The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-05
STATE INSPECTOR
IS LOOKING OVER
BELFATTO'S BOOKS
Latest Development in Attempt
TO Blow Up Four Corners
Office Building.
LAWYER MAY KNOW
IDENTITY OF FIENDS
Wife Stops Him When He Is
About to Give Out a
Name.

The mystery of the daring attempt
to blow up by gas the building at 7So
Broad street, near the -Four Corners"
early yesterday, after the office Of
Ernest " A. Belfatto, lawyer, had
been ransacked and the hallway set on
fire, increases apace with the police in
vestigation. The latest developments
are an inspection of the books of Mr..
Belfatto. whose term as secretary of
the Italian Building and Loan Asso-
citation expired December 81 last, by
the State inspector of building and
loan associations, and Mr.. Belfatto's
declaration that he knows of no person
who would have any motive in rifiing
his papers.
Il went DOWN to my office myself
Sunday night" he said today, ito get
the big ledger of the association, which
J used in making up my annual report.
Everything was all right then. The
next day at noon, when l was still in
bed a messenger came up from my
brother. telling me of the attempt to
blow up the building. ] dressed, came
down to my office and remained there
about five minutes. Then I went out to
collect some rents
Wife Prevents Statement.
Il cannot imagine who would do any
thing like this he continued, unless
it would be---''
The sentence was unfinished. Mrs
Bclfatto, who was present at the IN
tersiew, hastily told her husband to say
nothing about that matter" and add
cd herself:
I'VE know absolutely nothing about
the identity nf the man who did this.
We n1Sy have cur suspicious, but that
is all.
Fire was discos~red in the building
early yesterday. Upon investigation 1t
was found that kerosene oil had been
poured upon the floor and stairs and
that two bottles which had contained
the inhammable liquid were in Bel
fattos outer offsRe. His office and that
adjoining had been entered, and two
gas stoves were turned upside down
with gas streaming from the jets. Bel
fattos desk had been rified and papers
We're scattered in confusion all over the
floor.
The police believe that it was planned
that the flames should ignite the gas,
which. by exploding. would wreck the
building.
Tally Boo,a Missing.
Nothing was missing, it was found
except the tally book of the presi-
dent of the association, DIR. Megaro
The check book of Belfatto had been
destroyed, stubs and all. BY means
of the tally book the president kept
a check upon the treasurer's accounts.
The treasurer of the association is
Stephen Iaroli.
State Inspector Pfeil today called at
Belfatto's office, and in the presence of
Plainclothesman King, of the First
Precinct. who has been detailed to
fathom the mystery. made an examina-
ton of Belfatto's papers Mr.. Pfeil
said he had no announcement to make
Upon the conclusion of his work.
Beifatto declared that the exan1ina-
tion was an event which occurred about
this tinle every year. Although MS
term expired Thursday as secretary
he had not rendered his annual report,
saving that ne had not had time to
prepare 1t. Belfatto is still it's counsel.
He had been secretary of the organiza
ton for seventeen years, ever since it
was organized but was not reelected
last year.
A possible clue, in the shape OF
pawn ticket. was fot,nd on the Office
floor. The ticket is dated February 4,
1899, is numbered sos, bears the name
j. Bell. and calls for a. lady's gold
watch and bracelet upon payment of
$50 at tho place of Feist & Co. The
ps wnbrokers declared that the articles
were redeemed Now pber 20, 1892.