BANKER AND ASSASSINS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 132, 26 May 1908, Page 4

BANKER AND ASSASSINS

S Eli IKS Gl' GITIiAGKS. An organised band of blackmailers and assas.-ins, whom the polite seem unable to suppress, succeeded in closing two banks in .New Vork and precipitating 'in unprecedented panic in the Italian ipiarter.

In the early winter Signor I'lisquab I'ati. a millionaire banker, became the ob|cct of the attacks of the "Jllack Hand.*' lie received a large number of letters warning- him that unless he paid a large sum of money, under npccilied conditions. lii s bank would be blown up. Signor I'ati passed the letters to tile police. It was UU cu>tom to heap piles of Italian ami American coins and note.in tin l window. Three mouths ago a charge of dynamite was placed in front of the banking a!>l i^hiucnt, and bullion valued at ClO.Oim was scattered in the -trcel. Xe.\l day Signor J'ali received a letter warning liim tliat the C\|ilo-ioll WiK only i lie iir>i illustration of Ihe |h.iwer of the liaiid. Three week?? later rough! \ drc.TT ed men "utered the bank and common'--ed firing revolver* at the banker, his , wife, aud son. who were at work behind j the counter. The banker returned the | lire, and olio assailant fell with aevun-j bullets in his body.

il'iiti \va>, acquitted ot' a charge ol murder. Late one ljijjlit three men tnrml their wiiy into tin? bank. and informed itic banker that their organzalinn had decided to kill him. his \vifi\ -iint in Hie mo>(. horrible maimer cuuceivabie. Ai the *ame hour ilu i wat'-lmiaii ili-r.nri'.'U iha<; the cellar wa.s lilh'il wilh keru-eue, (nx 1 barrel of which burning. The llamc> were cxlin

Nt'\l letters threatening liini with death. I he banker posted a notiee outride the building saving lliat he was obliged In abrM'iit hiinsrli tn proleet his life, and announein;.' that the bank, though perfectly M'lvrut, would be closed until iiiimv orderly condition* prevailed. Tln- notice precipitated a riot. Frenzied dejio-iioiv a run on a neighbouring bank owned by a relation of Tali, and Ihe bainc was also elusud.