The New York herald., 1921-05-20
.BAYONNE man Held
AS DRIVER OF BOMB
WAGON TO WALL ST.
Definite Charge Is Placed
Against Truckman by
Chief Scully.
THREE IDENTIFY HIM
Positively Place Him at
Scene of Blast Costing
80 Lives.
HAS BAD POLICE RECORD
u. S. Agents Seek to Link Him
With Italian Anarchist
Groups.
HAS BAD POLICE RECORD

Tho definite charge was made yes
terday that Giuseppe de F'ilipis, a
young Italian truck driver of Bayonne.
is the man who drove TO Wall street
eight months ago the wagon freighted
with high explosives which killed
thirty-nine persons. No other suspect
has been formally charged with the
crime.
The action Of Charles J. Scully. chief
OF the bomb squad OF the local office
OF the Department of Justice. in
swearing out a Federal warrant for
De Fflipis came yesterday afternoon
after two men and a girl had posi-
lively identified the Italian as the man
they had seen on or near the bomb
wagon a few minutes before the ex-
plosion. Two others would not say
positively De Filipis was the man.
The three who identified De Filipis
are Thomas T. Smith q former city
fireman: a negro chauffeur whose car
was wrecked by the explosion. and a
stenographer whose first name Is Ruth
Tho greatest care was taken by local
agents OF the Department OF Justice to
prevent these witnesses from becoming
known
One Of the peculiar facts In the case
IS that It is admitted that so far no
evidence has been gathered by either
the Bayonne police or by the Depart
ment of Justice which proves the pris-
oner was ever connected in any way
with italian anarchist groups, one OF
which. Chief William J. Flynn believes.
was behind the outrage
Identification Positive.
1.-THE Identification was positive
Thomas ]. Reddy. chief Of the Eastern
said last night in his office at Is Park
Row. Three persons picked him out OF
a lineup OF other prisoners without hesi-
tation. They did not even look intently
Mt each individual in the line, but imnle-
diately pointed out De Fllipis. Two
others would not say positively that De-
Eilpis was the man they saw. Chief
Flynn feels certain Dc Filipls drove the
wagon"
1t was learned in Bayonne that Ray
mond Clark, foreman OF construction
at all sure that De F'ilipis was the man
he had seen as the driver OF the bomb
wagon.
Asked for description Of De Filipis.
NJ. Reddy read the description sent out
February % by his department with a
composite picture as that OF the driver.
This description was os an Italian OF
2s to 30 years of age. about five feet
SIX inches in height, medium build. wita
broad shoulders and with dark hair and
complexion. This, he said. fitted De
F1lipis precisely. He would not say.
however. that the Department had any
reason other than the Identification for
believing that De Filipis was the man
wanted.
The man Chief Flynn believes drove the
dynamite wagon has lived in Bayonne the
last twelve years. He Is an Italian By
birth and is not known 10 have become
He is now working as a
truckman driving his own light motor
truck. and was so employed about uie
time OF the explosion. During the war
he worked In shipyard on Staten Isl
and as an acetylene torch man. He is
and has two children.
Has Police Record.
Although he Is not known 70 be con-
nected with Italian Anarchist groups.
his reputation with the police Is not
good. In 1913 he fought a pistol duel
with another man In City Pork, Bay
onne. was wounded. but on his recoy-
cry was released on parole The next
year he was involved In stabbing at
fray In Brooklyn and got three months
In the penitentary. In 1917 he was ar
rested for violation Of his parole. and
In 1913 for violation OF the motor vehicle
regulations. In August Of last year he
was held for time on a technical
charge of assault when his truck In
jured a small child In the street
When DE Filipis was arraigned yos-
tcrday before Recorder William j. Cain
in Bayonne on the technical charge Of
being q suspicious person his counsel.
Joseph Scala succeeded IN getting
few words with him and learned he
said later. that De Fillpis WAS under the
impression hts arrest was due 70 run
ming down the child. lie is said TO have
declared he did not know where Wall
street is. He will be arraigned again
before the Recorder Ia the morning, and
then will be taken TO United States Com
missioner Emery In Newark for formal
proceedings Another warrant
TO that issued yesterday
by United States Commissioner Samuel
Hitchcock will be signed and De fflpis,
unless his counsel OBJECTS, will be
brought 10 this city. Here he will be
held in the Tombs