The New York herald., 1921-06-14
KlDNAPPERS HOPED
| MRS. DREXEL BIDDLE
WOULD RANSOM BOY
Knew Society Leader Aided
VarOttas When Another
Child Was Hurt.
BACKED DAMAGE SUIT
Black Handlers Depended
on Her Tender Heart to
Work ExtortiOn Scheme.
MYSTERY CLEARING UP
Men Arrested on June 3 Will
Be Indicted for Murder,
Official Declares.
MYSTERY CLEARING UP

Persistent police work gradually is
unravelling the plot, concocted and
executed apparently by Salvatore Va
rotta's own neighbors. which culmi-
mated In the kidnapping and murder
of the sweet faced little boy. Giuseppi
Varotta, whose body was given up last
Saturday by the Hudson River near
Piermont.
The five Sicilians arrested on June
3 charged with completely in the kid
mapping are to be reindicted by the
Grand Jury for murder in the first de-
gree as soon as that body can act
That statement was made in Genera
Sessions yesterday by Assistant Dis,
trict Attorney Frederick j. Sullivan
In the meantime Judge Mcintyre ad-
vanced the bail for each Of them from
$25, 900 to 100000. This will insure
their safe incarceration. After their
Indictment for the capital crime they
must be held without bail.
Another end Of the tangled skeir
that came to light yesterday was pa
thetic, almost melodramatic, as an
Illustration of the occasional gro
tesquerie of cause and effect. 1t was
learned that 1t was the tender solici-
tude. the generous charity of Mrs. A.
J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.. Of 1908 Fifth ave-
nue., in her ministrations to the Varotta
family In an earlier time Of trouble
that convinced the SiciliaH plotters
that. even il the varottas did not have
much ready money themselves. they
had friends who readily would sup
ply them with funds il money might
heal a wound to parental love.
The kidnappers, the police believe.
were counting upon Drexel Biddle money
to pay whatever ransom they might de-
mand. for 1t was In befriending Adolfo
Varotta, the ten year old brother OF
little Giuseppi, that Mrs. Biddle more
than a year ago had begun playing for
the varottas the role Of Lady Bounti-
full.
Contrast In Children.
And by a strange quirk of fate. Adolfo,
whom her philanthropic ministrations
helped to save to his afflicted parents. Is
a maired, nutilated and disfgurcd lad.
while the child Giuseppi. whom the
plotters stole In their greed. was beauti-
full in his chubby comeliness. as the
father muttered again and again while
he gazed upon the child's lifeless body,
"such a pretty little feller da teacher
take his picture"
More than a year ago Varotta took
his elder son, Adolfo, for ride down the
Merrick road, near Islip. In an auto
mobile. The machine was In collision
with q heavy truck said to have been
owned by Paul Laura Of Coney Island.
Both father and son were hurt but
Young Adolfo was terribly burned about
the face and body, and suffered severe
injuries OF one leg. Mrs. Biddle. It Is
said In tho District Attorneys office, be-
came interested In the family and It's
troubles through social settlement work.
Best of Care for BOY.
For six months the boy lay in Belle
v,ia Hospital. II was Mrs. Biddle VINO
saw to IL that he had the most expert
medical and surgical care. The young
society leader paid all the expenses OF
plaster casts for the injured leg. She
saw to Il that he did not lack easily ra-
dunn treatment, and afterward. when the
mangled leg had healed, expert massag-
ing. Later II was her generosity tna'
enabled the doctors to do the best that
modern facial surgery could do to re-
store the disfigured face where the
burns had scared deeply. During all
these weeks OF charitable help her auto
mobile and liveried chauffeurs more
than once had focused neighborhood
gossip as they waited In front OF the
modest home of the Varottas at 354 East
Thirteenth street.
Mrs. Biddle did more. She provided
In n measure for the education OF
Adolro after his recovery. She placed
In the hands of her own attorneys. Stew
art oe Shearer of as Wall street, the
claim Of the varottas which they had
entered In the form of suit for s50,-
600 damages against Paul Laura. The
action has not yet been adjudicated.
The police have not overlooked the
fact that OF the ten men now under ar
rest in connection with the kidnapping
one-half we're close neishbors OF the
varottas In East Thirteenth street
Members OF their households exchanged
almost daily neighborhood gossip and
what the Lady Bountiful had done and
was yet doing for the verottas was no
secret in the vicinity.
was Proud OF ravors.
Mrs. varotta was Justly proud OF all
the favors "the great lady" was shower
ing upon her injured child. She chstted
about Il freely. She told how Mrs
Biddle was going to help Adolfo get o
thorough education and how she In
tended 10 send him 10 Boston to school
when ne was well enough. Only few
days before tho five year old pct. Giu-
sopp'. was stolen while at play In front
OF his home his mother had been sos-
slipping with the mother of neishbor,
Tony Suscilla of $50 East Thirteenth
street Mrs. Suscilla spoke disparag-
ingly OF second hand automobile Ca
rotta had bought recently. II had cost
Continued on Sirth Pdce.