Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-13
ITALIAN BANKERS
MAY HAVE TAKEN
NEARLY S2,000,0OO

NEW YORK, March 1t.-(By the
Associated Press.)-The three broth
ers Tisbo, who conduct a bank and
steamship ticket agency on Mott
street, IN the heart of New York S
little Italy disappeared mysteri-
ously Saturday. Immediately crowd
of depositors gathered, demanded
their savings, which We're reported
to total 100000 to 100000.
Police took charge of the bank and
it's affairs, pending the result of
their search for the missing broth
ers. After a search of apartments
over the bank occupied by the
brothers, officers reported that cloth
ing was gone and that photographs
had been removed from their frames.
While the police were checking
up at the passport bureau, the
Italian-American line reported that
it had found Francisco Tisbo S
name on the passenger list of the
liner Taormina, which sailed yes
terday.
Cursory inquiry by the police in
Dictated the bank depositors num-
bered 10000.
George B. Mclaughlin, state bank
superintendent, stated that Tisbos
were not authorized private bank
ers. If they had been accepting de-
posits, they were violating the state
penal laws, Mr.. Mclaughlin said.
Vincenzo Tisbo was head of the
bank, which was known as Vincenzo
Tisbo & Bros Associated with him
were Vito and Francisco. Ricardo,
a fourth brother, was said to have
served as the bank 5 agent in Italy.
Vincenzo was recognized as a
man of position in little ITALY," to
cheese and oil. and had risen fiji
teen years ago to the honored post
Of banker, in whom his neighbors
had implicit confidence.
The last the colony heard of Vim
cenzo was Thursday night. He de.
parted, saying he intended to dine
VIZ t1tO SACcCpP4 NC1OlS liSO up at
her pier in the Hudson river.
Vito and Francisco dropped out
of sight the same evening.
Yesterday the bank opened as
usual. But in charge was Dominic
Acceta, bookkeeper, who told the
police today that he did not know
where the brothers had gor4.
This morning, however. several
hundred depositors gathered in
front Of the little cubby hole of the
bank
1t was curious situation.
While one part of little Italy
was lamenting. fearing the loss of
its life's savings, another part ex-
pressed its complete confidence in
the bank and it's head.
Hadn't Vincenzo lived among
them for years? Through his steam.
ship office wasn't he the tie that
bound them to the sunny land of
their birth?
There was no doubt that Vincenzo
had endeared himself to his fellow
countrymen. Freely had he contrib
uted for fireworks at the fiestas.
Day and night was he accessible to-
hundreds Of push cart peddlers and
small merchants who wished to con-
suit him about things financial
But there were hundreds assem-
bled who would not be denied. They
stormed the front of that tiny of
flee, only to be turned back by
the police.
One old woman, wrapped in al
shawl Of many eolors, walled pte-
ously. Her life's savings of $4,00OI
all gone-she knew it.
A middle-aged depositof, of flash
ing. eye, alternately su1len and in
furIated, declared more than $1O,-I
600 OF his had gone over that Coun-
ter. Soon the police had the names
of dozen depositors who said they
had entrusted a total of more than
O,00O to Vincenzo
The safe was locked and thel
bookkeeper said he did not know
how to open it. The apartments,
too We're locked, but the detectives
made short work of them.
Neighbors . informed the police
that Vincenzo Tisbo had been in.
terested in various business enter
prices and had recently sold a laun-
dry in Brooklyn. Stories were cur
rent in the district that the Tisbos
used tableware of real gold and sill
yer, but the apartments invaded by
the officers could not easily be con.
fused with the salons of Fifth ave-
nue..