New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
Joscph Sorro Tells Court He
Was Forced to Recant
Testimony Against Cohen
Now He Denies Perjury
Miss Sullivan Relates How
She Aided Musica in His
Bombing investigation


Court of General Sessi ions, with Joseph
Sorro, the star witness, missing.
Sorro swore at the murder trial that
Cohen had hired him to place a bomb
in the home of Baff at Arverne in the
summer of 1918. His statements had
much to do with the conviction of
Cohen. Recently he made the volun-
tary admission to District Attorney
Swami that he had perjured himself
at the Cohen trial. He asserted that
Antonio Cardinale and not Cohen was
the paymaster and real instigator of
the bomb plot.
Mr. Swami sought to corroborate
Sorros story by supporting witnesses.
and when he had completed his inves-
tigation announced the John Doe pro-
ceedings. Since that time Sorro has
withdrawn the recantation he made to
Mr.. Swami and declared that he lied
in his story to the prosecutor He in
sisted when he recanted to Deputy At
torney General Alfred l.. Becker, who
has charge of the Baff case, that the
story he told at the Cohen trial was
true. He explained his statement to
Mr.. Swami by saying that he feared
for his life if he did not comply with
the demand of two mysterious men,
who demanded that he clear Cohen
Declare SOrro Recants Testimony
The inquiry is being conducted by
Assistant District Attorneys Alfred j.
Talley and Ferdinand Pecora. At the
opening yesterday Mr.. Talley read into
the record a long statement signed by
his associate, Mr.. Pecora. This in
strument alleges that the testimony
given by Sorro at the trial of Cohen
was false and that he has since re-
canted in an affidavit all of it. The
statement alleges that:
Joseph A. Sorro was feloniously
counselled, persuaded induced sub
orned and procured so falsely, cor
ruptly and feloniously to testify; and
that John Doe tthe name John Doe
being fictitious, the true name of such
person being to the deponent un~
known and other persons who are at
this time to the deponent unknown
were feloniously concerned in suborn-
lng and procuring the said Joseph A.
Sorro so falsely, corruptly and feloni-
ously TO testify as aforesaid"
Sorro Asks Protection
Sorro who is being retained as a
material witness by MIR. Becker. yes
terday fled an affidavit signed by
Justice Thompson in the County
Clerks Office asking that he be pro.
tected during the inquiry now started.
In tins affidavit Sorro states that he
Is a private in the motor supply train
oi the gas defence plant at Long Island
,lty. The affidavit proceeds as fol
lows.
That while attached TO the above
company deponcnt was approached bv
various people. including other sol
dlcrs and employees of the gas defence
plant, and asked to recant the testi-
mony heretofore given by him in the
ABOVE trial. That by reason of threats
ana promises OF money considerations
deponent made statement to the Dis
'rct Attorney OF New York County un-
lruthfully recantinc the testimony
heretofore given by MIN at the above
nal. hat few DAYS after making
sald recantlng affidavit deponcnt con-
,esscd to Deputy Attorney General
becker about his recantation and told
lust how ne was induced TO change his
story
Sent Sorro to Musica
Miss Ellen Sullivan, of 10 Columbia
street, was the principal witness
called yesterday. She is settlement
WORKER, and swore that sh has known
|ardlnale since 1910 and Sorro since
ne vas a very small boy. In answer
70 nr. Pecora's questions she said that
the first she knew Of the Bafr case
was when relatives Of Cardinalc called
a. her house and asked her to accom-
pany them to the Office Of philn
auslca Mr. Becker's investigator.
Sne SAID that she was under the i'm
preston that the object Of this call
was to help Il man named Galliano
VINO Was in the Tombs.
ane said that Musica was in the of
ee nee OF Walter r. Deuel., at 80 Nassau
street According to Miss Sullivan.
asked ner about Sorro and she told him
mat he worked at First Avenue and
iolst Street. She swore Musica urged
her 70 get the boy TO call at the Office
sno Sne promised to do this Some time
ia'er Sorfo did go to the Office, and
made q statement TO Musica concerning
.ae attempt to blow up the Baff home,
at Aryernc.
Niss Sullivan said that Sorro told
tnus'ca that nc and boy named Burke
nao. tried 70 set re TO the house first
"a oin not make ii succcss Of it. Later,
re witness swore, Sorro gaid that Car
9e'naie told him iSorro that he owed
omen $3.50 and must do something for
nun. Then they went TO Arverne and
", the bomb, which did not 20 of.
mss Sullivan testified that Musica
sent number Of cablegrams over her
.'Rnatnre 70 Cardinale in Italy She
ss'a that she thought they urged Car
''ns'e 70 return 10 America.
MSS Sullivan insisted that she only
Ts1'n Sorro speak Of Cohen once.
rfhat war when he complained that
fvnsh mad not paid him money due
ts' the attempt 70 blow UP Bats
ems enc a. Arverne. Sorro stated that
Isotn had refused TO come across"
aose the bombing had not been
xe'Tplly Accomplished.
.... becker. when questioned con-
ssid: '' '''""'a'i"h 'naoe ny oorr"'
...n is true that sorro told me his
h,s.mcnY WAS correct and the recanta-
X - made in Mr.. Swann's offiee false"
l.knns only other witnerses called were
I'm fscCnan npd Wttff.xn II Tnuap