The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-12
THREE ARRESTED
FOR KIDNAP ING
Italians in Custody Of New
York Police.
DEMAND FIFTY THOUSAND
Gang Who Stole Mannino Boy Ask a
Small Fortune for His
Return
DEMAND FIFTY THOUSAND

NEW YORK. Aug. 12.-AntOnito Ca
leta and Giuseppe Schiorrino have been
arrested in Brooklyn as accomplices in
the kidnapping Of the nine-year-Old boy
Antonio ManninO, the only child of the
well-to-do Italian contractor. VIncenzo
Mannino Of 81 Amity Street. Brooklyn
The boy Antonio was Iured 10 New
York, by Angelo Cucozza, nineteen years
old. Cucozza was caught at -he
South Ferry when he returned to Brook
Ign and locked up in the Amity Street
station. The police investigated the stor-
les he told, and at the same time Cap
tain Rooney Of the Amity Street station,
and Detective Sergeant Vachris. Of Cap
tain Formosa's staff worked up little
game with much skill which led TO put
ting Galeta and SchiorrinO behind the
bars as fellow-prisOneTs with CucoZZa
and charged like him. with kidnapping.
Bogus Prisoner.
Detective Vachris Is himself an Ital-
ian, and he enlisted to aid him another
Italian. not on the police force. but
quite willing TO help run down the gang
Of kidnaDers.
Vachris dragged this Italian into the
Amity Street police station. the man
making much show Of resistance and
loudly proclaiming his innocence.
II had been arranged with Captain
Rooney that when this comedy occurred
CuCOZZa should be present He was
standing at the rail in front of the
desk undergoing another cross-eXamlna-
ton when Nachris made his sensational
entrance with his bogus prisoner
Obtained Secrets.
After Cucozza had had good look at
the man and heard him charged with
the kidnapping he was sent back to his
cell. and the bogus prisoner was locked
up with him. II took only a little over
an hour for the bogus one to worm him
self into Cucozza' 5 confidence. and at
the end Of that time he was taken out
Of the cell. nominally for another cross
examination.
Just what information was thus ex-
tracted from CucoZZa Captain Rooney
refused 70 tell, but on the strength Of
II Galeta and SchiOrrinO were at once
arrested. They live in the same tene-
mont house, at 80 Pacific Street. where
CucOZZa lives.
Written by KidnapeIs.
Two letters were received yesterday
by Vincenzo Manaino. While neither Of
these communications gave any direc-
tons as 10 where and how the little
fellows ransom IS 20 be paid both
threaten that the only hope the parents
have of ever seeing their son again lies
in meeting the kldnapers' terms.
Mr. ManuinO IS strongly opposed 10
making public the contents Of the let
ters. he says there are things IL them
which he thinks il would not be advisa-
bic 20 have the newspa p@rs print capt.
owen Rooney. Of the AInity Street police
station, has the letters.
The letters. are in Italian and in
writing which, although by no means
elegant, Is clear and flowing.
Theory of Police
They came in ordinary white envelopes
and are written on ordinary white paper
One Of them bears the postmark "Ho-
boken. August 70. 5 p. m" The other
is postmarked station o, New York
August 10. 9 p. m" Station o is at 10
Fifth Avenue, and fits territory would
be right IN the road of anybody going to
or coming from Hoboken by way of the
Christopher Street ferry.
Captain Rooney exposed enough Of one
Of the letters yesterday 10 give gen
eral idea Of the handwriting. Il was the
beginning Of the letter pOstmarked in
HobOken. II began:
Caro- Parde: sono. state pesta ell
Which means Dear Father: have
been weighed and my weight is fifty
pounds
The theory Of the police is that Cucoz-
"a exposed 10 others his scheme 70 alb
duct the boy and got them interested.
He knew how very fond ManninO was
passed among the Italians as a man OF
vast wealth He took large contracts.
He handled large sums of money. II
looked like simple and easy job.
The police believe that Cucozza and
his associates have had the plan all work
ed out for two weeks or more. and all
the details for keeping their prisoner full
" arranged.
Rage and Grief
At the Mannino home Il Is as though
there had been a death in the family.
Relatives. friends. and neighbors called
and tried 20 console the half-distracted
mother. Mannino who is a cookbook
ing. bronzed young man. sat with firmly
compressed lips, and a look Of combined
grief and smoldering rage stamped on
his features. which those who saw II
will not soon forget
said. ALI they ask. Let them give me
back my boy and they shall have the
money. 7 do not wish 10 talk "A bout
the letters. The police are working.
Others are working. There Is no society
no Malta, no Black Hand. That IS all
nonsense. IT Is just some persons who
have kidnapped my boy and hold him
for a ransom. That is all"
ST. LOUIS FAIR BELLS