New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-17
BAFF FUGITIVE
TAKEN in ITALY
Accused Fund Collector
Being Brought Here
Secretly

After five months of quiet and per-
sstent work in Italy District Attorney
Swami has captured an important fugi-
tive witness, on whose testimony he
hopes TO obtain the conviction of the
men who contributed the $4,000 fund
for the murder Of Barnet Baff, the
West Washington poultry dealer who
was shot November "a, 1914.
The witness is Antonio Cardinale,
and it was learned last night he is on
his way to this country with William
Harman Black. Assistant District At
torney, and an Italian guard. Cardi-
male, it is alleged, was the collector OF
the murder fund. He fled the country
and enlisted under the Italian colors-
Although two of the murderers-ths
man who fred the shot and the chauf-
feur of the murder car-have been con-
victed and sentenced to death, District
Attorney Swami determined to get
Cardinale at all hazards.
Prosecutors Aid Volunteers
The first step was to send one Of
his assistants to Italy. The entire
staff was canvassed, and Mr.. Black was
the only volunteer. He said he was a
bachelor with put few relatives, and
asked TO have a chance 10 defy subma-
rines and mines. With Detective Felix
de Martini he sailed for Italy last
June. i,
Treaty rights stand in the way OF
bringing Cardinale 10 this country 10
be tried. and the fact that he was with
the army made it appear impossible 10
get him even as a witness.
Last August ne was arrested and put
in prison. From that time Mr.. BLACK
has been fighting and he has won over
every obstacle. One of the most dlm
cult of these appeared in the provincial
court, where Cardinale was held. A
brilliant lawyer turned up in the pris-
oner's behalf TO prevent the extradl-
ton of he witness. According to DIS
t..ict Attorney Swami, the lawyer was
we'll supplied with money.
Before they reached Italy Detective
De Martini WAS advised that he would
be liable to service in the Italian army
because mis- father had never been
naturalized in the United States. Ac-
cordingly he stopped of in France and
Law in wait Just over the Italian border
until he was notified that his services
were necessary at the trial OF Michael
A. Rofrano. Bearing in mind the as
sassination of Detective Petrosini. Dis
trict Attorney Swami had caused De
Martini's life to be insured for $4,000
before he left New York.
Secrecy Surrounds Capture
Great secrecy has attended the move
ments Of Mr.. Black in Italy. and Dis
trict Attorney Swami was so reluctant
to discuss the coming OF Cardinale TO
New York that he would only corrobo'
rate the information that Mr.. Black
was now in London.
IL is the desire Of the prosecutor to
get the prisoner safely into Criminal
Courts Building before any of his
acouaintances or the alleged accom-
plices in the Baff murder have a chance
70 "get ia him" Assistant District
Attorney O'Malley. who prosecuted the
gunman and the driver Of the murder
car. believed that only the utmost Sec
recy in convoving the Italian to the
grand Jury room will insure sue
cessful prosecution OF the trial which
il is hoped the witness will furnish.
Cardinale. il is understood. has been
offered immunity il he will tell all he
knows about the contributors TO the
murder fund. That means that the
District Attorney will not ask for his
indictment for murder after ne IS re-
turned 10 the Italian government. He
is simply borrowed witness.