New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-02
Soviet Agent Is
With
$4,000 $s Fraud.
]. II. Cibrario Is Accused
of Taking Funds for
Picture Machines and
Never Making Shipment
Held in $4,000 Bail
Attorney Says Million in
Bank Has Dwindled to
$1lO, O,OOOin Manipulations

Jacques Roberto Cibrario was arrest
ed at the Criminal Courts Building last
night and held in $4,000 bail for ex-
animation in the Tombs court on
Thursday morning. Miss Rose Weiss,
an attorney of 10 West Fortieth
Street, swore out a short affidavit for
the arrest of Cibrario, charging him
with unlawfully appropriatng $136,0OO
to his own use with intent to defraud
the real owners, the Russian Soviet
Federated Socialist government.
Judge Talley, of General Sessions,
sat in the chamber as magistrate and
fixed the bail, which was furnished in
cash. Although Cibrario was charged
specifically with the larceny of $780,
600 it was brought out at the hearing
by Charles Recht, also an attorney, of
ITO West Fortieth Street, and assoc-
ated with Miss Weiss, that Of S1,000,OO0
on deposit at the National City Bank
to the credit Of the Soviet government
only about $4,000 remains. RechS
declared that Cibrario appropriated
the difference by various manipulations
and that the Soviet government re-
ceived nothing in return for the funds.
Cibrario was to use the money to pur-
chase motion picture projection ma
chimes and film for shipment to Russia
The prosecution contended that Moth
ing was shipped, while attorneys for
Cibrario declared that he had pur-
chased the materials and that they
we're in the warehouses here.
Dozen Firms Formed
Cibrario, who is an Italian, thirty-two
years old, is said to be associated with
about dozen corporations, formed by
him in connection with the motion pic
ture deal for the Soviet government
Among these is the Transatlantic Film
Company of America, Inc, of 729 Sew
enth Avenue. Cibrario's address was
given by the police as 370 Central Park
West, but, according to his own state
ment and that of his attorneys, he lives
at 528 Polk Street. West New York,
N. J.
During the hearing before Judge
Talley it became known that $1,000,0O0
had been deposited to the credit of
the Soviet government in the National
City Bank by William c. Huntington
as a result Of transaction in rubles
The money was said to have been
placed in the bank in January, 1919.
The Committee on Education of the
Soviet government negotiated with
Cibrario, who was in Moscow, repre-
senting film corporation, for the pur-
chase of $500 motion picture pro-
lection machines and film. Cibrario
came to America to carry out this con-
tract and instructions were given to
the National City Bank to permit him
to draw from the S1,0o0,0Oo fund on
the presentation of warehouse receipts
and bills of lading. Herman Joseph
and Ralph Wolf, of 115 Broadway, at
torneys for Cibrario, declared that
their client put up 100000 bond
when the contract was made.
Cibrario's lawyers expressed their
willingness to proceed Immediately
with the examination last night, but
the hearing finally turned on the ques-
tion of bail. Mr.. Recht demanded
heavy bail, but $4,000 was agreed
upon.
Mr.. Recht declared that Cibrario pre-
CONTINUED ON paae threel