New-York tribune., 1919-12-02
Tcstilics at Trial of u. S.
Agent That 500 First
Was Demanded, Then
SIS: He Finally Paid $50
Thought He Cos OFF Easy
Swcars Pignuolo Told Him
He'd BE s'Put on List" and
Would Not Be Bothered

The trial of Pasqualc Pignuolo, an
agent of the Department of Justice.
one of the five men indicted about
three weeks ago by the Federal grand
jury on charges Of accepting bribes
from saloon keepers, began yesterday
before Judge Julian r. Mack, in the
Federal District Court. For the bribcs.
tho indictments charge, the saloon
keepers were promised immunity from
arrest and moicstation in selling liquor
IN violation of the wartime prohibi-
tion act. Pignuolo asked to be tried
separately.
John Brennan. a saloon keeper ut
Sixth Avenue and Twenty Street
testified that Pignuolo and Charles p
Cflnk McCarvcr, also of the De
partment of Justice, came to his sa-
loon on the night of September "a and
after Pignuolo had purchased whisky
showed his badge and Informed Bren-
nan he was under arrest
Threatened to Seal the Place
Warming Bennan that if he attempt
ed to sell anything else during the eve
ming everything in the place would be
scaled tight" Pignuolo left his part
ncr, the witness testified. Later, &C
cordlng to Brennan. Pignuolo re-
turned, saying: II did not mean what
J SAID when was here with the other
fellow. You need not go to the station
house Tonight. You come to the Fed
eral Building tomorrow. You seem to
be pretty good fellow. won't be
hard on you"
The next morning, Brennan testified.
he met Pignuolo in the Federal Build
ing. The defendant was very friendly
and said
1--we can fix you up if you want to
ia * this thing over
"N hat do you mean ?" Brennan said
he asked
"A hundred dollars will do it," the
defendant replied, according to Bren-
nan; fireman said he rcplcd II can't
afford that. After this Brennan cor
tlnucd, Pignuolo brought his hgurcs
down 70 SIS. then TO SO which iat+or.
amount eventually was paid to the dc
icnlant
Late. Brennan testified. he asked
rlgnuolo: "What guarantee have
that won't be interlcred with9' To
TINS question, the witness said. Pignu
O!O answered:
"Don't YOU worry You'll be put on
tn" list and You will not be disturbed"
What about out-of town men com
ing INTO tie city? They may not know
about it,"
That's all right. That will be at
tended to- Pignuolo replied, accord
ing to Brennan
Rrcnnan's partner, Thomas J. Carew.
TOOK the stand after the former hid
concluded and Wa questioned by WIZ
am {. rltts. counsel Cor the defendant
CareW SAID that after he bad been il,
formed OF the arrangement whereby
the saloon Was to be made immune he he
pad Pignroio SlO0
f. f. Fitzgerald bartender COR Brcn-
nan Carcw, testified that he saw
0areW 60 to She cash register white
Plgnuolo was in the place. but that he
had not seen any money passed.
McN Narver, ON the stand as a witness
tor the defense, made the s:atemonl
,hat department Of Jueticc agents were
so accustomed TO having sd oonkeepers
heed to them. and, Furthermore. do no.
even consider filing bribery charges
against these men.
Bride Attempts, Common
He testified that, the day a ter tbe
visit to the saloon. he saw Rrnnnan
enter the Federal Building. and that
later Pignuolo informed him that Bron-
nan had tried to bribe him.
Assistant District Attorney Minton
"Why did YOU not go to Assistant
District Attorney Mulgueen, since the
conVersatlon took place so near his
Almost everybody tried to bribc
US McCaver replied "and it is not
the custom for the department to take
any notice of it. We were offered
brlbes almost every day" The witness
SAID, further, that neither he nor the
other four men indicted ever had taken
any graft
After McCarver completed his tcsti
mony the case was adjourned until 10
o'clock this morning.