The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-03
Wealthy
- .lifornia
Man Slain
Sacramento Broker Is Shot
Down by Unknown Assassin.
in Saloon in Chicago
Murderer Escapes.
Mystery Clouds Killing

OmAha nee Leoseo WWe
Chicago, July 2-ln a mystery in
which are en;angled a 500, 900 con-
tract with southern California vine-
yards, an Italian vendetta IN which
one man already had been killed and
a love story which may. or may not.
be the motive OF the tragedy, Thomas
R. Petrotta, wealthy Sacramento
broker and a guest at the Morrison
hotel, was today lured to a North
Side rendezvous and murdered in
cold blood.
Vincent Curtaio, the king OF the
moonshiners," was wounded in the
affray. Curtaio's partner, George
Candiotta, is, with half 4 dozen
others, under arrest. The assassin is
missing; the witnesses. characters
tically, did not see thing. But
From letters and kilograms found
in the dead mans room and from
musty records and newspaper clip
pings, police investigating the affray
have reconstructed a semi-coherent
explanation OF the killing; an ex-
planation which, however, deals only
with actual occurrences preceding the
murder.
Wounded Last September.
On September 2, 1918, police re-
ceived call, that man had been
shot at Townsend and Hobbic
streets. They went there and found
a man living on the sidewalk with a
bullet hole in his skull. The man
was Petrotta.
Taken to the hospital, he recover
ed but refused to talk. The shoot
ing remained a mystery.
A month ago Tony Curtaio,
brother Of Vincent, walked into a
hail of bullets at Division and Town.
send streets. He died before the
police arrived Again mystery.
On June II, Petrotta. now gen.
eral manager of the Swastika Fruit
company of Sacramento. a concern
which deals heavily in wholesale
shipments of California grapes and
wines, registered at the Morrison
hotel.
rluO 1uOtO Oh 1uA'
In his suitcase police found a pho
tograph of beautiful young woman.
Her name is "Rose." She wrote en-
dearing letters to Petrotta in which
Curtaio's name was used more than
once.
Petrotta wrote to her as well; her
letters mentioned his replies. Thus
for the love motive.
Petfotta also knew Curtaio in a
business way. They had signed a
contract for 100000 deal in wines.
In a letter to A. Bondi, Sacramento,
dated June q, Petrotta told OF this.
Bondi was his partner.
"As I stated in my wire" the let
ter reads, "he wants to 60 into CO.
partnership with us, investing the
capital of 100000 if we can produce
in our own winery 100000 gallons of
sherry and port.
"On sherry he wants about Is per
cent and IS per cent on port. Be-
sides that he can dispose Of about
10000 gallons of zinfadel, muscatel.
claret and tokay-which wines he
does not care if we buy from other
places.
"He would like to be general part
ner in the manufacturing and sell
ing of wine, and the profit to be di-
yided. Or either he will furnish the
money and we will make the wine
for him, charging him so much per
gallon. y.
"Or, you see, this is very. big
proposition and I would not like to
let Silver or all of them to share on
a big deal like that. However, will
leave it for your consideration which
would be best to proceed. -.
In reply he received wire OF ac-
ceptance. This also was found. Pet
rotta apparently closed the deal, the
police say, and received $1,000 in
cash for the first payment.
Shot Down in Saloon.
Then this morning, Petrotta re-
ceived a phone call to come to Cur
taio's saloon at 720 North Wells /
street. He walked from the Morri-
son hotel into a taxicab driven by
Hans Christensen, and drove there.
He was met by Curtaio and an.
other man. As Curtaio shook Pet
rotta's hand, the other man fired SIX
times. Petrotta dropped; Curtaio
cursed; he had been wounded by a
bullet which had passed through
Petrotta's body.
The assassin fled. Petrotta was
hurried to the hospital, but he was
dead. Curtaio was taken to the Poly
clinic hospital. He is not badly in
jrred and is now under arrest.
Police questioned all witnesses,
but they didn't hear much. They
found out, however, that Curtaio had
bailed out Arthur Langrafs few
hours before the shooting. They are
G eeekino Him