New-York tribune., 1917-06-28

Antonio Cardinale, the alleged "go
between" for Barnet Bats business
rivals and the gunmen, who finally
got" him, completed his story OF the
murder and the many attempts that
preceded it, in the criminal branch Of
the Supreme Court yesterday.
He described at length and vividly
the efforts of the would-be slayers-
how they tried to shoot down the "poul-
try king" with revolvers fired from
jacket pockets, and failed; how they
tried again with a long range rife and
a Maxim silcncer and failed once more,
and how at last they shot him down as
he left his Office on the evening OF No
vember 2l, 1914.
After describing how bombs planted
in Bats house, fires set in his retail
markets and poison administered TO his
horses failed to scare Baff into aban-
doning his destructive competitive
methods. Cardinale told Of the attempts
made by gunmcn TO kill Baf in his
market. He told in detail Of the al
legged part played in the conspiracy by
the four defendants on trial Joseph
and Jacob Cohen, Abraham Graf and
David Jacobs. The latter was Cardi-
Males partner in the poultry business
in Harlem.
Cardinale said Joe Cohen advised
getting" Baf in the market because
eycry one in the market hated him and
not one would lift his finger to frus-
trate the plot nor ever "squeal" about
what might be seen in connection with
the murder. Accordingly. months be
fore Baf was finally put out of the
way Cardinale negotiated with lpolito
Greece, keeper Of Harlem's murder
stable" for two gunmen who were TO
go 70 the market, familiarize themselves
with Bats haunts and the lay of the
ground.
For two weeks the gunmen shadowed
their victim, but Baf seldom ventured
far without the escort of one of his
sons. II became evident, CardiIale
said, that the shooting would have TO
be done with a long range rife. Cardi-
male said Greece first tried 10 get Ban
at the latter's Brooklyn market and IN
Harlem, but always failed. Finally
Greece wanted to put poison IN the
milk bottles left at Bats homo. but
Joe Cohen drew the line there. Cardi-
male said Cohen said he didn't want to
kill anybody in the family but Baff.
Gunmen Fail.a Dozen Times
A dozen failures on the part of Car
mine Di Paola and Charlie Russo TO
kill their victim with reyolvers fired
from their coat pockets covered a pc
riod of several months. Then, Cardi
male said, Joe Cohen hit on he plan
Of using a rifle and a Maxim silencer
from a portfolio three stories up IN the
loft of Charlie HAWKES. stall over
looking Bats stand.
Cardnale told of taking the gunmen
to the loft and of Joe Cohen's plan
to cut hole through the brick wall
for the rifle. The gunman, after
spending several hours up there with
the weapon trained on the spot where
BafF was expected TO appear, decided
that there was too much dust in the
loft. He was afraid that his soiled
clothing would cause suspicion If he
should be seen leaving the loft after
the shooting.
Cardinale said the gunman made
several practice shots from the loft.
however, and one bullet went crashing
into a bench in Charles Werner's stall
close to where Abe Graf was standing.
The rife made no sound and emitted
no smoke. Cardinale said Graf turned
pale when ne told him about how close
the bullet came 20 him.
The next attempt was in the loft Of
Wcrners market, where Graf worked.
Cardinale said the gunman spent one
whole day sprawled out on his stom-
ach, with the rife trained on the spot
where Baf frequently passed on his
way 20 a restaurant. Cardinalc said
Joe Cohen had food sent up to him.
Two workmen accidentally made their
way TO the loft and frightened the
gunman so that he refused to remain
there. and Cardinalc said he had TO
return the rifle to Graf This was a
month before the shooting
Al this point Special Deputy Attor-
f.au.rsl n fNYlf.a. q, $1,000,