The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-07-27

Gus moral repute from the Italian
stage
All this time the "count" was trav-
cling about Italy in private car, stay
Ing at the most expensive hotels, CIV
ing valuable presents to scores of
people, unfailingly contributing gener-
Ously to all charitable purposes and
war relief. He fitted for himself elabo
rate offices in the chief Italian cities,
end engaged numerous staff or
agents, secretaries and servants, in
cluding big Moor as valet.
1t was noted that the spectacular
count" was highly eccentric; but then,
1t was argued, all wealthy people are
likely to be more or less eccentric /;
and there was no doubt that the people
who were most familiar with his opera
tiOns thought he was of perfectly sane
mind and highly clever individual.
Where the man had acquired his
wealth was a mystery quite beyond So
luton until after the whole plot was
exposed. Then everybody marveled at
its simplicity as well as It's ingenuity.
Cortese had two accomplices, one a
notary public and the other a poor
devil from Como, who served his pur-
pose because they bore remarkable
likeness to two Piedmontese automo-
bile magnates. Cortese carefully cul.
tivated these resemblances, costuming
and making up his accomplices with
the greatest care to preserve the illu-
sion. One of them was got up to re-
semble Slgnor Diatto Of Turin, owner
of an automobile factory, while the
other was the image of Signor Dante
Ferraris, manager of the Fiat Automo-
bile company.
Two Spurious Financiers.
Accompanied by them, Cortese would
go to a bank, commonly the most i'm
portant and influential institution in
the community where he was Operat-
ing, would have himself introduced by
them TO the management of the bank,
and would stand modestly by while d.
rectlOns were given to the bank Off
cials that he should be provided with
such sums of money as he required on
conditions which were carefully indi-
Gated. Usually the money thus sup
piled was deposited in the bank from
which it was being drawn.
So perfect was the Illusion that the
thing went on for many months before
suspicion was aroused despite the
spectacular operations in which the
count" was notOriOusly wasting vast
sums. The banks appeared not seri-
ously to have concerned themselves
about what was happening to the
money they were advancing so freely.
He seems invariably to have got all the
money he wanted without the slightest
difficulty.
When the police at last investigated |
the case, and called upon Cortese to
explain where he got his money, he |
convinced them that he really
magnates. 1t Is said that he
even conceived and at times carried
)ut the plan of getting himself into
association with the two genuine
inanciers in order that he might be
ieen publicly with them. They Of course
we're quite ignorant of his purpose.
The Italian censorship has been in
itructed to suppress any hint at es-
homage and completely on the part OF
he banks. Cortese and his two accom-
'lices have been arrested. 1t was as
umed that sensational trial would
ollow in due course, but there were
hose who had doubts. They suspected
hat If the matter were forced to a
rial. Cortese would make revelations
s a result OF which the scandal would
'iden. In partial confirmation Of this
lew is a recent cable dispatch which
that Cortese would be tried
efore a military tribunal From this
is inferred that there is evidence
nat he was a spy.-New York Sun.