The New York herald., 1921-08-18
VAROTTA PRISONERS
RELY ON DEATH NOTE
Say Threat Made While
They Were in Jail Proves
Alibi for Them.
LETTER In STATE CASE
Anonymous Writer In
formed Father Accused
Men We're Guiltless.
PARENT TELLS HIS STORY
Describes Trap Set for Two
Who Demanded $500 and
Gave Their Sympathy.
LETTER IN STATE CASE
PARENT TELLS HIS STORY


at the trial OF Roberto Raffaelo for the
kidnapping and Staying Of five-year-
old Giuseppe Varotta probably will be
the main reliance of Raffaelo in his
defence Raffaelo is on trial ian Gen
eral Sessions before Judge Talley and
a jury.
| The letter was offered by George n.
Brothers, Assistant District Attorney,
who asserted that the person who
wrote it was trying to fabricate an
alibi for Raffaelo and four others who
were in the Tombs charged with the
bows death last May. The defendant
nd his counsel think the letter, though
a State document. proves that Raf-
faelo had no hand In the murder.
| Before the letter was read. Salvatore
| Varotta, father Of the child. told of his
isappearance, and the search for him
before letter writer's began to demand
money for his return The first letter
was received three days after the boy
vanished. and the second letter two days
after the first. Four days later. while
Varotta stood negotiating with one OF
them, the five men were arrested. Nine
DAYS after they had been lodged in Jail
the letter on which they now rely
reached Varotta.
All Deny Authorship.
The letter explained that the writer's
did not belong to the society" which
had taken away the boy. Since all we're
in the Tombs, the prisoners say none Of
them could have written it. The letter
runs:
"Mr varotta: We didn't write any
more because we want you to be salts
fed with the law. / could assure you
that they will not find your son. You
will get him II you pay s2.500. but these
people who came to ask you for $500
do not belong to our society.
If we receive the money we must buy
an automobile. and IL we succeed with
out any trouble then we will free your
son. He Is not far from your house, q
distance of fifty blocks. Be sure we
will let him 90 if we receive the money,
but you can rest assured that you will
have no satisfaction from the police. II
we do not secure the money your son
will be drowned
when we say thing we carry it
out II you do not leave us alone 90
that the road is free and we can come
and get the money the next letter you
receive will tell YOU in which river YOU
will find your son.
I'VE are anarchists as well as black
handlers therefore. do not believe that
these people now in prison belong to us.
We don't care even II you kill them, be-
cause they were pleased to receive only
$500 and are damn fools. A member Of
Peluso will swear TO vindicate any one
who will betray him II we don't receive
the money or if the money is counter
felt or any OF our members Is touched.
"PELUso BLAcKHANp.''
Narotta. as the States main witness
of the day. accused all the prisoners of
having attempted to wiring money from
him.
Two Especially SoIfctous.
When his child disappeared he in
formed all his friends and neighbors and
the police. Almost at once. he said, two
of the men accused. Antonio Marno and
Santo Cusamano, offered their sympathy.
When he received the first letter de-
manding ransom they showed by their
talk that they knew he had it and what
it contained. They urged him to pay
the money. When another letter was re-
ceived, threatening that the boy would
be drowned II the father did not pay,
Raffaele turned up and demanded $500.
He had not met Raffaele before.
II asked him." said varotta. ito come
In and talk about my son. but he said
he had no time, but that the boy was
all right. l kissed mis- hands, / kissed
his feet and ! begged him to return my
child. but he made me promise I would
have the money that night and went
away. He said If you tell detectives
your boy will be drowned and you and
your wife will be shot"
Varotta went to his bank and drew all
tlo ha baI
ready that night. Instead of Raffaele.
another man. John Melchione, arrived
and asked for the money. Varotta in
formed Melchione that he did not know
him and was afraid to trust him with
the money. Mechione. to prove that he
was working with Raffaele. told varotta
to look out OF his window to where Raf-
faele was standing in the street below.
varotta handed over the money. AS
he did so detectives concealed In his
flat arrested Melchione and Raffaele.
Within half an hour Marino, Cusamano
and Ruggieri also we're seized. The
others will be tried In their turns after
Raffaeles case has been closed
The Varotta boy was found drowned
In the Hudson River OFF Piermont on
June IL. DIR. Otto A. Schultze. who tes-
titled that he had performed an autopsy
on the body. said he was certain the
child had been dead about ten days. The
prosecution contends the kidnappers
killed the boy because he knew who they
were.