385.1121 Cimador, Guido/13
Memorandum by the Consul at Trieste (Winslow)16
Review of the Cimador Case
On June 15, 1927, Guido Cimador, a native of Prato Carnico, Italy, was naturalized as an American citizen. While in the United States [Page 588] Cimador resided in the following places: Pittsburgh, Detroit, Rochester (N. Y.) Buffalo, Welch (W. Va.). Durham, (N. C).
Once, while residing in Pittsburgh, he was passing down a street in the west-end which led to a theatre where Italian fascists were holding a meeting, when he met an acquaintance (Attilio Solari, bearer of passport No. 322415 issued at Washington on October 28, 1930—now residing at Prato Carnico) who was being taken to the police station for making a demonstration in front of the fascist meeting place. Cimador attempted to dissuade the policeman from arresting Solari but the officer took him along instead. After remaining for two hours in jail Cimador and Solari were released on payment of $15.00 bail each, and they were tried next morning before the police magistrate and immediately released. During his examination at the trial Cimador was asked by the magistrate whether he was for or against fascism and he replied that he was against it. This latter statement was probably reported to the Italian Government by the Italian Consul at Pittsburgh.
Early in 1931, Cimador received an injury to his spine while working as a bricklayer on Federal Street, Pittsburgh, so in October he returned to his mother’s home at Prato Carnico, Italy, to recover from the injury and to visit his mother and brothers. After his arrival Cimador was kept under surveillance by the Italian authorities who asked to see his passport a number of times.
Cimador planned to return to the United States in June 1933, but on June 3, he was arrested and charged with organizing a subversive manifestation at the funeral of Giovanni Cassali which took place on June 1st. At this funeral one d’Agaro made a speech which the Italian authorities considered seditious but which in fact was extremely mild.
Cimador made no speech at the funeral his only activity being an effort to keep the members of the funeral procession in line.
A few minutes before the funeral took place Cimador joined a group which was discussing the funeral. There were present at the time: Cimador, Innocente Petris, Aldo Fabian, one Cristofoli, d’Agaro, and a number of others. It being known that d’Agaro planned to speak at the funeral all considered, knowing d’Agaro’s radical leanings, that the speech might be of a radical character so Cimador asked him to show the speech he had written. This d’Agaro refused to do saying that there was nothing dangerous in it whereupon, Cimador in the presence of all, strongly advised d’Agaro against making any speech whatever.
After Cimador’s arrest on June 3 he was taken to Ovaro where he remained in jail for 30 hours. During this time he was examined for a short time by a police commissioner from Udine. Cimador then disclaimed having rendered any assistance whatever in the preparation of d’Agaro’s speech and denied having organized the so-called subversive [Page 589] manifestation. He did not tell the agent that a few moments prior to the funeral he had advised d’Agaro, in the presence of witnesses, not to make the speech, because he was aware of the fact that d’Agaro’s radical tendencies were well known and he feared that by admitting to have been in d’Agaro’s company just before the funeral he would unjustly incriminate himself.
On June 4, Cimador was removed to a jail in Tolmezzo where he remained for two days and was then sent to Udine where he remained in prison until July 14, when he was taken to the confinement colony on the island of Ponza near Naples.
He was tried on June 25th before the Confinement Commission at Udine when he was asked the following questions:
- 1.
- Are you an anarchist?
- 2.
- Do you know one Di Giovanni?
- 3.
- Why did you come back to Italy?
- 4.
- How did you receive your injury?
- 5.
- Do you receive a pension from your injury?
- 6.
- When you were in America did you reside at 1331 East Nelson Street, Pittsburgh?
No questions were asked by the commission concerning the funeral or the alleged cause of his arrest. After a few minutes Cimador was informed that he would be sent into confinement and was then led back to his cell. On his departure for Ponza he was informed that he had been sentenced to five years confinement.
On August 1st Cimador dispatched a registered letter to the American Ambassador at Rome but a receipt was refused him.
On August 18th, or thereabouts, Cimador was escorted to Prato Carnico under guard for the purpose of visiting his aged mother who was dying. He remained at Prato Carnico until August 28, when he was returned to Ponza. On August 25th he was examined by the American Consul from Trieste who had gone to Prato Carnico upon receiving a letter which Cimador had dispatched through a friend.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in Italy in bis despatch No. 169, September 8; received September 21.↩