San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-11
ALLEGED HEAD
Of S|MUGGLERS
HELD IN EAST
immigration Agents Be-
lieve Syndicate Is
Broken Up.
WANTED AT LAREDO
Mounted Guards Caught
Four Portuguese in Bor-
der Brush.

On Geographic instruction from La
redo. Elisaro Nunes Baeta, reputed by
immigration officials in this district to
be the alleged head OF an alien SNUG
Cling organization operating between
the San Antonio district and eastern
cities. was placed under arrest at Phil
adelphia Monday. according to infOr-
nation received by Capt. W. NJ. Han
son, inspector in charge of the San
Antonio immigration district.
Capture of the alleged head of the
smuggling syndicate and the ireaking
up of the organization developed out
of the capture of an Italian and five
Portuguese near Laredo. August 81. by
immigration officers working under the
direction of Captain Hanson.
Baeto will be brought ok to- la
redo, where he will face i mr. lint
filed before the United ates Com
missioner Their. charging him with
conspiracy to violate the immigration
laws. The young Italian. Joseph Mic
ciche. and Portuguese. rank Aug
usto. are also charged with conspiracy.
as well as being charged directly with
the smuggling of four Portuguese
aliens.
500 and Expenses.
According to an alleged statement by
. Augusta. he and Miccichc had come
, from Philadelphia to laredo for the
purpose, of smuggling in four Portu'
guese aliens. For this work. they were
TO be given 500 each and all expenses
from Philadelphia t Laredo and re-
turn. Baeta. Augusta. charged. was
financing the trip.
Early on the morning of August 81
began the developments that later led
TO the apprehension of the ALLEGED
smuggler chief. according to Captain
Hanson. On that morning, Mounted
Guards Hawkins and Henry on the
San Antonio road about five miles
from Laredo. passed a Ford cal
stopped by the waysidc. In the car
a young Italian, Joseph Micciche. was
sleeping. After questioning him, Tho
guards continued on their way.
About dawn, Immigrant Inspectors
Mullen and NJ. NJ. Hanson passed The
car while the young Italian was put
ting I'M the curtains. Shortly after
SNllflSp inc lHluliSIdNlOil OiliNtAc w ~
pasSed by the automobile containing
the Italian and five Portuguese. WheI
the federal officers attempted to stol
the ear. the driver s2eeded up. Mount
ed Guard Henry fired two shots a
the wheels and the driver slowed thu
pace of the car. Instead of hating
however. the car swerved off the roat
and into ilroad right-of-way. A
this iuncturc. three Portuguese alien
leaped from the automobile. Two fell
unable to run. while the her mad
a temporary escape into the brush.
Forced TO Seek Water.
After arriving about 100 yard
down the right-of-way. the automobil
was wrecked, and Miciche. August'
and a Portuguese alien escaped int
the brush. They were followed abou
eight miles by the officers before TN
pursuit was abandoned.
Believing that the fugitives wOul
he compelled to go to the Ranch
Caballos. about eleven miles mort
of Laredo, for water. immigrant OF
ficers watched water tank at tina
place. About II o'clock. the tire
fugitives appeared, suffering great
from thirst. They were apprenende
there and taken before the Unite
States commissioner at Laredo.
The four Portuguese aliens are be
ing held for deportation proceeding
while Micciche and Augusta are be
ing held under smuggling and conspir
acy charges.
This is the first time that immi
grant officials believe they hav
traced the operations of an allie
smuggling gang back 10 cities in tn
eastern part of the United States
Captain Hanson said. although it ha
been known for some time that allie
smuggling organizations have bee
operating between the Rio Grand
and the North and East. Several o;
CARNATIONS of national scope are sti
believed m no in onpration,