Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-09
Antonio Musica, lettering To-
ward Prison, Treasures Only
MementO Of Mother.
PLANNED TO SCUTTLE SHIP
Beautiful Mysterious Woman,
Who Trails One of Sons, Adds
New Angle to Case,

An absorbing story of high finance,
which included the proposed scuttling
Of a ship for stake Of 100000, the
raising Of 100000 on sweepings of
Chinese hair worth less than $780,
and the final breakdown Of the chief
financier as he wept to retain lock
Of a woman's hair, were unfolded to-
day by Barney A Flood and Edmund
Leigh, New York detectives, just be-
fore they left Atlanta with four mem
bers Of the Musica family, arrested
in a gigantic international swindle.
The two detectives, revealing for
the first time startling features of a
case that has attracted national in
terest, spoke kindly of old Antonio
Musica. once millionaire several
times over. now &. tottering prisoner,
70 years old trying pitifully to wipe
away the shadow of the cell opening
before him
Feeble and broken, they said, the
alleged swindler found his only COM
fort in a locket that hung about his
neck on a gold chain and that con-
tains "A few strands of a woman's
hair-a symbol at once Of his bliss
and his misery When the old man
was searched after his arrest he
begged to be allowed to retain the
locket and the detectives granted the
request.
1T is my only memory Of my be-
loved mother in Venice" said Musica,
as he fingered the locket lovingly
Sons Aid lettering Father.
Philip, one of his sons, supported
the former millionaire as the prison
ers. including two other brothers, Ar
thur and George, left Chief Beavers
automobile and made their way
through the Terminal Station shortly
before noon TO board the train for
New York None Of the men were
handcuffed, as the detectives have
found them model prisoners.
But, believe me-" said Detective
Leigh to-day, in spite Of their meek
ness they are as daring a family Of
swindlers and as brilliant, as l have
seen. and I have hunted 'em from
Singapore around to San Francisco.
Il have Just learned in going over
some Of the old mans letters that
Philip, the most adventurous Of the
sons. was planning TO charter a ship
and load II with the human hair in
which they traded. The manifest
was to show that their cargo was
worth $500, 900. when as a matter Of
fact a few hundred dollars would
insured. it was to be sent out from
some European port. scuttled in mid
ocean and the $500, 600 collected. 4
very pretty scheme, too, but just then
the bubble broke and Uncle sam
and the New York detective depart
ment closed in.
Anybody that could get a $780,
600 bin OF lajing on a bill Of goods
worth just about $50 would have had
no trouble getting away with a SIM
pie thing Ike scuttling ship AMI
that's Just exactly what our Musica
friends did. Hair that was specified
as huge quantities Of the almost
priceless tresses Of Bohemian maids
the most precious hair in the world.
including your Atlanta girls-was
found TO be the sweepings Of the
coarse output of Chinese traders.
Borrowed Nearly Million.
ION these fake bills of lading. made
both in Naples and New York. the
Musicas borrowed hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars before the authorities
got wise They came Of an old re-
| spected Italian family and they lived
in splendor on the $4,000 they
cleaned up When they finally made
their getaway from New York they
took with them more than $3.50 IN
cash. We recovered So. 600 Of il in
New orleans and it's in charge ~
the Federal Court down there now.
There are a lot Of features in
this astounding case that are vet
to be cleared up and [ have an idea
I th+elA O. W NatteAAa 'tAaA A-t-b 10 NlEaA
them up. 4 mysterious woman. = s
handsome as you'd meet in "a days
walk. has met Philip in various cities
on his flight South. She probably
mas access TO any funds they may
have hidden and / sure would like
20 make her acquaintance
The prisoners were as taciturn as
ever as they left the city for New
York. They have talked ye-y little
10 even the detectives except 10 de-
fend their sisters and announce their
I willingness to shoulder all the blame.
{ The sisters. Lucy and Grace. are
1 still iu New orleans.