Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-09
CONT, BANKRUPT,
HAS DISAPPEARED
Failed TO Return to His Home
from Hospital Last
Wednesday.

Cessre Cont. the banker. who,
while patient in the Flower Hos
pital In New York last Wednesday.
placed his affairs in the hands Of an
assignee, has fnysteriously disappear
ed and cannot be located by his
friends. He left the hospital on the
same day that the bankruptcy pre-
ceedings were started, but failed TO
return to his room at Old Maria s
Hotel at 109 West Thirty-eighth
street, New York
Cont was formerly a resident Of
81 Cedar avenue, Montclair, but
neither IT, that town nor In East Or
ange, n. j., where mis- mother is re-
siding, can any news of the missing
banker be secured. Cont formerly
conducted a branch Of his banking
business In this city, at 10 Market
street
During the bankers illness z. G.
Buchignani, Mr. Contfs manager,
said debts had accrued and some
creditors had pressed for a settle
ment Some alarm also was ez-
pressed among Italian depositors In
the Cont bank because of the con-
tinued absence Of Mr.. Cont. and
mainly for tbs reason, the manager
said, Mr.. Cont had deemed 1t advis-
able to place his affairs in the man.
agement OF Mr.. Conklin. The private
bank was declared solvent The
Green River Distiliing Company is
one of the largest creditors.
In addition to his importing and
banking business, Mr.. Cont is agent
for the Ita.o-American Stores and the
Lloyd Sabaudo Steamship Company.
, He owns large block Of stock In the
latter company, estimated at 5000. 90.
Cesare Cont, who was for years
italian consul here, has long been
prominent IN charitable work among
! his countrymen- He was foremost in
aiding the Messina earthquake suf-
ferers, and has assisted the police
In running down vagrant groups OF
the Black Hand
There is likelihood that the bust.
ness will be closed during an at
tempt at readjustmenr OF Mr.. Contis
affairs.
A reporter called last night on Ar
thur Thompson, who lives at the
Palermo apartments, 116th street and
Riverside Drive, and is a heavy de-
positor in the Cont bank. Mr..
Thompson said:
Il haven't the remotest idea what
has become Of Mr.. Cont Besides be-
ing a depositor in his bank l am his
personal friend. A few days ago
called up the Flower Hospital to
learn how he was progressing and
until you called here tonight 1 be-
lieved he was still IN the hospital.
II have known Mr.. Cont for a
number OF years and have dined
with him at his home in Montclair, at
Maria's and when he lived on Sixty
third street. In fact ne has been
both banker and friend to Mrs.
Thompson and myself"
Mr.. Thompson was then told that
he was reported to have had 1886, 000
In the Cont bank. He said:
''Oh. no. that is greatly exagger-
ated- / had about $4,000 as near as
can recall. and have placed the
] matter in the hands OF my attorney,
Louis Steckler, with authority to
take any action that he may deem
necessary under the circumstances
AS far as I know only the routine
procedure has been followed.
| 81 know of no reason why Mr.
/ Cont should disappear. He was 9
! sick man and on that account as.
signed his business. If he has lefi
the hospital I feel sure that inquir.
at his Office will establish his where
! aboute."
At the Flower Hospital last nigh
| It was said that Mr.. Cont had LEFT
the institution on Wednesday and
nothing was known as to his present
] whereabouts. His condition seemed
| 70 be greatly improved.