The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-17
YOUNG ITALIAN FAILS
IN BLACK HAND SCHEME
Attempted to Txtort Five Hundred
Dollars from Vincent tstor.
Lands In jail.
SAYS WAS IN GREAT NEI.D
AMI Though Black Hand Route Of
fcred Easy Way TO Secure Money.
Attempted to Resist Arrest.


New ork, April ia nineteen
year-old Italian, John Mpriella. was
arrested il The Grand Central Station
this afternoon 20" attempting 10 ex-
tort $500 from Vincent A~tor, under
threat Of death u the demand was
refused. Tie had selected tile infor-
nation a. the pis % TO meet the person
him and William Dobbyu, Mr. Astor's
secretary, wen: there bac,[ed up by
Acting Captain Tunney. oftne detec-
tive bureau. and Scryeatn Barnett.
When Muriella saw that he was
trapped he pulled heavy revolver
half way from his pocket before Tup.
'ney wrested the weapon from him.
7 The hey was taken to police head
Quarterf. where he broke down and
said that he had tried this method
Eof getting money because he vas des-
peratelg IN need az II Three weeks
ago he ran away from his fathers
9eTHe he said. because he had 10 work
too hard. and since then has been
living ia Bowery boarding houses.
sent Two Letters To Astor.
Two letters were sent to Mr.. Aston
demanding The $500, both of them
written appssreatlY ~ the same pcr.
son and signed From the Egact
Handler one Thief rst letter Was
/ fece3N*a az Mar2b 80. 59t 5-- .A4.~,. .
tton VAS paid ia r. ~ YVES wrt,sff.
on telegraph blank ana read.
Mr. Vincent Aster.~--t vail Ike
70 see yea at the Grand Central ter
minal tomorrow afternoon nj 100
+, NJ sharp. Take with you Eve
hundred dollars so you can give them
10 me. The money or your life. III
be by the information stand"
Mursella said after his arrest today
that he had gone TO the station with
the revolver In his pocket on March
81 ard waited some time The second
letter vas received on April Is. and
vas written on cable blank Ir
had been sent T. Mr. Astor'e home
and forwarded tn his office II read
~ sent you d letter before and
did net see you where / told you to
meet me. This will be your last
chance 20 sock out Of I've hundred dol
lars or you're life. I'll be At The
Grand Central terminal information
stand at . 30 O'Clock. April Is. read
ing the Evening World"
After the second letter Mr. Dohbyn
called up Mr.. Astor and was told
To turn the letters over to the po-
lice. Acting Captain Tunney arranged
for Mr. Dohb,n 10 meet Murielia.
while he and Barnett lowered In the
background
Promptly on time Dobhyn walked
up TO the boy whom he saw reading
49,
Did you want to see Mr. Astore
1 am his secretary"
Didn't Want tn See Him.
mo didn't want to see him" said
the young fellow hurriedly, and turned
away,
Dobhyn thought the plan had failed
and walked toward the telephone
booths. Tunnev and Barnett lowering
an the background. After a few mo-
ments. Murieila turned and walked
quickly up TO Dohhyn and asked
''ilave you got something for me7"
Yes" said pohbyn. II want H.
receipt for IT"
II wont sign a receipt" said the
boy backing away. IT wor. sign
Just then Tnnev and Barnetz be-
gan Ia close in with the bag, and
Muriella sighted them. He jerked his
hand into his pocket and "a big blue
revolver, loaded and ready for quick
action. half slid into view when Tun-
ney wrested 4 from Muriella's hand.
That ended any show of resistance on
his part and he went quietly down to
headquarters.
Mr. Astor. who Is at his country
home at Rhinecliffe. was informed
of the arrest owe. the telephone by
MIR. Dobbyn.