New-York tribune., 1921-06-03
Traps
5 i'm Varotto
kidnap Plot
tcon.lna:a .rsm page ene,


have demanded when varotto opened the
door.
~ had the money Cs5ool all day.
Varotto says he replied, "but I saw
nothing of you. Please don't kill my
boy. I'll have $500 for you tomorrow"
II went down on my knees to him,
Varotto continued, "and kissed his hand
and begged him not to harm my boy,
told him | would not squeal, that he
could kill me and all my family if did.
"'All right he said. Wait ten min
utes. ] am going to see, the gang and
see il it's all right"
Promptly at the end Of the ten min
utes, Varotto said, another thunderous
kick apprised him that his caller had
returned. This time, the distracted
father said, Raffale told him that it was
all right, that he should go to the
Franklin savings Bank at Eighth Ave
nue. and Forty second Street yesterday
and draw the money and he would call
for it at 10 D. m. He served warning,
Varotto said, to attempt no trick as he
would be watched from the time he left
his house until he returned from the
bank.
As soon as the bank opened yester-
day, Varotto was at the paying teller's
window. Next behind him in line was
a man who carried cashiers satchel
and wore his hat pulled we'll down
over his eyes. He was Fiaschetti. head
of the Italian sound, who had chosen
this method of getting in touch with
Varotto and bolstering up his resolu-
ton. -
According to an arrangement pre-
viously made by Fiaschctti by tele-
phone, the president of the bank him
self was at the paying teller's' window
and made careful note of the numbers
of the bills in which he counted put the
$500 to Varotto. %F
At 10 o'clock last night the "Detroit
cousin" was singing Neapolitan air
in the Varotto kitchen as she washed
the dinner dishes. Beneath the bed
in the front room sprawled the plumb
er's" helper, neither tapping pipes nor
loafng, but strictly on the job. Within
sound of police whistle were dozen
alert detectives, for Fiaschetti did not
alone for the money.
There was a panel-rattling kick at
the door. Varotto, the money in his
left hand, tiptoed tensely forward and
flung it open. AS Melchionne, last
nights caller, reached for the money
Varotto's right hand closed on his wrist
in grip of steel Varotto lunged
sharply backward throwing Melchionne
fat on his face and then shut the door
softly and locked it.
Before Melchionne could recover his
feet the plumbers helper" had wrig-
gled from his hiding place and pre-
sented the muzzle of a revolver at the
visitors breast. Pellegrino was pre-
pared to shoot if he had to. His su-
peror had authorized it and, in fact
warned him to take not the slightest
chance of prisoners escape
Something in his eye warned Mel
chionne that his captor meant busi-
utes he was suleny silent, but under
repeated threats of death he agreed to
tell where his companions were wait
ing for the money.
They were, he said, at $40 East Thir-
teenth Street, only few doors away
Within few minutes they were pris-
oners
Melchionne is said to have signed a
confession in which he reveals the hid
ing place of the boy. Ruggiere, who is
twenty one years old and the younge ST
of the quintet, is Marinos stepson
According to the police, he has admit
ted authorship OF second letter which
the Varottos received Tuesday, which
ran as follows:
"You are damn fool for notifying
the police. They can do nothing for
you. IL the police should start search
of all the houses from the Battery to
The Bronx they never could find the
kid.
"a person will be in to see YOU in a
few days, ard you give the money to
him. If you don't give him the money