The Portland daily press., 1897-06-05
1T WAS ALL In THEIR MIND.
A Gigantic Scheme to Build Fish
Pond at Cumberland Mills.

Two Boston Strangers Come to Portland
in Quest of italian Laborers-A
Clever swindle That Didn't Work.
A clever swindle, in which two of Port
lands most prominent italian residents
were marked as dupes, and which also
concerned about IT'S other local represen-
tatives of that nationality, was nipped in
the bud, yesterday.
Charles Casassa, the fruit vender, who
frequently officiates as interpreter in
court cases, and is the Good Samaritan
in many case wherein his fellow coun-
trymen are in trouble, received a few
days ago from Boston a letter signed
"Roger Connell' 1t contained the
statement that its writer had in contem-
plation the establishment of large arti-
ficial fish pond, near Portland, and that
he would require the services of about IT'S
italian laborers. He wanted to know if
MIR. Casassa could assist him in engag-
| ing a crew. Connell agreed to come to
Portland and confer with CaSassa in re-
gard to the project.
Mr.. Casassa wasn't in the employment
| bureau business but he talked the mat
| ter over with Antonio Urbano, and to-
| gether they agreed to do what they could
to assist the contractor in securing a
crew. They were satisfied that the num-
Der of laborers required could readily be
secured
On Thursday Connell came down from
Boston, bringing with him a man whom
he introduced to the Italians as James
Cushman, contractor, who was to have
charge of the construction of the pond.
After brief conference the two pros
pectorS and MeSSrS. Casassa and Urbano
took grip out to Cumberland Mills.
There the strangers pointed out, on the
Roberts farm, tract in which they
claimed to have arranged for the location
of an artificial pond, 300 feet long and 200
feet wide. Their plan was to make
deep excavation and fill it by digging a
just below the m lis. Another canal, ex-
tending some distance below, would serve
as an outlet to the pond. They explained
that there was money behind the scheme,
the intention of it's projectors being to
stock the pond with trout and charge fish
ermen dollar a7pound for their catches
The schemerss had not taken into con-
sideration the fact that the Presumpscot
water, just after leaving the cotton mills
would not be as suitable for trout breed
| ing as If the pond were to be located far
ther up the stream. But the two Port
land men whose interest in the scheme
was fast taking shape, did not give that
any thought.
| Upon their return to the city the Bos-
ton parties incidentally informed their
new found friends that an advance pay
| ment of commission would be the proper
thing, $25 from Mr.. Casassa and $50
from Mr.. Urbano, they to be reimbursed
by an assessment on the wages of the
| laborers.
II, ,.,n ,4,,s
CasaSSa with much favor, and his heSita-
tion delayed proceedings considerably.
Laborers with whom Casassa and Urbano
had talked were eager to begin the job,
and SO were Messrs. Connell and Cush-
man. Everything was ready, Thursday
night, for a final arrangement of pre-
liminaries, but Casassa declined ito make
his payment and advised .his friend not
to till morning. An early meeting of
| the parties was arranged. to take place
yesterday morning.
The more Mr.. Casassa thought over
the project, the more ne became convinced
that he ought to have some more definite
security for his investment than the word
of these strangers. He came to the con-
clusion that the advice of one Of the heads
of the police department might not come
in amiss. SO he called on Deputy Marshal
Hartnett and related to him all the de-
| tails of the fish pond project.
The deputy recognized the scheme as a
duplicate of one worked in New Jersey, a
| few days age, ,about which he had read in a
| newspaper. Being satisfied that it was
swindle, pure and simple, he so advised
his informant, and began making plans
for gathering in the projectors. He locat-
ed them at a lodging house on Cotton
street.
Going there, early yesterday morning,
in company with Officer Stewart, he
found Connell ana Cushman, abed, and
took them in custody. They admitted
that they were the men who had been
negotiating for the employment of a big
crew of Italians, but declared that they
| were unaware that it was not legitimate
| transaction. Connell claimed that he
was employed by Cushman, and the lat
| ter said he was sent here by an Illinois
contractor named Gardiner.
Marshal Sylvester and County Attorney
Libby held conference in relation to the
matter, and questioned the prisoners in
| the presence of their accuserS. 1t was as
certained that no advance payment was
to have been made till a contract was
drawn up, and at the time the officers
| took hand in it the scheme had not
progressed to the point of preparing the
| contract.
1t was at first intended to arraign the
prisoners in the Municipal court on a
| charge of attempting to obtain money or
false pretences, but after thoroughly con.
sidering the matter the county attorney
deemed it inadvisable to prosecute the
case. He was satisfied that a swindIe
was intended by the parties, but it was
so far from a consummatiOn that it would
be difficult to hold them for trial, and he
considered it wise to have them released
and the state thus rid of them.
The Boston police department. officials
were communicated with, but it coul6
not be learned that the prisoners were
wanted for any crime committed there
They were sent back to Boston ON last
nights boat.
Puzzled the Court.