The Washington times., 1908-03-25
Wealthy Italian Struck
Down by Three ASSaS-
sins While Going
to Office.
Chainof Crime byMoney
TerroriStS Alarms
the New York
Police.

NEW YORK, March 25.-SantO Malal-
libo. a wealthy banker Of 20I4 Second
avenue. was struck down with knives
today by three blackmaiIing assassins
as he entered a saloon at ae2 Second
avenue.
Resisting the demands Of the terror
lists for money. Malallibo added himself
TO the long list Of Victims OF the numer-
Gus blackmaiHng organization In New
York. Only yesterday the criminals
forced Millionaire Pasquale Patti to close
his bank and flee from me city with his
family Each week for the last six
months has added one or more victims
10 the already long list Of the back
mailers.
MalaIllbo had refused 70 submit 10
the demands made upon him by fellow
COuntrymen who threatened him. and
IL defying them he said he would rath-
or give his life than his money 10 them
Each threatening letter he received
he gave 10 the police. and this fact be-
came known 10 the men who were writ
lng the letters A few days ago he
was notified by letter that the death
sentence had been passed on him, and
that he would be killed for carrying his
troubles TO the police.
Approached in Saloon.
MaIalUbo was on his way 20 open his
bank today when he stepped into the
saloon at 2022 Second avenue. He had
rot slept wei. and felt the need OF a
stimuIauJ. AS he entered the vestibule
q man came out of the saloon and lift
ed a knife above his head and told him
10 throw up his hands At the same
time two men followed him into the
WestibuIe and stood behind him
The first man had not finished speak
ing when NTalalHbo struck him in the
face with his fist and called for help.
In almost the same second knives held
by the three assassins descended on
the banker one made a frightfuI gash
in his throat and the two Others pen
etrated his back. AS he sank 10 :he
doorstep the three men leaped over
his body and escaped down the street
minute later Policeman KOhn Of
the East 10th street station came run
ming Up and found MalalIfDO. The Of
dCer rushed him to the Harlem Hos
bItaI, where the doctors by quick work
stopped the flow Of blood and said the
banker would recover because no vital
part had been wounded by the knives.
The loss Of blood viii make him week
for a long time. He was too weak 20
give an adequate description OF his
assailants had he so desired. Tie de-
tectives expressed the opinion that
Malallibo knew the identity of his as
saiIants, but that he feared certain
death II he rev ealed 4,
Banker Disappears.
Pressed for cash. and nerve racked
through attempts TO take his life and
burn his home within the last couple Of
weeks, Pasquale Pau. the largest Ital-
ian banker in the city, disappeared yes
terday with all the members Of his fam
iIy. His bank, in 30 Elizabeth street |
was closed at noon. Patti was acquit- /
ted by the coroner's jury on last Mon
day afternoon Of the killing of Fran
cisco PellatrO. the man who entered the !
bank three weeks ago and attempted
20 murder Pat. his wife, and one OF
his sons. The banker and his clerks /
opened fire on the fellow and he fell
with seven bullets in his body. He died |
several days afterward in St Vincent's |
Hospital
After Patrs return from the cCron-
er's inquest there started a run on his
bank, and Pad paid out $500 before
he closed that night, While the run was
on three men entered the bank and
warned him they were going to take
his life that night If he did not hand
them out $4,000 at once. The demand
and his clerks reached for their re-
VolVers kept handy since a bomb Was
thrown at the window on January
@ three men fed. Last Sunday
night three men piled Oli-soaked rags in
the vestibule of Patis fine summer
home, 146 Ocean parkway, Brooklyn
and were discovered by the Caretaker
before they started the fire.
Strain on Nerves.
These several Incidents, It is believed.
have been such a strain on the nerves
of the Pati family that they decided
after the bankers acquittal Of killing
of his would-be assailant to fly the city
for a few weeks. The departure was
so suddea that the clerks in the bank
were not paid. They are ali poor men.
ysIth ridiculously small salaries. Pati
usually kept several hundred thousand
dollars stacked UP in the bank, TO in
spirs confidence in his naturally suspi-
cious clients, but there was not a dol
lar found IN the bank yesterday,
PUu was seen TO drive away rom the
bank in one OF his automobile Mon
day night. The clerks knew nothing OF
TIE purpose 20 clcse the bank until they
reported g. their desks yesterday morn
ing and were told by Salvatore Demo
frIo. son-ln-law of Pati, that the bank
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