The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-25
CAPTURED BY DRUMMER COP.
CLARINETTST VINO THREATENED
CONTERNO LOCkED UP.

whole Court Dances to pipe ~ Musical
Prisoner header NandO walls Out
side for HIS Bright Ited Uniform
Arrest Hurried OU by FaIse Tempe.
Bandnaster Louis Conterno Of the Four
Neenth Regiment Band got a warrant in
the West Sido police court several months
ago for tho arrest OF Ricardo Toggi, a
former ciarinetist Of his organization,
who he declared had threatened him with
violence. Toggi could not be found.
Conterno went to the court again yea
terday saying that he had received threat
aninR letters from the man, and insisted
upon his arrest. Policemen Trojan and
Glennan Of the court squad were told that
ToRRi was in town and would parade with
an Italian band in Mulberry street several
hours latter. ConternO warned the cops
that ToRgi was willy and wOuld have to
be taken by strategy.
The band was readily located at its head
quarters in Mulberry street. near Canal,
tuning up previous 70 leading the st.
Joseph's Italian picnic procession down
to the Roosevelt street ferry. All the
members we're in gaudy red and blue uni
forms and the policemen soon hatched up
O scheme with the leader, Giuseppe Yando,
by which they were to disguise themselves
a. bandsmen.
A mare drum was given to Trojan and
Glennan was fitted out with a druIn-najor's
paraphernalia. 1t was expected that the
man wanted would show up before the
band started. However, he failed TO ap-
pear, and the forward order was given.
IL was clearly up to the cops TO make a blum
at carrying out their parts before the other
musicians. Fortunately Trojan could
drum a little and boldly started in on an
improvised quickstep.
As the band swung past Canal street
Toggi, attired in full uniform and WITH his
clarinet, came running up in breathIess
haste and fell in. Music was passed around
for q march and at a given signal from
Glennan, who got his cue from Leader
Yando, q military air was started. The
drum major fiourished his baton with great
gusto and the other cop drummed for all
he was worth.
That's a rotten new drummer" said
Toggi in Italian bet ween breaths to a fell
low member His tempo is wretChed.
N's funny the boss would'stand for anything
Trojan. looking up Just then. saw the
Italian cycling him and thinking that he
had discovered the rus bounced upon
him.
you're under arrest, " he cried.
The bandman resisted and the music
broke up in confusion. Glennan attempted
to 60 to his pals assistance, but the mem
hers Of the band, despite the eader's ex-
PLANTATION, had jumped onto the men. Some
one seeing the row telephoned to Police
Headquarters and It was not until the ar
rival Of help from the Mulberry street sta
ton that the musicians stopped pummelling
the cops. Neither had a nance to show
his badge. When the uniformed police
arrived they insisted on arresting Glennan
o Trojan and only laughed when they
tried to explain that they were policemen.
% Things were finally explained and the
proper man placed under arrest. The cops
then went back to the starting place n
later took the prisoner around to the West
Side police court.
After waiting several hours Conterno
did not appear and time began to fall heavily
upon the hands of the musician, and in the
waiting cage he unlimbered his instrument
and started upon a concert.
Can You play Bill Simmons'?' asked
some one.
IF l see him-yes,- replied the music man.
Accordingly the court cops threw in and
Q messenger was hastily despatched for the
music of the tune. The Italian caught
the swing Of the song readily and soon
every n was pranoing around i'm the court.
several times the oops lined up in front of the
Magistrate with their prisoners had to he
called down for fancy stepping on the sly.
When 4 O'Clock, the hour of closing, was
reached the bandmaster still had not put
In an appearance, and Magistrate Mayo or
dered the prisoner arraigned anyway. He
was held in $500 bail for further examination
To-Day as a SUSPICIOUS person.
Toggi had hardly been taken to his cell
when a new trouble fell on him. Band
master Yando came along with a delega-
ton to get Toggi's uniform. instrument
and music, which he said were the property
OF the band.
No one around could speak Italian and
every minute the band leader in search
OF his clothing became more excited. The
day was saved by the appearance of Joseph
Viggino. a clerk in a nearby law Office. who
explained that, owing to the rules of the
prison, Yando would not he allowed TO speak
with the prisoner.
I've got to get my uniform IL ] have to
break into the prison." shouted Yando
wildly.
When the word was carried to Toggi
he only smiled and said that if the leader
vent him a new suit of clothes he would
gladly exchange.
When the court house was locked up for
the night the Italian delegation still loitered
about. As Trojan and Glennan passed out,
grinning, one of the lingerers shouted after
them:
"You're a fine muzish- you're a damn
traudl'