The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-24
He Fled Last Night and Took With
Him $4,000 That Was Not His.
He WAS A TRUSTED BANKER.
Intense Excitement In the Little italian
Colony over His Disappearance
Other Serious Charges Made Against
Him-Seyeral Hundred Italians Mourn

~
There Is the widest kind Of excite
meot today among the Italian residents
OF Federal Hill. Tommasso Cont.
banker, notary public and
general merchandise dealer, has proven n
scoundrel and several hundred depositors
are mourning loss that will aggregate
over $6.000
A Heartless Robbery.
Cont was one Of the moneyed residents
OF Federal hill. He came here some time
ago from New York and began
business as dealer In foreign and do
rnestic merchandise and later blossomed
out into q notary public. Fortune
smiled upon him. He wormed himself
into the good graces Of his fellow
Italians and gradually got their
confidence TO fatal extent. His
headquarters at 302Atwell's avenue took
on new sign. aud block letters set forth
the legend "Baaca Italiana." Hither
Italians OF all ages aud degrees OF wealth
wended their way aud deposited their
savings. for Cont promised fabulous
rates Of interest that ne never paid. AS
q special inducement twelve per cent.
was offered to deposltors. Con ii
also acted as agent for the transmi ssion
OF money to the relatives OF Federal Hill
Italians who had been left behind in the
old country. In this way he built up a
large practice and was well and favorably
known throughout the Italian colony.
sudden Revelation.
Yesterday morning all appeared we'll,
and Tommasso Cont was respected
man. Today bitter denunciations are
heaped upon his head and the streets are
crowded with angry. anxious Italians.
Early yesterday an attachment OF
sl19 was placed upon Couti's store Of
goods by New York grocery house.
Some depositor heard of II and, becoming
alarmed, fastened to the bank and asked
for his deposit. Cont put him of with
some excuse and the word of ill-omen
went forth that the bank had suspended.
Depositors sought Cont. but he could
not be found. Late in the afternoon the
word went round that the banker had
fed aud taken with him the entire cash
OF the bank. This sad intelligence proved
true. Cont was gone. So were the q, 900
that had been left with him by his Italian
friends. No trace of his whereabouts or
the direction in which he had fed can be
discovered. The Italian colony went wild
and the crowds OF angry, excited men
are thronging the street In front
of the bank. When representative Of
The News visited the place today ther g
were three men inside, but all strenously
denied that there was keeper among
their number. This information was
conveyed through thick pane o glass,
as the door was locked, aud the men in-
side refused TO open it.
Other Grave Charges.
Another serious charge has been brought
against Cont. Besides his banking busi-
ness he had been in the habit of receiving
large amounts of money from the resi-
dents of the little colony, with instruc-
tions to send it TO their
relatives in Italy. It appears
that none of this money had ever been
sent as directed. but had been diverted to
Conti's owu uses. Words OF complaint
have been received at frequent intervals
OF late stating that no money had been
received by the waiting ones at home,
but there was no suspicion offalse play on
the part of Cont. IL seems eviden that
dishones game has been played against
them throughout and that Contfs sole
object in life was to enrich himself at the
expense of his Woodworking and credu-
lous countrymen.
Antoni Vetoii In Possession.
Antoni vetoli, an Italian grocer, has
bought up the stock OF merchandise left
behind by Cont aud has satisfied the at
tachment. Cont carried n good line OF
Italian products and, 1t is said.
retailed them at remarkably
low prices. H,s store was we'll patronized
on this account and his goods were said
10 be OF first class quality.
More Rumors About CONT.
1t is stated on good authority that Cont
is the proprietor Of an establish
ment in New York similar
to the one lie so recently deserted in this
city. Nothing Is known about
its standing. Contrs loca-
ton at present is unknown
aud his dupes despair OF ever recovering
their lost deposits. 1t is thought that he
has gone to New YORK.
The Arm name is Tommaso Cont g.
Co. The company" it is understood, is
represented by his wife. She IL In the
city, but could not be seen.
Several hundred Italians are said to be
among the victims.