The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-15
GIGANTIC FRAUD
PRACTICEDUPON
ITALIAN CONSUL
Seals, Stamps and Parapherna-
liza Stolen in Pittsburg and
Duplicates Manufactured
Forged Certificates Supplied to
Men Anxious to Eyade
Service as Soldiers
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

i lOPecloi DLSpdtch 10 A. ne Call
PITTSBURG. Aug. 14.-Through ON
cial action in this city discovery was
made of a gigantic fraud scheme prac-
tieed on the Italian government with
personal graft as the object
Seals, stamps and general parapher-
MALTA of the Italian consuTs Office were
stolen some time ago in Pittsburg. and
after facsimiles had been made. were.
returned. These marks of oh1eialdom
were used to save young men of Italian
nationality from being exiled for re-
fusal to return to their native land and
serve in the military service.
FAKE CERTIFICATES ISSUED
For a consideration. certificates of
Interpretation We're issued by someone
yet to be determined. and presented at
the various cOnsulates throughout the
United States. Physical Interpretation
is the only excuse the Italian govern
ment accepts in lieu OF its subjects
service in the army
Thousands of these fraudulent certif-
Gates are held in this city. The fact was
brought 10 the attention of the local
consul, then TO Consul General GiacomO
Para Forni in Philadelphia. The mat
ter was brought to the attention of the
Italian government at Rome and finally
returned to Pittsburg for official action
Italian secret service agents are now
said to be working on the case in differ
ent cities.
CONSPIRACY Is CHARGED
1t developed that the investigation
was going on when the hearing of
Francisco Bellandi was held before
Alderman John Fuggassi yesterday aft
ernoon. Beilandi, who was held for
court. is charged by DR.. GaetanO Cont.
physician for the Italian consulate. with
conspiracy. Doctor Cont has made IN
formation against Bellandi. Giovanni
CorduO, Dominica Dalatu. EttOre Flor
dash and Outaris Olive. None but Bel
landi has been arrested. FiOrdasli is
said to be in Washington state.
The hearing yesterday was the result
of an affidavit made before Alderman
p j. McInerney April Ia by Olive, and
printed in Ia VOce del PopoIo, a Phila-
delphia Italian paper. Olive swore that
to evade military duty in Italy he paid
Doctor Cont $40 for preparing a GER
tihcate to the effect that the man was
too i'll to join the army.
CONSULAR SECRETARY ACCUSED
Consul General Fara Forni recently
sent for Vice Consul Natali Before
leaving Pittsburg for Philadelphia Ma
tail HldQe an lnFeSllEdLlO0. Attaches
of the consulate say ne ascertained
that many false certificates were is
sued containing what appeared to be
Doctor COntfs signature and that the
present investigation will soon termi-
nate in many arrests and the exiting or
cOnseripting of thousands of Italians
now living in all the principal cities OF
the country They say that a gang OF
forgers has been operating with Pitts
burg as the center
Natah's report to the consul general
said that an educated Italian some
time ago secured employment as sec
rotary in the Pittsburg. consulate Office.
When he disappeared the seals and
other paraphernaIia went with him.
They later were mysteriously returned,
and it was thought that they had been
mislaid. The recent developments CON
WINGED the Investigators that copies had
been made.