The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-05
TAKES SILK
PLANT WITH
AID OF GUN
Former Paterson Business
Man Locked Up on Charge
Of Insanity.
HIS MILL HAD BEEN SOLD
Called Purchaser Thief and
Threatened to Kill Anyone
Who Entered Dyeing Estab-
lishment, Which Was,
Closed Down.
HIS MILL HAD BEEN SOLD

PATERSON, Sept. 5.-Constant Dor
doni, at one time prosperous silk dyer
and for many years prominent busi-
ness man of this city, was arrested yes
terday afternoon ON charge of in
sanity and committed to jail for exami-
nation by County Physician Mcbride
Notoriety has come TO Dordoni of late
through his action in circulating libel
GUS statements, rejecting OH officers
connected with the German American
Trust Company. Charges of criminal
libel are pending against the oyer.
For long time prior to the action
taken by officers of the trust company,
Apordoni'was a familiar figure in police
court, either as complainant or defend
ant. At first his charges were ac-
cepted, but towards the end the dyer's
statements were not given credence by
the court. julius Schwaab, represent
ing many raw silk importers. was at
first the sole object of Mr. Dordoni's
bitter denunciations, but later Edward
r. Weiss, counsel for the German
American Trust Company; A. S. Laber
and Robert Gaede, a wealthy silk dyer,
were mentioned by the dyer. verbally
and in printed circulars, and finally
the board of directors of the trust
company agreed that some action
should be taken to put an end to the
unjustifiable abuse
The trouble which landed Dordoni in
Jail yesterday came from a different
source. Dordoni's financial difficulties
have extended beyond banking circles,
and the loss of his propert:s appears to
have turned-his mind.
Some time ago the sheriff sold Dor
doni's dye shops on Bridge street under
foreclosure proceedings. The purchaser
was A. H. Smith, the coal dealer.
Smith entered into an agreement with
Dordoni by which the dyer was to re-
main as a ground floor tenant, rent
free There was proviso that Dordoni
was to furnish power for the other
tenants of the building.
1t was Tuesday afternoon when Dor
doni exhibited rs first signs of vio-
lence That afternoon about o'clock
the power in the big fve-story mill
was shut off without warning, and
when ,the other tenants in the mill
investigated the cause Dordoni was
found holding the fort In the engine
room. At the point of a revolver the
engineer had been driven from the
room. DOfuOtll lulu lItOS0 VIII ShoWSd
their faces in the doorway, leading
from his mill to the engine room, that
the mill and all its contents was his
property; that those who had taken it
from him were thieves. He exhibited
his revolver and said that he was pre-
pared to defend his property. Death
was the penalty to anyone who en-
tered the room.
Dordoni was allowed the undisputed
possession of the engine room for the
time being, and the several hundred
hands employed in the mill were sent
home for the day.
Yesterday morning Smith was at
shops bright and early, accompanied
by his counsel, Lawyer William J.
Barbour. Dordoni was there, too. The
dyer heaped all manner of abuse
upon the coal dealer. EIe said the peo-
pie who had sold him out were thieves
and robbers, and he declared that he
intended to defend his interests. 1t
was claimed that he had big revolt
yer handy and was prepared to exc
cute his threats If anyone interfered
with him.
Smith appeared before the recorder
and told his story. Judge Carroll
readily accepted a complaint, having
some knowledge of the silk dyer's ac-
tions of late. The warrant was served
during the afternoon. The accused
was rational enough when confronted
by the officers and offered no resist
ance. He went along quietly to court
and from there to jail.