The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-15
IDENTIFICkTIONS
FAIL IN GRECO
CARRILL0 TRIAL
Prosecutor Stumbles in
Frame-Up

After half day of cross eXamln-
ing one witness, Clarence Darrow, de-
Tending Donate Carrillo and Calogero
Greco, young anti-fascists charged
with numbering two fascists last
Memorial Day, yesterday afternoon
secured admission of a statement in
the records by which he expects to
prove the Identification" of his
clients false. The statement, which
was finally admitted over bitter
prosecution protests, was issued by
Alexander Rocco, fascist leader, after
the murder. 1t contained descriptions
of the slayers, which, Darrow as
serts, correspond in no way with the
actual appearance of the accused
men.
Wild Imagination.
The statement by Rocco was made
to Assistant District Attorney l. j.
P. Alderman of the Bronx, who ques-
toned him on the night of the muir
der, May 31st. A reading of the depo-
sition to the jury by Darrow revealed
the following testimony, after giving
a description of the details surround
ing the killing of the two fascists on
their way to a demonstration down
town:
"The fellow that done the stabbing
was almost six feet in height. He
was slim, wore gray suit, dark
brown soft hat. The fellow that done
the shooting was about 5 feet 1C
inches high, had long face. And
the left part of his face was yellow
This description fits neither Greco
nor Carrillo according to defense
counsel. Greco is five feet five ano
half inches in height, and CarrillC
is exactly five feet six iIickes.
Rocco, who under Darrow's cross
examination had admitted that he is
the secretary and organizer of the
Bronx branch of The Fascist League
of North America, which the defense
charges is behind the entire frame-up
against the two workers on trial, was
recalled to the witness stand when
court opened yesterday morning. I'm
der Darrow's questioning the fascist
hesitatingly described his trip to Car
rillo's home in Brooklyn, accompanied
by two Bronx detectives working up
the case.
State Witness Retreats.
The ''star" witness of the prosecu-
tion was forced by Darrow to de-
scribe the details of the identified
ton" of Greco and Carrillo the day
they were arrested. No pretense at
a lineup" was made in the magis-
trate's court, it was revealed yester-
day, Greco and Carrillo being the on
ly prisoners present at the time.
Besides the district attorney, there
were "a lot of detectives and police
in the room," Rocco testified.
Regarding the deposition made by
Rocco on the night of the fascist kill
ings, it was learned yesterday that
Darrow has issued subpoenas for AS
sistant District Attorney Alderman
and for all records of the police de-
partment concerning the arrest OF
Greco and Carrillo. Alderman, in ad-
dition to questioning Rocco, also su-
pervised the taking of statements OF
the majority of the persons brought
in by the police as witnesses.
At the opening of court yesterday
Darrow got into the record, without
encountering any opposition from the
prosecutor, that there were twenty
two steps to the IL" stairway lead.
ing up to the 183rd st. station, rather
than twelve, as Rocco testified.
Protest Meeting Sunday.
A meeting to protest against the
frame-up of Greco and Carrillo will
be held next Sunday afternoon at
o'clock at 1347 3oston Rd. The meet
ing, which will De addressed by Ma,
Shachtman, John Pippin, and others
is under the auspices of the Bron,
branch of the international Labor
Defense. -...--...--
oil