Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 8, 1908

File No. 12426/1–2.

Ambassador Griscom to the Secretary of State.

American Embassy,
Rome, May 12, 1908.

No. 358.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your instruction of March 14 last (serial No. 139), stating that the department would be pleased to have a detailed report of the cases occurring within the last five years in which request has been made by the department upon the Italian Government for the punishment in Italy of Italian subjects who had committed crime in the United States and escaped to Italy.

In compliance with your instructions I now have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the subject, prepared by Mr. Winthrop.

I have, etc.,

Lloyd C. Griscom.

[Inclosure.]

A report of those cases which have occurred during the last five years in which Italian subjects have committed crimes in the United States and escaped to Italy and in which request has been made of the Italian Government for the punishment of these fugitives.

vincenzo adavasio.

Instruction No. 221, of May 19, 1904, transmits a copy of a letter from the governor of Ohio, forwarding a copy of the indictment and evidence charging Vincenzo Adavasio, an Italian subject, with murder in the first degree, committed in Mahoning County, Ohio, and directing that the matter be brought to the attention of the Italian Government, with a view to prosecution in Italy, if the accused be found there.

Note to foreign office of June 3, 1904, transmitting the above-mentioned papers and demanding the punishment of Adavasio.

alfred cavallaro.

Instruction No. 197, of January 25, 1904, transmitting copies of a letter with inclosures from executive department of New York State relative to an indictment found in the city of New York against Alfred Cavallaro, an Italian subject, charging him with rape, assault, and abduction. The said Cavallaro believed to be a fugitive from justice in Italy. Embassy directed to bring the case to the attention of the Italian Government and invite such action as may be deemed proper.

Telegram from Department of State February 11, 1904, giving address of Cavallaro as Circo, Province of Catanzaro.

Note to foreign office of February 16, 1904, giving above facts and requesting that proceedings be instituted in Italian courts.

Note to foreign office of November 4, 1904, requesting to know what action has been taken in the matter.

Note to foreign office August 24, 1905, inquiring as to the present status of the criminal proceedings which were taken against Alfredo, alias Alfonso Cavallaro.

romeo magnotti.

Instruction No. 239, of September 1, 1904, directing that the extradition be asked for of Romeo Magnotti, charged with murder in the State of New York and a fugitive from justice in Italy. Evidence to be personally presented at embassy for transmission to Italian foreign office.

Telegram from the Department of State September 23, 1904, directing that provisional arrest of Magnotti be requested, and giving supposed location.

Note to foreign office of September 24, 1904, requesting provisional arrest of Magnotti, giving his supposed whereabouts and stating that the necessary papers will be forwarded as soon as they reach the embassy.

Note from foreign office of October 12, 1904, states that Magnotti has not been found and asks for all possible evidence and further information.

Note from foreign office April 15, 1905, stating that proceedings against Magnotti have been suspended owing to his escape to the Argentine Republic.

Dispatch No. 3, of April 19, 1905, stating the above information.

stefano bonnano.

Cable instruction from Department of State, April 4, 1905, stating that Stefano Bonnano, Italian subject, is charged with theft of diamonds in New York City, now at Palermo, and that documentary evidence is to be furnished for trial in Italy. Directs matter to be brought to the attention of the Italian Government with a view to arrest and prosecution of accused in Italy and recovery of property.

Note from foreign office April 27, 1905, states that Bonnano has been arrested and requests necessary documentary evidence.

Telegram to Department of State, May 3, 1905, asking for documentary evidence.

Dispatch No. 11, of May 4, 1905, confirms telegram of May 3 and transmits note from foreign office notifying embassy of the arrest of Bonnano and requesting documentary evidence.

Instruction No. 17, of June 6, 1905, transmits evidence.

Note to foreign office of June 24, 1905, transmits documents and evidence duly certified to.

Instruction No. 20, of June 10, 1905, states that documentary evidence was mailed on the 6th instant.

Instruction No. 21, of June 12, 1905, transmits further evidence.

Note from foreign office of May 4, 1906, transmits copy of criminal proceedings against Bonnano.

Dispatch No. 181, of May 5, 1906, transmits note from foreign office with copy and translation of the penal proceedings against Bonnano, from which it appears that he was acquitted by the royal tribunal at Palermo.

heney pelizzari.

Instruction No. 273, of March 21, 1905, inclosing a copy of a letter from Mr. Thomas Spence, auditor of the Kingan Provision Co., of New York City, in regard to Henry Pelizzari, an Italian who has been indicted in that city for grand larceny in the second degree. Directs case to be brought to the attention of the Italian Government with a view to prosecution in Italy and to ask what documentary evidence should be forwarded.

Note to foreign office, April 8, 1905, carrying out above instructions.

Note from foreign office, May 9, 1905, states that search will be made for Pelizzari, and demands whatever documentary evidence has been prepared in New York.

Note to foreign office of May 15, 1905, stating that the American Government has been asked to send evidence to Rome to sustain a prosecution.

Instruction No. 28, of July 8, 1905, transmitting documentary evidence against Pelizzari.

Note to foreign office, August 10, 1905, transmits legal papers -duly certified to, containing evidence against Pelizzari.

rev. luciano monda.

Note from foreign office of May 9, 1905, relative to Rev. Luciano Monda and stating that the American consul at Naples had requested the police authorities at Naples, at the instance of the prosecuting attorney of Fayette County, Pa., to arrest the said Monda on a charge of homicide in the United States, and asking the embassy if the charge will be supported with the necessary documents.

Cable to Secretary of State, May 12, 1905, for information.

Cable from Department of State, May 13, 1905, stating that the department has refused to ask for extradition, as the accused is an Italian subject.

Note to foreign office, May 15, 1905, informing Italian Government that the American Government will not ask for extradition of Monda.

Note from foreign office of June 16, 1905, stating that Monda has been arrested, and that failing any evidence from the United States, the prisoner has been released on bail. All documents requested in support of the charge.

Cable to Secretary of State of June 13, 1905, asking for documentary evidence.

Instruction No. 30, of July 10, 1905, transmitting documentary evidence.

Note to foreign office, August 10, 1905, transmitting documentary evidence duly certified to with a view to Monda’s prosecution.

Note from foreign office, September 11, 1906, stating that, owing to insufficiency of evidence, by decree of August 24, 1906, the proceedings against Monda have been discontinued.

Dispatch No. 256, of September 14, 1906, giving above information.

giacomo campbeli or campoli.

Telegraphic instructions from Department of State, June 9, 1905, relative to Giacomo Campeli or Campoli, an Italian subject charged with embezzlement in Pennsylvania, who recently sailed for Italy from New York, directing that the case be brought to the attention of the Italian authorities with a view to arrest and prosecution of Campoli in Italy.

Note verbale to foreign office, June 9, 1905, making above request.

Note from foreign office, June 30, 1905, stating that Campoli has been arrested on landing at Naples and asking that the papers containing the evidence be sent as soon as possible.

Telegram to Department of State, July 1, 1905, giving information received from foreign office.

Telegram from Department of State, received August 30, 1905, stating that the papers in the case were transmitted to the Italian consul at Philadelphia, who forwarded them to the ministry of justice at Rome.

Note to foreign office, August 30, 1905, stating above information and asking to be informed if papers have been received and are acceptable.

francesco luongo.

Instruction No. 15, of May 31, 1905, directing the embassy at the instance of Mr. Rockwood Hoar to find out the result of the trial in Italy of Francesco Luongo, an Italian subject, who committed murder in Massachusetts in 1901, and fled to Italy and was there arrested.

Note to foreign office, of June 26, 1905, asking for this information.

Note from foreign office, July 7, 1905, stating in reply that Luongo was sentenced on May 13, 1904, to 4 years 11 months and 28 days solitary confinement, the court finding extenuating circumstances; and also that the accused was partially mentally deranged at the time the crime was committed. An appeal was taken against this sentence and was rejected on June 30, 1904, and the sentence thus became res judicata.

Dispatch No. 41, July 10, 1905, gives the above information.

giuseppe calante.

Note to foreign office, September 12, 1906, stating that the sheriff of New Castle, Pa., has asked for the arrest of Calante, an Italian subject charged with murder in Pennsylvania, and requesting his arrest upon his landing at Naples.

Telegram to Department of State, September 12, 1906, asking for instructions.

Telegram from Department of State, October 1, 1906, directing that the arrest of Giuseppe Calante be requested for trial and punishment in Italy on a charge of murder in Pennsylvania.

Instruction No. 134, of October 3, 1906, transmits documents in the case.

Note to foreign office, October 12, 1906, making further request for the arrest of Calante.

Note from foreign office, November 6, 1906, stating that he has not yet reached Italy.

Note from foreign office, August 14, 1907, stating that Calante has not yet been arrested, and requesting further details as to his probable place of concealment.

Note to foreign office, August 27, 1907, stating that further information has place of concealment.

Note to foreign office, August 27, 1907, stating that further information has been requested of authorities at Washington.

nicola leoni.

Instruction No. 160 of January 18, 1907, inclosing original papers furnished by governor of Massachusetts asking the arrest, with a view to trial by Italian courts, of Nicola Leoni, charged with murder in Massachusetts, and asking that the department be advised when Leoni is arrested in order that the evidence may be sent.

Note to foreign office of February 2, 1907, requesting arrest of Leoni, and saying that the papers furnishing evidence will be sent in due course.

Note from foreign office of April 12, 1907, stating that Leoni was arrested on January 13, 1907, and that the penal examination is now proceeding, and includes two interrogatories which have already been submitted, transmitted to the Italian consul at Boston for the execution of which the good offices of the embassy are required.

Dispatch No. 40 of April 19, 1907, giving above information.

carlo rosst.

Note from foreign office, October 14, 1907, stating that the prefect of Naples is in receipt of a letter from the head of the Italian section of police in New York asking for the arrest of Carlo Rossi, now in Italy, for murder committed in New York. Evidence and information are requested in order to proceed against Rossi.

Note to foreign office, October 17, 1907, acknowledging above and stating that information has been requested.

Dispatch No. 191 of October 17, 1907, transmitting letter from foreign office requesting said evidence and information.

Telegram from Department of State, November 21, 1907, stating that the district attorney of New York desires the prosecution of Rossi and that the evidence will be drawn up and forwarded.

Note to foreign office, November 21, 1907, communicating contents of the above-mentioned telegram.

Instruction No. 113 of January 15, 1908, transmitting evidence against Rossi.

Note to foreign office of February 1, 1908, transmitting evidence against Rossi.

giovanni labagnara.

Note from foreign office of November 2, 1907, states that the prefect of Naples has received a letter from Paterson, N. J., advising him of the arrival at Naples of Giovanni Labagnara of Guardia Lanframonte, who is being sought for by the authorities, and requesting ixiformation as to the wishes of the American Government in the matter and at the same time stating that Labagnara is under surveillance.

Dispatch No. 207 of November 7, 1907, stating above facts and asking for information.

Note to foreign office, November 12, 1907, acknowledging receipt of above note and stating that the matter has been brought to the attention of the American Government.

Instruction No. 106, December 13, 1907, stating that it has been learned from the governor of New Jersey that no charge exists against Labagnaro and inclosing copies of various letters on the subject.

Note to foreign office, December 26, 1907, transmitting above information.

The above cases cover the last five years, with the addition of the first three months of 1908.