. The justice
said that was not necessary, and he
| had a perfect right to sit next to his
counsel. Thereupon Rev. Galassi
rose and looking March straight in
| the eye declared his word was as
good as March's. The lawyer replied
that 1t did not seem to be when he
was mixed up In the Jerry Raptno
case in New Brunswick. "Mr. Ra-
pino was g. gentleman and that is
more than can be said of the men
whom you represent" rettorted the
priest. 'Yes, and your friend Jerry
was a murderer" retaliated March.
Rev. Galassi wants the heads Of
the padrone system at Port Read
ing punished and AYERS they are De
Vito and Messino, who have become
rich he says by the slavery of their
hundreds of victims who labor for
them. and for them alone, on the
Philadelphia and Reading coal docks
at Port Reading. He says they live
under conditions which are disgrace
full and that they are stripped of all
they earn by the padrone leaders.
He maintains that he is at loss to
know why a. railroad company will
stand in league with such people and
allow such conditions to exist. In
an effort to learn If the heads Of the
railroad really know the true con-
dition, he has decided to write to
the president of the road and inform
him OF the conditions as he has
found them.
IF the need of a household servant