New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-27
Cardinale Tells
Of Many Plots to
Kill Barnet Baf
duplicates Four Men on
Trial Accused of Murder
ing Poultry Dealer

Antonio Cardinale. alleged procurer
Of the men who killed Barnet Baff, the
West Washington Market poulty dealer,
took the witness stand yesterday before
a Jury in the Criminal Branch of the
Supreme Court. He told an amazing
story of persistent attempts on the
life of Baff for more than year, cul-
minating when the poultryman was
shot down opposite his place of bust
ness on Thanksgiving eve, November
q, 1914.
Cardinale. an accomplice, fed TO Italy
soon after the murder, but was
Loaned" as a witness TO District At
torney Swami by the Italian govern
ment on condition that he should be
returned to Italy for trial. He is the
chief witness for the state against the
alleged murder conspirators, Joseph
and Jacob Cohen, Abraham Graft and
David Jacobs. The latter was Car
dinale's partner in the live poultry
business in Harlem The others were
Bats rivals in West Washington
Market.
Arrested on Firing Line
This witness, who was actually on the
firing line under the Italian colors when
he was arrested for murder last sum-
NOR, spoke excellent English, and in
tone so calm and low that it was with
difficulty that the jury could hear him.
He testified that he came to this coun-
try seventeen years ago. He worked as
a pocketbook maker until 1913, when
he went into the poultry business with
Leo Campo, in East lOSth Street.
He became friendly with Joseph CO.
hen in West Washington Market, he
said, and Cohen advised him to save
his business from ruin by dropping
Campo for a Jewish partner. Accord
ingly. at Cohen's suggestion, he took
Jacobs as his partner and Cohen took
the latter's note for $500.
Cohen told me early in 1915" said
Cardinale, that Barnett Baf was the
biggest man in the business. He said
Baff played dirty tricks by feeding
chickens on gravel and cement. He
said Bats tactics of underselling the
others in his wholesale and retail stands
made il impossible for others 70 make
money unless they adopted Bats
sand and cement diet" methods.
Cohen said, Some one ought TO
send Baff n bomb 10 throw a scare into
him." Cardinale testified. II told him
that had a driver by the name of Joe
Sorro who would do the job. He said
there would be 5000 in it if he would.
| spoke TO Sorro about it. and he want
ed S35 for expenses. Joe Cohen told
me 10 give him the money and he would
pay me back. | gave Sorro S25. and he
bought bomb from Ippolito Greece"
Greece also furnished the gunner
who later killed Baff, and he himself
was murdered in his Harlem stables
less than a year later because he
talked too much
Bomb Plot Failed
con July II. 1918" continued Cardi-
male, "Sorro, with Frank Burke and
Tony Nino. went 20 Washington Market
and told Joe Cohen that he had placed
the bomb in Bats home in Arverne.
Cohen said: I didn't see anything in
the papers about it. Sorro showed
Cohen a newspaper clipping, which
showed that the bomb didn't explode.
Cohen said: Hell, you don't want NE 70
ray 5000 for that bum job? Cohen
gave me 800, however, and | got the
$35 which / had advanced TO Sorro for
expenses.
"A week later" continued Cardinale.
"Joe Cohen said il would be necessary
10 send Baff Black Hand letter, and
David Jacobs agreed that it would be a
good thing. spoke 10 Abe Graf about
il, and to William Simon, of Simon &
Cohen. Graf told me there would be
5000 in the job"
Cardinale's story will be continued
to-day Moses Rosenstein, alias
Chicken Moe" who had pleaded guilty
20 siauChfer ia tho first deCraa in