Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-08
Loss OF A CHECK FOR $4,000
MRS. MARY FAMIGLIETTI ROB-
BED DURING A PARTY.
Trunk Rified While Guests Were
Playing and Singing-Valuable
Jewelry Also Taken.

Mrs. Mary Famiglietti, residing at the
home of her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Michael
Torrillo, 314 5th street northeast is mourn
ing the loss Of a check for 10000 and
about 500 worth of jewelry. The check
and jewelry were taken from a trunk in
her room last night about II o'clock while
about twenty friends were the lower
floor enjoying music and having a good
time generally. 1t was stated at the house
today that the friends had been invited to
an Easter party in honor of Mrs Famigli-
ETH. who is soon to become the bride of
Tony Castalanons. After robbing the trun
of the check and jewelry, the thieves set
fire to some articles of wearing apparel,
accidentally or purposey. for a bright
blaze In the room was discovered by the
young woman's father. Detective Grant
and the police of the ninth precinct re-
sponded to call for assistance, reaching
the house about midnight. Policeman
Oriani this morning Joined in the investiga-
ton of the affair.
1t appears that Mrs Famiglietti, who is
twenty-four years Of age, is divorced She
had resided in Yonkers, N. Y. She had a
deed to property in Yonkers, held a mort
gage on another piece of property and was
anticipating the receipt of a large sum of
money. She received check on bank
in Yonkers Saturday for the amount stated,
and after indorsing it she went out to de-
poSll tHe CHECK III a local Dank, out was
too late, as the bank had closed for the
day. She returned home and placed the
check in her trunk.
Represented Lottery Prize.
Mrs Famiglietti today told her relatives
and friends that the check represented a
lottery prize. She had a dream bout num-
bers, she explained, and she invested in a
ticket, winning $4,000. The young woman
was made so nervous and sick by the loss
of her valuables that-she vent to the house
of her sister, Mrs. Michael Leverine, Alb
9TH street northeast. Members of the fam
lily and the boarders in the house were |
greatly agitated by the affair, but none of
them had seen the intruder when he went
to the upper floor of the house last night
and committed the robbery. Shortly be-
fore the guests had assembled Mrs. Famig
lietti locked her trunk and put the key in
her coat pocket hanging the coat in
closet. Only two small children were in the
room at the time, she stated, and there was
no reason for others to even imagine she
had put it there unless she was being
watched.
Shortly before the guests assembled, Mrs
Famiglietti says. she put her baby to bed
in the room adjoining that in which the
trunk kept. Michael Torrllo, the
grandfather of the infant. paid more atten-
ton to the little one during the evening than
he did to the music and singing. Every few
minute; he would go to the foot of the
stairs and listen, thinking the child would
AWAKEN anu cry. NOt one SOunu was HeaTQ
in the room in which the child slept, but
the grandfather detected the odor of smoke
when he went to the foot of the stairs
about 11:30 o'clock.
THE house is on fire!' he shouted ex-
cltedly. Save the baby!'
Termination of Entertainment
There was a sudden termination of the
entertainment, and every person in the
house rushed to the upper floor to see
hat nd ;,,o
gushing the fire and rescung the child.
The little one was taken from the bed in the
rear room and several buckets Of water
poured on the burning articles of wearing
apparel. 1t was apparent that there had
been an intruder in the room, and that his
work had been easy because of the music
on the lower floor. The trunk was open, the
key in the lock, and the check and jewelry
gone.
'Robbers!' Mrs. Famiglietti shouted. She
was excited when she saw in the lock Of the
trunk the key she placed in her coat pocket
before the arrival of the guests. A hurried
search of the trunk was made. No time was
lost in reporting the robbery and fire to
the police Detective Grant reached the
house before the departure of the guests,
and he questioned them closely for the pur-
pose of ascertaning if any stranger or, sus-
plciOus person had been seen about the
house. None of the members of the family
or their guests was able to render the
slightest assistance to the police.
Accidentally Dropped Match.
On the mantel near the trunk was a
box of matches, and it is supposed that
the robber accidentally dropped match
after he had made a light to show him the
way to the trunk or the closet, the police
believing that the fire not started
purposely.
Detective Grant remained at the house
several hours questioning the members of
the family and their guests. When he re-
turned to police headquarters he had not
solved the mystery. Policeman Oriani this
morning sent for to assist in the case
because he is an Italian and can act as
interpreter.
Mr. Torrillo is superintendent of the
naphtha lamplighting force, his son-in-law,
Michael Leverine, being associated with
him. They prosperous Italians, owing
their homes and having many friends, par
ticularly in the local Italian colony.
Inspector Boardman wired the police and
banks at Yonkers of the theft and re-
quested that payment be stopped. He re-
ceived a reply from Captain of Police
Woodruff this afternoon stating that no
Yonkers bank recognizes the person named
in the telegram, Mary U. Torillo, Inspector
Boardman will endeavor to ascertain the |
name of the maker of the checA and wire
additional information.