New-York tribune., 1922-08-08
Girl All Smiles.
T aces $ Jury as
Liquor Runner
Mrs. Edith Stevens Beams ON
Witness Accusing Her of
Checking Yacht Ripple's
Booze Cargo in Bahamas
Her Auto Trips Related
Chauffeur Tells Court He
Drove Cassese and De-
fendanf About at Night

Things looked squally for Mrs. Edith
Stevens yesterday when her trial as a
whisky snuggler opened in the United
States District Court before Judge
Chatheld. but the youthful and attrae-
tive defendant smiled undismayed at
testimony that she had acted as check
er or quartermaster's aid when tne
contraband cargo was loaded on An
toni Cassese's yacht Ripple IN the ba-
bamas.
Her smile included not only Joseph
Bartolin, Cassese's chauffeur and ma
Ter dono of his seagoing househoid,
who gave the testimony as to Mrs
Stevens's duties as cargo checker, but
also Mrs. Cassese, wife Of the fugitive
yachtsman, who occupied front seat
In the courtroom, panoplied In virtue,
iewelrv and righteous indignation. Mrs.
Cassese also is to be witness against
Mrs. Stevens.
Mrs. Stevens, twenty-five years old,
eiriishly slender, appealingly demure.
already has admitted peccadliioes
which might embarrass an older ana
more experienced woman, but her attl-
tuds was one of utmost serenity as sne
sat at the defendants table yesterday.
She has acknowledged that she de-
werted her husband to rove the South
Atlantic in the yacht of the wealthy
tobacconist Cassese, and that she &C
companied him on lengthy motor trips.
She met him in cemetery. she told
Federal detectives who arrested her.
She was walking and Cassese was rid
ing in his motor car, with Bartoiln at
the wheel. He invited her to have a
ride and she accepted.
II is the contention of the prosecu-
tion, in charge OF Alexander G. Blue.
Assistant United States Attorney, that
Mrs. Stevens became the partner of
Cassese in his freeb ooting trade in
the Ripple He trusted her with the
details of his Illicit ventures in the
whisky market, it is said, but bought
Jewels for no woman but his wife, the
mother of his three children.
The appearance of Mrs. Cassese in
court substantiated the latter state
ment. Her ears, bodice and fingers
clittered with diamonds and three
ropes of pearls cleaned at her neck.
The twinkle in her eyes as she con-
templated the attractive young woman
against whom she is called as wit
ness outshone all her jewels, however.
BartoIiu, who testified yesterday, was
indicted with Mrs. Stevens. AS soon as
q 3ury had been sworn in, however, Mr..
EIuG SpIEIR d loS ny dGhAAB W
have the Indictment against Bartoltn
dismissed on the ground that he was to
testify for the prosecution. The mo-
ton was granted and Bartolin was
the first witness called.
He had been in the air service of the
italian army during the war, he said,
and came to this country after the
armistice was signed. He got a job
with Cassese as chauffeur. he con-
tinued, and often had driven his en-
ployer and Mrs. Stevens about the
country. generally picking up Mrs.
Stevens at a downtown hotel.
Nominally. Bartolin testified, he was
the owner of the Ripple. The actual
owner, however. was Cassese, he said,
who had given him a check with which
to buy the yacht in order that his name
might be kept out of the transaction.
When the Ripple was about to sail,
said Bartolin, Cassese and Mrs. Stew
ems would come aboard in q launch.
Cassese rented car in Nassau, he
said, and he drove his employer and
Mrs. Stevens about in it.
The Ripple's whisky cargo was trans
shipped from schooner, Bartolin said
and while the cases we're being heisted
aboard Mrs. Stevens sat cross-legged