Evening journal., 1922-08-09
WOMAN TELLS OF
rum ship TOUR
Mrs. Stevens Says Cassese
Fefriended Her and Then
y Left Her Penniless
SHE CHECKED UP
THE "COCOANUTS'

NEW YORK. Aug. s.-Mrs. Edith
Stevens. 10. told Judge chstneld
and a Jury in Federal Court In
Brooklyn yesterday hS,-e shs came 10
associate with Anthony cassese. to-
bacco merchant, and how alone and
penniless she got into court charged
with being a bQotlegger's accom-
plice. Cassese disappeared after be-
ing indicted in Brooklyn and has
yet 10 be found.
II haven't heard from him IN five
weeks" said the witness sharply.
"and haven't the slightest idea
where he is"
This girl was merely Cassese's
companion" exclaimed wallace Z.
]. Collins. counsel. in opening the
defense. He gave her a good time.
something she hadn't experienced
after her parents separated years
ago. She never got a cent from
Cassese. He deserted her. leaving her
without room rent or even laundry
money. She hasn't got money for
clothing or even for meals. she IS
alone"
Mr.. Blue. Assistant Federal At
torney asserts that Mrs. Stevens
stood on the deck OF Cassese's con-
verted trawier Ripple. under South
ern skies off the Bahamas. and
checked Of what one witness de-
scribed as "cocoanuts" as they were
placed aboard from schooner
alongside.
Mrs. Stevens took the stand 20
dlsprove the charge Of completely.
She began:
when 1 was little my father was
a wealthy merchant and we had
everything we wanted"
An objection OF the Federal prose-
cutor on the ground OF irrelevancy
was sustained.
Mrs. Stevens then told OF marry
ing Milton Hirsch, a salesman, Of
313 East Fifty-seventh street. Man
haitian. in April. 1920. He was
formerly on the stage under the
name Of Stevens. Mrs. Stevens said
her parents had separated and she
had gone 10 work. But II was
monotonous. she said. and she felt
she would be better of married. But
her husband didn't earn a salary she
considered sufficient. and she found
herself in a worse plight than before.
She went on:
zone day I visited Calvary Gene
terry. A man in an automobile near
ly ran me down. He apologized and
took me home. He came TO see me
and took me out. He was wealthy.
he said-a tobacco merehant-snd
was single. He told me OF his three
cars and OF his ability TO satisfy his
every whim. He said he would like
10 take me 10 Palm Beach. Every
thing would be mine. II I went. He
pictured the life there. had been
living on Riverside Drive with my
sister. went with him to Jackson
VILE"
Cassese's yacht. the Edith named
after Mrs. Stevens. was described by
her as "a beautiful pleasure yacht"
She had "a wonderful time at Palm
Beach" and stopped eat the biggest
hotel at Nassau" in the Bahamas |
She continued:
zone night Mr.. Cassese said he
had TO go out to the Edith. He ask
ed me to go along and 1 did. We
went out in a small boat. Another
BOAT drew alongside and packages
were transferred 70 the Edith. The
captain called TO Mr.. Cassese. who
was checking, and he asked me TO
check the packages as they came
aboard. I did"
The Edith was raided by revenue
agents at Bayshore, L. l., subse-
Iuently and Cassese was indicted.
Mrs. Stevens said she accompanied
south in a search for Wit
nesses for the defense in that case.
He said they would have to so 10
He didn't speak to me at
my time OF liquor" said the witness.
He never spoke to me at all about
lis business affairs"
The Ripple had gone to the Ba-
1amas and, according to Mrs. Stew
ms. was anchored "off the end OF
zone night Mr.. Cassese
aid he would have 10 go on board
he Ripple. 1 didn't like 10 be left