Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-20
SW|NDLER IN
HUMAN HAIR
v|CT|M|ZES
ATLANTANS
Antonio Musica Said to Have
Made $1,000, 1000 From
Various Bankers.
ARRESTED ON STEAMER
STARTING FOR HONDURAS

NEW ORLEANS, March l9.-Con-
Tossing to swindles involving 100000
or more, and admitting that certain
bankers of Atlanta were among
their dupes, Antonio Musica, alias
Fuscale, ls held by police here, to-
gether with four sons and two daugh-
ters. The family party was arrested
to- day, and more than 100000 in cur
rency and checks was found in their
valises. their pockets and concealed in
the women's hats.
The arrest was not accomplished IN
til after the accused had made des
perate fight.
The father declared that he is a hair
importer, with business establishment
at Sc to SO Front street, New York.
Human hair" which he claimed to ex-
ploit on gigantic scale, was the COM
modify on the basis Of which the frauds
were alleged to have been committed.
Besides mentioning bankers in At
lanta as his victims. Musica named
financial institutions, twenty in num-
ber of New York, New Orleans Lon
don and some German cities as having
contributed to his ill-gotten fortune.
Advices from New York state that
Musica and his son, Philip, were in
dicted yesterday for a fraud of s16,193
on ]. and W. Seligman, bankers Two
hundred cases of human hair" con-
signed to foreign firms, confiscated on
pier there, were found TO contain only
brick when opened. Musica owns hair
stores all over the world
The sons are Frank, George, Albert
and Philip, and the daughters, both
beautiful. are Louise and Grace, aged
10 and 23, respectively. Their arrest
was marked by dramatic incidents.
They were all asleep in their berths on
a steamer about to sail for Honduras
when detectives entered and aroused
them to place them under arrest. The
father and his four sons fought vi
ciously and came on only after a battle
lasting several minutes.
Attempt to Discard Money.
While the men were struggling the
two daughters attempted to throw into
the Mississippi river 100000 in cur
rency concealed in their large hats, but
the plan was detected just in time to
prevent them from doing SO.
AS the prisoners were being taken to
the police station. the father seized a
magazine revolver from the pocket of
his son Philip and attempted to COM
init suicide. He was prevented only
after another fierce struggle with the
detectives who had him in charge.
More complete search of the party
after it reached the police station re-
vealed the fact that they had in their
possession currency amounting to
nearly 100000, all in large denomina-
tons. Aside from the currency, one Of
the daughters attempted to throw over
board from the steamer. the detec-
tives found $4,000 in the pockets Of
Grace Musica and $4,000 in the stock
ings of her sister, Louisa The party
also had about s1y0,00r n negotiable
securities.
Came From Mobile.
The party came 70 New Orleans
from Mobile. where, advices state. they
narrowly escaped arrest Information
reached them there that detectives |
were close upon their trail. Fearing TO
go TO the railroad station, there to
purchase tickets. they went by autUmo- |
bile to Theodore, small station on
the Louisville and Nashville railroad. |
on the way TO New Orleans. They had |
only been away from the hotel where |
they stopped a short time when Chief
of Police Crenshaw arrived there in |
search OF them. Learning that they |
had started for Theodore. Crenshaw |
and the detectives started in pursuit, |
arriving there shortly after the train |
had departed for New Orleans.
No knowledge Of the Musica family |
or its swindling methods could be dis |
covered among Atlanta bankers or |
business men today. All of those ap-
preached said that they had no deal |
ings with the firm of that name, nor /
Of that nature OF business.