New-York tribune., 1908-03-25
PATTI CLOSES HIS BANK.
FEARS THE BLACK HAND.
Diso ppears scith His Son-4nothe
italian Institution Suspends.

riounded by agents of the Black Hand socie-
ties and threatened with death several times
Pasquale Pati. an Italian banker, at No. "a.
Elizabeth street, closed the doors OF his bank
in the face of angry crowd OF depositors yes
terday. and with his son left the city. The
police have been unable to find either OF the
Pats. II is said that they have gone out o:
the state.
Three weeks ago Patti and his son-n-law-
Luigi Cartiere shot down Francesca Pallatro
who entered the bank fiourishing revolver and
demanding money. Pallatro died from MS
wounds in St Vincents Hospital and the
coroner yesterday acquitted Pati of blame.
About six weeks ago a bomb was exploded
In front of PATS bank and gold was scat
tered from the shattered show window since
these attacks the place the Italian de-
positors have withdrawn nearly S4oo.ooo. and
yesterday begun.
None of the clerks in Patis employ reported
for work yesterday morning. and the process OF
paying off the long line of depositors was slow.
BY noon five hundred depositors had formed in
line and the banker decided to ask for police
protection. Twenty from the Mulberry
street station and several of the Italian
squad were sent TO the bank. Then Patti posted
notice of the banks suspension reading:
am compelled 10 suspend payment for two
weeks. because of attempts upon my life and a
constant stream of threatening letters There
is no fear Of Your losing your deposits Besides
cash. own siyty-five houses in New York and |
am insured for 100000
The notice did not have the desired effect and
all during the afternoon an angry crowd of de-
positors. kept moving by the police, walked up
and down the street or gathered the corners
discussing the suspension.
Soon after the announcement of the suspension
Of the Pati bank the banking house Of f. Acri-
tell g. SON at No 2i9 Elizabeth street. opposite.
was forced TO close The excited Italians began
a run the bank before
Giuseppe Speranzo. the head bookkeeper for
Patti & SON. said that since the shooting of Pal
iatro the members of the Pati family have re-
ceived as many forty Black Hand letters a
dav The elder Patti was told In some of the let
tcrs that he would be cut up like the victim of
the barrel murder in this city several years
ago.
Luigi Carriers. Pats son-in-law. said vester-
dav that there was sufficient money hand to
nay all the depositors but that the head of the
firm and his son were compelled TO leave because
Of the number Of threats and attempts 10 kill
them
PATS home is at No. 146 Ocean Parkway.
Brooklyn. Recently attempts were made to set
fire 10 the place. Ex-Judge John Paflnieri, who
vas counsel for Pati in the Pallatro case. said
yesterday that he knew nothing of the banker $
whereabouts Mr Falmieri said that he was
convinced Of the stability of Pats bank
It was said by a relative of Patti that the
banker and his son had gone TO the country to
rest and recover from the excitement OF the last
few months.
Pasouale Pati transferred title yesterday TO
two tenement houses at Nos 9S and 100 Thonp-
son street. 10 ex-Judge Palmieri. for slf..too
The property carries a mortgage of $4,000
Pati came to the United States seventeen
wears ago and opened shoe repairing shop In
East 11th street Later he opened grocery
store and from the profits of his business en-
-arad the real estate business. From that he
went to banking the house of Pati & Son being
the largest Italian banking establishment IN
New York.
Three policemen were stationed in front OF the
pati bank last night 10 keep the croWd OIL
about two hundred Italians moving Inc ponce
expect there viii be many on hand ti1ls morn
ing and ARRANGEMENTS have been made to have
fifty policemen in the street.