The evening world., 1903-09-14
Say Gang Which Forced
Money from CappleIIo Under
Threats Of Blowing Up His
Family Operates Throughout
Country.
BUSY GETTING EVIDENCE
IN THIS AND OTHER CASES.
Mode of Procedure the Same In
All Instances, the Selected
Victims Being Forced to Pay
Large Sums Under Penalty Of
Bodily Harm.

Capt. Formosa. Of the Brooklyn detec-
tive force. thinks that by Friday. when
the prisoners held in the italian black
mailing Gases co-ne UP for examination.
he will have secured enough evidence TO
expose q society that has operated w15s-
ly among the wealthy italians of this
country.
Thus far four men are under arrest.
They are Jordano. Espirito, Casteilano
n Lingara, all Italians. They were
arrested on suspicion.
Ntocole Cappiello, the rich dock ccn-
tractor, who WIS mulcted for $1,000 by
the blackmailers, a certainly the VIC
tim OF a well concocted plot Of extor-
ton. And he IS not the only Italian
whose losses have been reported to the
police. Information has been sent to the
detectives that another extortion OF
5000 was practised Upon an Italian OF
Brooklyn prominent in local affairs OF
his fellow countrymen.
The Matchmaking Letters.
The letters which Cappielio received
from the In which worked the black.
mail read In this fashion:
"Cappiello: Ne and my brothers de-
mand that o come to 70 and Thir.
teenth avenue. Brooklyn, 10 O'Clock
Tuesday with 5000. on a penalty Of be.
Ing blown to pieces you Inc your fam
lily. Do not dare to call in police OF
your lawyers as you are watched"
As Cappiello did moi accede to the
demand he received another letter the
next day. It read: 'Yiou failed to
appear tonight. and for h a the
the same place tonight or be blown tc
pieces. Again We warn you to keep
away from the police and lawyers"
Anunvieto Nngara. the man who 1:
Cappiello to take to the b~lackmailers,
the police say comes from Calabria
the home of the famous Mussalino. the
bandit whose predatory life has
When. the first 4cmond Was made ppor
appCleilo he consulted his niece's hus'
band, Maresco. At n time he was a
enmlty with M az e When tns latte att e,
the guardian refused. Then followed ar
elopemcnt and q quarrel. But, CappiedlC
was Of q forgiving nature, and Marescc
Maresxu was told OF the blackmail plot
he started to play detective. He ap,
pronched three Of the men s%uspected
and. # II t X aIle TsSy d 1efnsed. say y1GH f tSsi
NNlNIk vi kAiOAA Ahp -
they had beer the protectors advis-
ers of Capiello; that the money had been
well expended, Is In oil probability. II
had saved his uncle's ME-. After this
Maresco persuaded his uncle to notify
the police.
An Old Quarrel.
As having some possible bearing on
the extortion. the police investigated a
story of a quarrel between Cappiello
and a man named Lobrano, who was
formerly in his employ, In which Cap
piello Is said to ave struck Lobrano.
Exooslta and ~Jordano. two others OF
the same nationality, saw the blow
struck. Soon afterward the
Ing letters were received.
Then Lingara was called in to help
Cappieho out OF his difficulties. When
the money was paid Cappiello received
a letter brought by Lngara, in which
the writer said he was glad Cappiello
took such n ratinal view of things and
that the society wac glad 1t had no
been forced to murder him.
CaIhello was so pleased with Lingara
for the services he a rendered him
that he gave him an extra $25 as a
present.
Cant. Formosa says Lingara has made
a statement admitting the receipt OF
the $1,000 and that ne took Ut to four
members of the gang He declares that
he acted simply as a messenger.