Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-15
MUCH EXCITED
(Continued from Page One).


my money back He was held in
bonds of $4,000 for the grand jury. :.
Sciaraffa,s bank was closed in June
by Bank Commissioner Allen and a
receiver was appointed. 1t was his
claim that he was solvent and that if
certain banks would pay what was
owed HIM he would have enough to
reopen and to pay the claims of his
Creditors. most of them members of
the foreign colony and persons of
small means. s,-s
Commissioner Alien tonight said
that he could not With propriety dis
cuss the relations between the Ire
mont Trust Co, and Sciaraffa; As
to the causes for closing the private
bankers business he said: .ftfIFs.
Last June / learned there was
some dispute between Sciarafra and the
fremont Trust Co. We made an ex-
animation of Sciaraffa.s affairs and
found, them so much involved that, /
felt action to protect the interests of
his creditors was necessary and so /
closed his business and asked that a
receiver be appointed"
Vincent Brogna. lawyer, was NAM
ed as receiver and took over Sciaraf-
fa's affairs. After investigating his
claims against certain banks the re-
ceiver fled suit against the fremont
Trust Co and the Fidelity Trust Co.
both of this city. The receiver sued
the latter bank. which was closed by
the commissioner subsequently. for
$3.50 which he claimed the bank owed
81.
sued for S334s and tho market value of
245.003 Italian lire that the private
banker claimed he had left with the
trust company as collateral on certain
loans.
The receiver, in Sciaraffa's behalf,
contended that he had on deposit
with the fremont Trust Company
s14S4S additional. against which the
bank had n claim on him for s11,500
in notes The suits have not yet
come to trial.
The claims made by Sciaraffa were
communicated to the bank commits
sioner recently with data regarded as
substantiating them, it was under
stood, with request by the receiver
that the matter be Investigated. Re-
ceiver Brogna said he could not d1-
cuss any phase of the matter.
Simon Swig, vice president of the
fremont Trust Company. and father
of Treasurer Swig, said that after
the incident he had inquired about
Sciaraffa's relations with the COM
pany and learned he formerly had a
deposit account there but that when
be failed to pay loans that came due
the amount of his deposits was ap-
piled to them.
"Sciaraffa still owes the fremont
Trust Company about $4,000" the
vice president said.
BENJAMIN II. Swig, in explaining
the attack on him said that when
Sciaraffa requested a private confer
ence this afternoon he was taken to
the directors room. With Treasurer
Swig was Julius Shapiro, a clerk, for
whom Sciaraffa had inquired. -,
"As soon as the door was closed
-Sciaraffa began to talk excitedly of
his troubles with several banks and
said he needed $4,000 at once to en-
able him to get started again." said
Mr.. Swig. Il told him we could not
iCt MN navy II DIS lie SOuIQ O1Gr no
security He said he must have it,
that he was going to get it if have
to go to Jail for it, and then he drew
o. gun. pointed it at me and asked il
/ would give it up now. / told him
would and i:ept him in conversation
until Shapiro could edge over and
tackle him. We managed to get his
pistol and to subdue him. Shapiro
and / were bitten in the struggle"
Treasurer Swig said that Sciaraffa
made no reference in the interview to
any claim against the fremont Trust
Company
The gun taken from the private
banker wassa new one. IT was loaded
with five bullets. and he was found
to have five additional bullets in a
pocket. He told police officers that
he had purchased the weapon a week
ago but would not say why.