The New York herald., 1921-08-18
DETROIT SEEKS CLUE
IN SEVENTY MURDERS
Believed FOntana, Who Told
of Many Killings, Can
Reveal Plots.
is HAUNTED BY GHOST
Fiaschetti Says Suspect Told
All in Fear Of Wrath Of
Slain Friend.
IS HAUNTED BY GHOST

Bartolo Fontana. the itinerant bar
Der, who was arrested Tuesday for the
murder of Camille Ciazzo in Asbury
Park on July 80, was held without bail
by Magistrate Corrigan yesterday TO
await extradition to New Jersey. Ffvu
others who were arrested after Fon-
tana made an alleged confession to
Detective Sergeant Michael Fiaschetti
head Of the Italian squad. were SINH
larly held, but carefully separated
from Fontana, who made It plain that
his life would be worth nothing were
he to fall into their clutches.
Fontana's confession started in
yestigations in New York and Detroit
and the police believe themselves justi-
fed in thinking that the barber and
his gang. or the gang Of which he war
a member, have participated in a
number OF killings. and that the world
is about to learn of syndicate that
made murder a traffic.
The trail of the leader of the band OF
which Fontana was member and OF
whose killings he has told has led 10
Buffalo, where the police are searching
for a man known In the Italian quarter
there as "the chief" This man is be-
lieved to be the head of the Bonventre
gang which Fontana taxes with the mur-
der of at least seventeen men In Brook
lyn. Manhattan. The Bronx and Detroit
within the last six years. 1t is this
man who receives the orders from the
head OF the Camorra in Italy, with which
the New York police now believe the
Bonventre gang was associated, and he
then assigns the men to commit the
murders.
Detective Fiaschetti believes that the
gang mentioned by Fontana Is only one
or several murder groups in New YORK
operated under the direction of the Ital-
ian Camorrists from the headquarters
in Sicily. The power OF the Camorra
is great In New York and the organiza-
ton is widespread. and the fear Of 1t has
SO gripped the Italians of the city that
even those who have information re-
garding 1t are afraid to tell what they
know to the police. For this reason 1t
has been difficult for Detective Fla
schetti and his men to obtain evidence
for the conviction of the men who have
been arrested.
Despe tches from Detroit last night
said that during the three years from
1917 TO 1920 more than seventy Italians
were killed in that city, and while few
NJ them were the result of commercial
rivalry and rows over women and policy
games, the majority OF them are be-
lieyed to have been directed from the
Headquarters of the Camorra in Sicily.
In Detroit the Camorrlst gangs are said
to be organized in groups OF fifteen ana
to have a fund of more than half a
million dollars ready for the defence
az members who are arrested for muir
der. Forty members OF these groups are
known TO the Detroit police. and the de-
tectives there are preparing to make
arrests In connection with several recent
murders. The whole OF Detroit's Little
italy Is filled with detectives disguised
as immigrants and push cart pedlers.
The Detroit authorities have notified
the New York police that they will CO.
operate to the fullest extent In bringing
to Justice men named by Fontana as
boing responsible for nine murders In
Continued on SiIth PAGE.