The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-19
Sarah Weber Victim Of Gang Of
Insurance SwlndIerS.
ASTOUNDING CHARGES MADE.
Brother Of the Dead Woman Says That the
Gang Needed Her Body 10 Work a
$500 Job on Company.

New York. Feb 19.-Charges that Sarah
Weber. who was buried by the gang of
insurance swindlers as Serafno Ciccone
was bounded TO death by persons who
wished to use her body TO collect an In
surance policy on the life OF another wo-
man were made yesterday to Assistant
District Attorney Paul Krotei by Will
liam A. Weber. a brother OF the dead
woman.
Mr.. Weber is head OF the firm OF VIM.
A. Weber & Co., dealers In lubricating
oils. at No. 15n Park avenue. His state
ment through new light upon the extra
ordinary workings OF the gang which,
during the last ten years. has swindled
eight insurance companies out of $1,000, 900
by the use OF bogus bodies and living
dummies
OBTAINED ON FORGED ORDER.
Sarah Weber died in the Metropolitan
hospital on June 2i. 1902. the cause OF
death given as consumption. Her body
Nas sent TO the morgue as that OF Sarah
Weber. but later. through forged order.
The name was changed to Sersfino Cic-
zone. The latter was insured In the
John Hancock Life Insurance company
for $780, the beneficiary being her brother
Euerino Ciccone. The incurance com
pany paid the $500 and Sarah Weber's
body was buried in Calvary cemetary as
that OF Serafino Ciccone.
Mr. Weber told Mr. Krotel that he did
not know of his sisters death until he
read in the newspapers of the exposure
pf the insurance swindlers.
His sister he said, was born in
london, April 49, 1880. The family came
10 this country Is years ago. living for a
number OF years I'm East one Hundred
md Eleventh street. Three years ago
bis sister made the acquaintance OF
Euerino Ciccone, he said, and became in
iatuated with him. She ran away from
home and went to live with the man.
In December, 1901. met my sister in
The street." Mr.. Weber said, 'and hard
y recognized her She had changed
terribly. / was so Mortified that | took
her TO our home forcibly and she was
kept in bed for week one day found
her standing at the front window. In
the window OF a house across the street I
saw Guerino Ciccone. He was shaking
his fist at my sister. She seemed terri
fed and said: I've got 10 go back to him
or he'll kill me. His whole family have
threatened me right along. They say
that If don't do as they ell me that they
Will cut llt illAp BiNN'''
RAN AWAY AGAIN
"wo tried 20 keep my sister at home,
but one day she ran out | didn't sec
her for several months, when | met her
again IN the street. She was then a
complete wreck. / begged her TO come
home but she answered. They'll kill
me- When Guerlno gets angry he takes
out his knife and slashes me. His fam
fly say that If | tell anybody they will
kill me- / never saw my sister again
after that meeting
Last month Mr.. Weber said he met
Guerino Ciccone and asked him where
II his sister was. Ciccone. who was well
II dressed and prosperous looking, replied
n II don't know where she Is. | haven
seen her for a long time. | have been
in Canada. and | don't know anything
\ about her"
Sarah Deber had been dead a year
\ and a half at the time OF that meeting
Mr.. Weber said his family were de-
vout Hebrews, and that II distressed
them greatly that their sister should
have been buried I'm Catholic cemetery
lie declared that steps would be taker
10 have the body exhumed and rebuiied
in Hebrew cemetery.
Mr.. Krotel said that the Ciccone fam
fly lived on the top floor of 205s Flrs
avenue until the insurance swindle wa!
exposed. when they all fed from the city
Cuerlno Ciccone was insured in the Met
ropoltan. the John Hancock and othe
companies. All the policies have beer
Il cancelled.
Michael Pasca, the banker the las
person to be arrested In connection Will
the frauds, gave $500 cash bail yesterda!
and obtained his freedom