What is your name?
Charles Ponzi.
You have the right to be represented by counsel. Do you wish to avail yourself of that right?
Yes, sir. And Mr. William H. Lewis, attorney-at-law, who is present here now, has been engaged
by me to represent me as my counsel.
William H. Lewis, Esq., announces that he will represent Charles Ponzi at the hearing
Were you ever known by any other name than Charles Ponzi?
Yes, I was known by the name of Bianchi, which means white in Italian, and which was given to me by my friends in Canada because of my white complexion; it is a sort of a surname.
How old are you?
Forty-two years. I was born on March 3rd, 1882.
Where were you born?
At Lugo, near the city of Ravenna, in the providence of Ravenna, in Northern Italy.
Did you come from Ravenna direct to the United States?
No, sir. I lived for three years before my entry here in Rome, the capital of Italy.
On what date did you leave Italy to come to America?
On November 3rd, 1903.
By what steamer did you come to the United States?
By SS. "Vancouver" of the Dominion line.
Did you come as a passenger or in any other capacity?
I came in the second cabin as a passenger.
On what date did you arrive in the United States?
We arrived in Boston in November 17, 1903.
Under what name did you arrive?
Under the name of Carlo Ponzi--Carlo is Italian for Charles, you understand.
How old were you at the time?
I was 21 years of age.
Were you married?
No, I am now. Then I was single.
What was your occupation?
I was a clerk in Italy.
To whom were you destined upon your arrival in the United States?
To a very distant relative, Ludovico Serpagli.
Where did he live?
1,202 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pittsburgh, Penna.
Were you detained by Immigration officials when you arrived in Boston?
No. I was let go from the ship or dock.
What is your Father's name and place of birth?
Creste Ponzi, he was born in Parma, Italy; he is dead.
What is your Mother's maiden name and place of birth?
Imelda Tommasini, and she was a native of Parma, like my Father. She is living with me here in America now. With me and my wife.
Since you first entered the United States, namely since November 17, 1903, did you ever leave the country?
Yes, but not permanently.
When did you leave the United States?
I think it was either the latter part of 1907 or the beginning of 1908.
Where did you go then?
I went to Montreal, Canada.
On business?
No, looking for work.
How long did you stay in Canada at that time?
In 1908 I made several trips into the United States then.
But how long did you stay in Canada without interruption?
I remained in Canada in the neighborhood of 22 months or 23 months.
And you did not interrupt your stay in Canada during the time at all?
No, during that period I did not.
When did you come back into the States?
It must have been about 1910.
Where did you enter at that time when you came back into the States?
I noticed that the Warrant mentions "Mooers" New York. But I did not enter at Mooers Junction, but at another railroad station, perhaps fifteen or twenty miles West of Mooers Junction.
Do you know the exact date?
I think it was in July 1910.
Was it the early or later part of July?
I think it was in the second half.
Were you examined by U.S. Immigration officials at that time?
I was.
Where?
At the station just on the other side of the Canadian border.
Do you know the name of the station?
No, I do not. I think I can find it on the map, though. The name may come to me later.
(To be continued).