La libera parola. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1918-1969, 1922-01-07

stant Attorney General, Admiral Ben.
son and the Shipping Board attorney,
w. Davis Conrad, for the New York
District, who made accusation fer the
purpose of promoting their own per-
sonal interest namely; that because Of
the many attacks upon the incompe-
tency of the Shipping Board Officials
Admiral Benson in order to make a
shaving, approved of seeking an in
dietment against the Italian Star Lii
ne, Inc. myself and others
Guy D. Goff, in order to have a
good opportunity to be appointed AS
sistant Attorney General, because
subsequent to December, 1920, he
knew that the new administration
would oust him from the Shipping
Board, solicited .itigations between
purchasers of u. S. Shipping Board
and the Shipping Board, and to Sc
secure indictments against anybody in
order to stand better chance of Sc
curing the position of Assistant At
torney General, which he now has.
Mr.. Goff had himself appointed As
sistant Attorney General to prosecu-
te the Italian Star Line, Inc, and on
the 2Sth day of February, 1921, con-
cealedly came to New York together
with two of his detectives and pre-
sented false information to the Grand
Jury and secured an Indictment
against myself, the Italian Star Line,
Inc, and three others, alleging that
we had conspired to defraud the Co
vernment out of $500 per ton on the
purchase of the Liberty Land.
"The reason for Goff's special in
terest in this particular case, was
because, while l was in Washington
trying to prevent the appointment of
a Receiver of the Italian Star Line,
Inc, because it was entirely uncalled
for, l had a run in with Guy D. Goff,
and then wrote to Admiral Bensons
telling him of Goff's attitude and
stating that he acted like a "Shylock",
and also because of this, an indct-
ment was secured as above stated
"Since the indictment was secured,
many attempts were made to get me
to consent to a ''nolle presequi", that is
to say, that they would have been sa-
tisfied to dismiss the indictment, but
] refused to consent to have the in
dictment dismissed and demanded an
open trial in order that the malicious
prosecution would become a matter of
record, knowing that Federal Grand
Jury minutes can under no circum-
stances ever be inspected.
"After several attempts to force
the Government on for trial, the Jud-
ge two months ago ordered the
to be ready to try the
case peremtoriIy December, 5th, 1921.
This day, everybody being ready the
case was started and the following
day before the Government was
through with its case, the Judge was
convinced of the injustice of the accu-
sation, and without proceeding any
further, directed the Jury to return
a verdict of not guilty against the
italian Star Line, Inc, and all of the
defendants.
'In order that you need not rely
upon the above statement l enclose
herewith a copy of the Courts re
markes at the end of the case, which
speaks for itself.
81 think that this is a matter that
deserves some publicity; the American
papers have already published the
Courts direction of an acquittal and
since there are four thousand stock
holders interested in this matter, /
think that the important Italian pa
pers, such as your paper is, should
make a full account of this matter,
or state whatever you deem fit to pu-
blish.
Thanking you for your past cour-
tesies, 1 beg to remain
Cordially yours,
Il. Pant YdSeIly,
Pres of italian Star inc Inc