The sun., 1903-11-18
RELIEVE PRIESTS STORY NOW.
pOLICE START IN EARNEST TO
FIND KIDNAPPERS.
poth ,ictlusky and Titus Say That Father
Cirringione May Have Been Carried
Away-Hls Friends Blame Capt. Foody
Nine NIen and Nine Lines in Letter.

Nine Men and Nine Lines in Letter.
The police were more inclined yesterday
m believe the story told by the Rev. Giu-
.enpe Crringione that he had been kid
Mapped and confined in n cellar by nine
men Inspector McClusky sent out several
n his men to hunt for the kidnappers.
The Inspector. who has been decidedly
incredulous about the story, said yester-
d,y that it must be believed until 1t was
disprovcd, and that an attempt would be
made 10 find the house in which the priest
had been confined. Inspector Titus also Is
abo,., ready to believe the priest story.
Detective Benoil had another talk with
Father Cirringione in st. Vincent's Hospital,
Yesterday and the priest repeated the story
il detail and without contradicting any Of
his previous accounts, The priest says
that he was unconscious when he was taken
into the house and when he was carried
from the house.
The only clue that he could furnish was
description Of the cellar. which he said
seemed to be that OF cheap and newly
built frame house. 1t had no flooring and
no windows 1t contained. he said, his
bel in one corner, small couch near the
bed and Il tHDle III dilOtuoi oii
a red lantern burned Saturday night,
Around this table, he said. his oaptors sat
and had drinks.
Ground for believing the priests story
is furnished by two recent happenings
in The Bronx, which the police are in
yestigating. A Fordham grocer, Giovanni
Dangala, received lot of threatening
letters last April. Finally five men ap-
preached him and demanded % ana men
$50 He gave them that sum in marked
Hills. the police say. The men were ar
rested and indicted for blackmail, but
Dangala disappeared and the lawyer for tne
prisoners got the indictment dismissed
Dangala. the police say, was STABBED IN
the face on the street last Iuesoay oy TWO
men, who got away.
The police have also learned that banker
named Gotti in Williamsbrdge had received
several threatening letters. These were
traced to a driver Of his who disappeared
week ago,
The letters in the case have been turned
over to a handwriting expert An odd
feature of the last letter the priest received
s that there are nine lines in it, each in
different handwriting, and the date is NOV.
Q. The first letter plrported 10 De wrltten
by nine workingmen and Father Cirringione
saws that he counted nine men IN all IN the
cellar at various times.
Inspector McClusky said yesterday that,
unfortunately, the priest story was almost
barren Of material on which the police
could work.
"We have nothing said he, but a de-
script ion of the cellar and a mea gre descrip-
ton of he men. II there were nine men,
however, there is chance that we can find
one of them
Father Cirringione was much better
vest erday. The physicians said he was
perfectly clear in his mind and there was
nothing the matter with him beyond his
nerves and his stomach. 1t was said that
he would probably remain In the hospital
several days. although he would be up and
around to-day.
Fat her Cirringione says that Capt. Foody
and his men showed decided lack OF in
terest in his complaint and failed to keep
engagements with him or to give him
proper prot ection. His friend, Just ice
Roesch, SAYS that the failure OF the police
to round up the gang, after being warned
In advance, was due to their inefficienoy,
and that to cover that up they had deliber-
ately tried to cast aspersions on the priests 8
character and discredit his story.
They have even suggested" said he,
'that he had been seen frequently with q
young woman around Williamsbridge. The
young woman they described WAS his sist er /.
Their whole conduct has been outrageous