New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-27
MUSICA PLOT HEAD,
IA, POOR AND DYING
Banker, Chief of the Fam,
ily, Rescued from Want
by Friends.
ONE SON IN TOMBS
FOR BIG FRAUD CASE
Two Sons, Once Wealthy, Now
Working in Film Shows to
Help Mother.


Antonio Musica, the old italian I'm
porter who, on March II, 1918, fed from
New York with his three sons and two
daughters after having swindled banks
of this country and England out of
81 10000 by means of false bills of lading
and acceptances, is dying in restitution
at the home Of friends In Brooklyn
whittier he went after being released on
$1,000 ball from the Tombs. His death.
according to Leo l. Leventritt assigned
to defend him, may come at any time.
Philip NJ. Musica, his eldest son, whose
ambition to become a multi millionaire is
blamed for the fall of the family from
opulence TO want. is still In the Tomos
waiting for District Attorney Whitman
10 call him as witness against those
who, he says, engineered most or tho
plans for the swindes and who are cred
tied with having made away with APP
proximately $4,000 Of the stolen money.
OF the balance, about $4,000 has been
recovered.
Musicals Youngest sons, George and AT
thur, who were indicted with their father
I
pended sentences. as II was shown that
they merely acted as messenger boys and
had no real knowledge OF what was
Transporting, are working in moving pict-
ure houses TO support their sisters, Lucy
and Louise, and their mother. who at
the time OF tho flight to New Orleans, en-
route for Honduras. was In Naples inc
two girls, who were arrested with other
members Of the family, were compelled
to pawn their jewelry In order 10 get
funds with which 10 return to New YORK
after being released by the police OF that
city.
I Up to the time Of the defalcation An
tonic Musica enjoyed the reputation or
being one OF the most conservative ltai-
ian importers In the city. His repu-
/ tation I'm the banks with which ne
had done business for thirty years was
OF the highest. IT was this reputation
that enabled the son, Philip, when he
formed the 10000 United States Hair
/ Company. TO float hundreds OF thousands
OF dollars worth OF acceptances Of drafts
that were based upon fraudulent bills or
/ lading At the time the family, with the
exception Of Philip. who resided at the
/ Hotel Knickerbocker, lived in hand
some homo IN Brooklyn. That house Is
now for sale in foreclosure proceedings.
Mr. Leventritt told Tribune reporter
yesterday that Antonio Musica, in all
probability, would never face trial
He is dying from senile consumption,
said Mr. Ieventrltt. HE Is seyenty-four
D L n
was going on until IL WAS over. and ne
has never recovered from the shock In
cidental TO the occurrences at the time
OF his flight and arrest. He is entirely
destitute, as is Philip. who has given the
trustee every possible aid in recovering
the money due the creditors.
The family is 90 poor that II WAS I'M
able 10 hire a lawyer. 80 the court as
signed me. AS TO what Philip may nave
told the District Attorney, I have MOTH
ing TO say. It must appear significant
that although he pleaded guilty in May
last he is still in the Tombs and no move
made 70 sentence him.
IT will say this. however: Philip did
not have the necessary knowledge or
banking and foreign exchange to carry
out the deals that were put through. No
body without q thorough knowledge or
the mechanics OF foreign exchange and
banking could have planned the transac-
lions.
"p.rsonaIly I should be inclined 70
think that any announcement OF new In
dctments and proceedings pending action
by the District Attorneys office might be
considered premature
Philip NJ. Musica, In his story TO the
District Attorneys assistants and the
grand juries before whom he has ap-
peared. involved several men. One Of
these. who has a rather unsavory reputa-
ton in Wall Street has been considered
an expert on foreign exchange Others
involved are considered 10 be hardly less
skilful and at least ono is credited
with a knowledge Of tho banking laws
OF England and the Continent that not
ono commercial lawyer out Of thousand
possesses.
These with confederates in Naples,
Paris and London. arranged for tho ac-
ceptance Of bad drafts. and In some in
stances organized private banks conform
ing with every requirement OF the law 10
facilitate the operation OF the schme.
Il would not say that these banks were
organized overnight" said Mr.. Leventritt,
when this phase OF the cases was touched
upon, but that does not exaggerate the
matter much