£100,000 IN WOMEN'S POCKETS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 6

£100,000 IN WOMEN'S POCKETS.

Charged with being connected with a great international bank swindle, involving!' upwards of 1 .£2011,000, Mr. Antonio Musica. a New York hair merchant, was arrested at New Orleans on 31 arch 19 with his lour sons and two daughters on (ho evo of their sailing for Honduras. All were lodged in the New Orleans gaol to await extradition to New York.

In the pockets of the men aiyl tho hats ami stockings of the daughters wero found upwards of ,£IOO,OOO in cash and negotiable paper. Tho city officials stated to-night that since his arrest 31r. 3hisica, who was travel ling as "Mr. Martinez," has confessed to swindling twenty-fivo banks in the United Slates, in London, and in German citics.

The arrest: was marked by a dramatic incident. All'tho prisoners were' asleep in their berths and the steamer was about to sail, when detectives entered and placed thorn under arrest. W.hilo tho men were struggling tho two daughters made a futile attempt to throw .£50,000 in currency, concealed in their stockings and picturo hats, into tho 3lississipi H.ivcr. ■ Several creditors oS tho 31tisiea concern to-day filed a petition of bankruptcy, and several of the victimised banks declare it their belief that tho .Musicas were operating with an international gang who acted in collusion to defraud foreign exchange houses in Now York, London, Paris, and I'ome by means of fraudulent bills of lading and worthless drafts.

As the father and children were being led to gaol the father seized a revolver from the pocket of his sou Phillip and attempted suioide, but was prevented after a struggle with the detectives.