New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-13
Ferrera Charges Police
Wrung Confession from
Him by Brutality.
STORY WAS UNTRUE,
HE SAYS ON STAND
Chauffeur SWears he was
Warned He'd Be Killed II he
Told of Market Shooting.

More charges Of police brutality in
obtaining confessions from suspects In
he Barnet Baff murder case were made
yesterday in the Supreme Court by
Frank Ferrera. driver Of the murder
car" on tria. for murder. in the hrst
degree. Both confessions in which he
admitted having guilty knowledge OF
he plan 10 kill Baf, were wrung from
him after he had bee. kicked. pounded
and finally threatened by revolver at
the hands Of Detective Harry Butts,
Ferrcra said. on direct examination By
his counsel, CSsar Barra.
You have testified" said Assistant
District Attorney O''slley, on cross
examination, that you didn't know
Baff had been murdered until after you
had brought the murdercrs away from
the scene Now, why. instead Of re-
naming silent while the detectives
were trying TO make you tell your
story, didn't you tell them the same
story you've just given here"
81 wouldn't make any statement re-
piled the witness, because they want
cd me 10 swear TO everything that
wasn't true. They told me that II |
would only make statement corrobo-
rating Carmine Di Paolo an informer)
everything would come out right and
they would be able to get immunity
for me. They wore me cut by not let
ting me sleep and by kicking me in the
stomach. and / finally :old them I'd
make any statement they wanted me
TO but what ! told them wasn't true.
/ didn't know they were going to shoot
anybody
Ferreras story was that 1ppolito
Greco, procurer OF the gunner, had
asked him 10 come around with his
car on November "a TO take a man to
the hospital" lie didn't suspect any
thing until he was directed to drive 10
West Washington Market with Greco
and two other men whom, he said, he
didn't know on hearing two shots.
followed by the return Of the three TO
the car, he became srsp :ious.
Got Only sl.20.
"Grcco jumped upon the running
board and said: Drive fast. There's
no time TO lose said: was there
any shooting back there and Greco
said: Look where you're going and
don't have much to say. was so e1-
cited didn't know what to DO. When
stopped at Park Avenue and lO3d
Street TO let the. out Greco said TO
me: Remember, you're mum on hear
ing any shots downtown. II you leak
III have YOU put out of the way
never went near the garage again, and
never went 70 Greco's saloon. All |
got was a commission Of Sl.20 on the
Sc which charged. Greco for the trip
"Previols TO ally this, had you ever
heard of the Rosenthsl MURDER asked
Mr.. OMalley. Ferreras counsel OBJ
iected. but Justice Shearn allowed the
question. Ferrera admitted that he had
heard of the case.
And you were familiar with the
methods used by the gunner for get
ting to and from the scene, weren't
you?" Ferrers nodded.
"In your confersi n you said you
saw Carmine hi Paolo az the scene OF
the murder Now, wasn't that because
YOU knew ri Polo had implicated
you?" demanded Mr.. O'Malley.
Il never knew Di PGolo. made
that statement to slit Detective ID
Martini"
ar. as you say. the police made you
corroborate hi Paolo, why is II that
your statement differs 80 much from
his 2" asked Mr. O'Malley.
81 didn't know what statement he
had made" said Ferrera.
The case will 90 TO the jury to-day.