The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-23
MADONNA one OF The COINERS
LETTER SHOWS HE'D QUARRELED
WITH LEADER MORELLO.

Wrote From Plttsburg. where He'd Gone q
Aid Convicted Members Of the Gang
Accusing MOreilo OF Indifference q
the Fate Of the Men In Trouble
Important evidence absolutely connect.
ing Giuseppe Morelo. said to be the head
of the Malta in this country. with Benedetto
Madonna, the Buffalo Italian who was MUIR
/ dered in this city last week by coiners
| said to belong 10 Morello's band, was dis
covered yesterday by the Secret Service
| agents in the mass OF correspondence
which Agent Flynn took from Morello's
rooms at i7s Chrystie street, the night that
he was arrested.
A letter not only connects the muir
dered man with the gang, but shows abso-
lutely that there had been big fight among
Morello's men In this city and those en-
ployed by him in other cities to pass the
bad fve-dollar bills in which he was 80
extensive dealer.
Madonna was ole Of the employees, and
that he had had another quarrel with Mo-
relic besides the one over the property Of
his brother-in-law. De Priemo. is shown
beyond any doubt.
Since the identity OF the murdered man
was established on Monday. Agent Flynn
has been satisfied that he was a member
of the gang, and was. il not maker, at
least passer. Of bad money. He was too
well acquainted with the gang to be an
outsider.
The thirteen men under arrest. however,
denied that they knew Madonna, and even
when his name was mentioned to them in
court on Monday they denied knowing
him. Morello was the oudest in denying,
although it was absolutely shown that he
was n''. Madonna the very night OF the
muf..s,.
Early yesterday morning the Secret
Service men, who have been going over
letters found in Morcllo's fiat, ran across
one from the murdered man written 10
Mor-llo on March 20 from Pittsburg.
The exact text Of this letter Agent Flynn
would not give out yesterday and Assistant
District Attorney Garvan, to whom he
turned II over. also refused TO make any
part OF II public. From the Secret Service
men, however. part Of the contents were
learned.
II seems from this letter that several
months ago Vito Laduca. one of the men
under arr st and the nan who formerly
owned The Stanton street butcher shop where
the dead man was las. seen alive by tho
Secret Service men, went TO Pittsburg with
made public. for the purpose of passing some
Of tho bad five-dollar banknotes on the
National Iron Bank Of Mcrristown, n. j.
The men were arres ed there and after a
trial Laduca was discharged for lack Of
evidence. Tho other two men were con-
victed
Laduca came back to this city and was
Immediately sent back to Pittsburg 20 s,e
II something couldn't be done TO save the
two convicted ones. Morello sent MN
lnon aAt mia fon
and II appears from the letter just found
that Morcllo wrote 10 Madonna at Buffalo
TO 60 to Pittsburg at once and see If he
couldn't help the two men out. Madonna
want, but could do nothing.
The letter he wrote back to Morello Ia
full Of abuse. II charges the leader Of the
gang with sending TO help members In
trouble men who bungled things and made
II Impossible for any one else 10 accom-
of being indifferent to the fate of the men
who are arrested and being unwilling to
spend any money for them.
The letter indicates undoubted hard feel
ing and ends with the statement that the
writer cares to have nothing moro to do
with Morelo.
In addition to this letter the Secret Scr
vice men found In the bottom of Morcllo's
trunk an old and torn leaf Of a book, on
which. in red ink. is written the name Of
Benedetto Madonna. This leaf and the let
ter are now in the hands of Mr.. Caravan,
who wouldn't allow any one TO SOC them
yesterday.
All twelve Of the prisoners were ,urrpd
over 10 the Coroner by Magistrate Borlow
In the Tombs police court. after Morello
had been put through hard cross exami-
nation, In the course OF which lie admitted
that he had known tho dead man, but
under the name Of Dorito The examina-
ton revealed nothing oisa. and Magistrate
Barlow said tho case was now in the hands
of Coroner Scholcr.
When Coroner Scholer got the prisoners
he announced that be would comini; them
all TO the House Of Detention as witnesses
at the inquest into Madonia's death. which
is to begin on Monday.
The question OF fixing bail for tho men
started big row. Mr. Caravan wanted high
bail all around and the lawyers for the
wanted small bail fixed
When L1duca's case came up Mr.. GoIvan
said that this man had been seen with the
shortly before the murder and
that hc undoubtedly knew Just exactly
how and under what circumstances the
man came to his death. He also announced
that on Laduca had been found a large
blood, and perhaps the blood Of the muir
~ red Madonna. He succeeded in having
him held in 5000 bail
Antonio Geneva and Norello were also
held in 5000 bail each, as they were seen
with Madonna the night before he was
killed. Fanaro. the man most seen with
Madonna during his visit TO New York,
was said bv Mr.. Caravan 10 be the most
important OF all the witnesses. His bond
was fixed at &. 600. The bonds Of the Others
ranged from s. 900 TO 500.
None Of the men gave bail and all were
ocked up.
After the court proceedings. Morello
Vas taken to the District Attorneys office
md was questioned further. Af,erward,
II the order OF the District Attorney. Central
Office Detectives Carey and NcCa fe,ty
ook Morello from the House of Detention
o the Morgue and confronted him with
,iadonia's body.
Morello shrapk from the body. The
detectives asked him II he knew the dead
nan and he replied in Italian. II IL said
hat his answer as translated was:
.Poor fellow Poor fellow! don't
-pov hin,