New-York tribune., 1921-06-04
Police Predict Kidnapped
Child Will Be Released
at Night, as Fugitive
Captor Cannot Escape
Plot Is Revealed
By Five Prisoners
II Have a Baby of My
Own,' Says WomanWho no
En- m e S h ed Cangsters

door stands on the latch at 354
East Thirteenth Street and an anxious
mother and father wait behind it for
the return Of their kidnapped child. Mr..
and Mrs. Salvatore Varotta have had
alternative waves Of hope and despair
SINCE five men we're arrested late
Thursday night on a charge of kidnap-
ping and blackmail Their five-year-
old son Giuseppe, who disappeared on
May "a while playing in front of his
home, has not yet been found
Members of the Italian squad Of the
Police Department said last night they
were confident the boy would be found
soon. A severe grlling of the
prisoners by detectives yesterday and
the impassioned entreaties of the boys
father resulted in an assurance that
Giuseppe was safe. Two of the gang
are still at large and it is alleged that
the name of one of them was extracted
from his confederates. His home,
which is said to be in the immediate
nelghborhood, was searched yesterday
No Trace of Fugitive
No trace was found of the young man
who is believed to have made his
escape with the child He is declared
by the police to be q nephew Of one OF
the prisoners and the son of a baker
living close to the Varotta home. A
widespread hunt for him is under way
His father told detectives Yesterday
that he had not seen him for days. All
ways of egress from the city arc under
guard. The general theory among
those working on the case is that. Giu-
seppe will be returned under cover OF
night and with little delay, since ali
hope of obtaining a ransom has been
dissipated.
The alleged kidnappers appeared be
fore Magistrate Joseph S. Schwab ir
Essex Market Court and were held in
$25, 200 bail for examination on June 6
They are John Melchionne, twenty
three years old; Robert Raffaele, TWEEN
ty-four years old. of III Palisade Ave
nue., Union Hill, N. j.; Santo Cosumano
fortysix years old; James Ruggiere
twenty-four years old, and Antonio
Marino, thirty-fve years old. The las,
three live at $40 East Thirteenth Street
across the street from the Narottas. All
associates of the father of the kid
mapped boy, according to his own state
meTlt.
In the course of the afternoon g
large touring car with two men and d
woman, all well dressed and apparently
Italians, drove up to Police Headquar-
tiers. Its occupants said they wanted
to arrange for bail for Antonio Marino
,one cf the five prisoners They were
referred to the Essex Market jail.
Police records show that Casmanc
was convicted of carrying a revolver a
year ago, but escaped with suspended
sentence. Marino was sent to the pen
itentiary on similar charge in 1915
Confession by Prisoner
Rafaelle was the prisoner who gave
the assurance that Giuseppe is un
harmed. During the all-night examina
tion that followed his arrest he con
tessed ne was a. stranger in towr
looking for work and was picked up or
the street by men who employed him
to go to the Varotta home for money
He made three trips before he wa:
caught with the others when the po
lice rounded them up, he said.
The following confessions alleged te
have been made by Melchionne ant
Raffaele We're made public yesterday:
G) I, John MeIchionne, twenty
three years old, living at Victory
House, Bowery and Chatham Square
at 10, p. M, June ?, went to 354 East
Thirteenth Street to Mr.. Varotta's for
the purpose Of getting $500 to get his
boy back. Mr.. Varotta's boy was kid
mapped by gang on May %. Mr.
Varotta gave me the $500, but after !
was arrested the money was taker
away from me-"
(2) 81, Robert Raffaele, went to Mr.
Varotta at 354 East Thirteenth Street
about IL p. m, June. l. saw Mrs
Varotta and ! asked her that the gang
sent me up there for the purpose tc
get the money. Mrs. Varotta gave me
letter and she told me not to kill
the boy. l brought the letter down to
my friend, John Melchionne, and
others, / do not know their names
And then / was told to go up again at
354 East Thirteenth Street to Mrs
Narotta. At II midnight the same day
saw Mr.. Varotta at home and ! told
him to give me $500 and I will send