New York, Jan. 7.
Three New Yorkers and four Italian seamen, held under bonds totalling $250,000 and charged with attempting to smuggle $250,000 worth of opium inia the United States on the freighter Ida from Trieste, all pleaded innocent here today.
Hearing of the case was set for January 17 when the alleged smugglers appeared in court to present their pleas.
The seven men, alleged to comprise one of the most daring smuggling gangs in the history of the country, were captured by Brooklyn police and Federal G-Men yesterday after a running gun battle along the Brooklyn waterfront in which one policeman was slightly wounded.
Police and G-Men, who had been checking up on the gang for several months, sei a trap for them when the Ida arrived from Trieste yesterday. Police approached the alleged smugglers as they were taking cases of opium ashore from the ship, but Codged for cover when the Italians drew revolvers and began firing. The men were arrested after running several blocks along the waterfront while exchanging shots with the police and' Federal agents.
The three New York Italians arrested were Salvatore Luigi, Luigi Esposito and Frank Visciano. They Were accused of handling the sales j of the smuggled opium in the United States. The four Italian seamen [arrested were Giovanna Abba, Antonio Occha, Giacomo Baccabeza and Bruno Pozzocco.
Capture of the Italian smuggling gang yesterday followed weeks of undercover work by Federal agents, one of whom allied himself? with the gang by posing as a criminal. Alter several months of investigation, the leaders of the smuggling Rang were determined and plans for their capture—completed.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.