Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-22
DUPED BY HIS COUNTRYMEN

Antonio Panciera, contractor, arrives
in New York from Philadelphia last week
At the Desbrosses Street Ferry he was &C
costed by we'll dressed, black bearded
Italian, who seized him by the hand ant
shaking it heartily said in hisnatve tongue
"Why, how do you do Mr. Montrosso
How are all my folks? hope they are
well ?"
Antonio corrected his polite fellow coun
tryman, and in doing so innocently told
him what bis name and residence were
The stranger apologized for his mistake
saying that he resembed his friend very
much and then went away. Antonio pro
ceeded on his way and had walked about
one hundred yards when he was familarly
accosted by another Italian, who shook his
hand warmly as he said:
"Give US your fist, old fellow. When did
you arrive? I'm angry with you for not
telegraphing me of your coming. | would
have been ut the depot to meet you"
II don't know you," stammered Antonio
"Yes you do, old boy" remarked the
stranger, laughingly. "You are Antonio
Panciero and you live in Philadelphia,
where came from. My name is Giuseppe
Costa"
And Giuseppe, by his plausible manner
and glib tongue, succeeded in gaining the
confidence of Antonio.
"Where are you bound for-Italy ?"asked
Giuseppe.
"No-to Boston. I'm only staying in the
city for few days"
"Why, Pm going to Boston," said Giu-
seppe. Well go together"
While walking along they met three ac-
quaintances of Giuseppe, who introduced
them to Antonio. Giuseppe whispered to
one of his friends, and then said to him g:
"Where are you fellows going?"
"To Boston," one of them replied.
1--WE are going there also, said the unsus
pecting Antonio.
'Let's go together, then, and we'll have
lots of fun" suggested Giuseppe.
All agreed, and then followed q general
conversation. Giuseppe's friends told An
tonic what wicked city New York was,
full of rogues and thieves, and it was pro.
posed that they should each deposit their
money in bag. Antonio placed $143 and a
gold watch and chain in the bag, and then
it was passed around for the others to throw
in their wealth. Giuseppe engaged Antonio
in conversation, during which his friends
substituted another bag for that containing
the money. The second bag was then hand
ed to the contractor with the remark: "Be
careful of this. There is over $500 in it,"
Soon afterwards Giuseppe remarked that
he would go home and prepare for the
Journey, and his friends said they would do
likewise Antonio was told to wait for them
at the Desbrosses-street ferry. He asked
laughingly if they weren't afraid that he
might run away with the bag and their
money. He was assured that they were not
at all alarmed, and the four men left him.
When he became tired of waiting for their
return he entered restaurant and ordered
q meal. When he finished eating he stepped
up to the cashiers dask and opened the bag.
Without looking into it he put his hand in
and brought out piece of lead pipe. Then
he looked into the bag and saw that it was
half filled with small pieces of lead pipe.
The cashier saw that he had been victim
lied and allowed him to leave without pay
ing for the meal He told his story to
Inspector Byrnes and Detective Sergeants
Perazzo and Tessare were placed on the
case. They arrested Giuseppe on Saturday
and arragued him before Justice German
at the Tombs. The vctimized Italian pick
ed him out of dozen men. The prisoner
told Justice German that he wasn't the
man, but he was held. Antonio was locked
up in the House of Detention.