Camden Courier-Post, August 29, 1936View transcription
Admitting he faked a kidnaping and robbery story yesterday to fleece 12 of his fellow workers of their weekly earnings, a South Philadelphia youth last night was held without bail after he directed police to recover the money.
The youth is Anthony Carrozza, 20, of 1021 Wolf street, Philadelphia, an employe of the RCA Manufacturing Company.
After cashing the checks of 12 fellow workers totaling $369.64, police said, Carrozza gave the money to an unidentified friend to take to Philadelphia and after two hours returned to the plant and related a robbery story.
Carrozza was chosen by workers in the cabinet factory to cash a number of their pay checks every Friday at the West Jersey Trust Company, Third and Market streets. He was employed on a night shift, and would arrive at the factory shortly after noon on pay day, collect the checks and return the cash.
Tells of Kidnaping
About 2 p. m. yesterday Carrozza left the plant with the checks. At 4:30 p. m. he returned and told the
(Continued on Page 16—Column 6)
Pay Holdup Faked, Youth Tells Cops
(Continued from Page One)
12 men he had been held up as he left the bank, abducted and tossed from a car in Moorestown after he had been robbed of their money. Carrozza told the workers he had reported the robbery to Moorestown police and they informed him he would have to make a report to Camden police, where the kidnaping occurred.
Accompanied by his fellow workers he was led to Detective Bureau where he told his story to Detectives Thomas Murphy and August Fortune.
Carrozza first said he was about to cross Third street to return to the plant after leaving the bank when he was accosted by two Negroes, revolvers in hand, who ordered him to enter a nearby parked car with a third man at the wheel and the motor running.
The car was driven to Moorestown, Carrozza told Murphy and Fortune, where he was robbed of the money and tossed from the car. Carrozza told police he then went to the Moorestown police headquarters and reported the theft.
Carrozza said he had some change in his watch-pocket and boarded a bus and returned to his place of employment.
After hearing Carrozza's story, Murphy noted several discrepancies and ordered Carrozza held for further questioning.
Youth Confesses
Less than an hour later Murphy and Fortune announced Carrozza had admitted telling a false story to obtain the money. Carrozza, the detectives said, gave the money to a friend after he left the bank and instructed him to take it to Philadelphia, where he would meet him later after he finished work.
Murphy and Fortune then took Carrozza to Philadelphia and directed them to Warnock and Porter streets, where he pointed to a youth standing on the corner. Brought to the police car, the youth, whose name was withheld by police, readily gave the money to Carrozza. The entire amount was recovered.
Murphy said the 12 men whose checks were cashed by Carrozza will be summoned to the detective bureau today and their money returned. Murphy declared that in the event none of the 12 wished to prefer charges against Carrozza he would be released at that time.
The intended victims of the hoax are William Matteo, of 628 South Fourth street, and Vito Ladik, of 404 Clinton street, both of Camden, and Abraham Mozeff, of 3524 South Mildred street; Eugene DeRenzi, of 1144 Tree street; James Visconi, of 2017 Mercy street; Ralph Vulli, of 2128 Morris street; John Schipani, of 1728 Ellsworth street; Joseph Maroni, of 2225 South Chadwick street; Vincent Giannone, of 1634 South Eleventh street; Roger DiBenedetto, of 2100 West Stella street; Anthony Petroneck, of 26 Queen street, and Dominick Campagnola, of 1718 Morris street, all of Philadelphia.
Admitting he faked a kidnaping and robbery story yesterday to fleece 12 of his fellow workers of their weekly earnings, a South Philadelphia youth last night was held without bail after he directed police to recover the money.
The youth is Anthony Carrozza, 20, of 1021 Wolf street, Philadelphia, an employe of the RCA Manufacturing Company.
After cashing the checks of 12 fellow workers totaling $369.64, police said, Carrozza gave the money to an unidentified friend to take to Philadelphia and after two hours returned to the plant and related a robbery story.
Carrozza was chosen by workers in the cabinet factory to cash a number of their pay checks every Friday at the West Jersey Trust Company, Third and Market streets. He was employed on a night shift, and would arrive at the factory shortly after noon on pay day, collect the checks and return the cash.
Tells of Kidnaping
About 2 p. m. yesterday Carrozza left the plant with the checks. At 4:30 p. m. he returned and told the 12 men he had been held up as he left the bank, abducted and tossed from a car in Moorestown after he had been robbed of their money. Carrozza told the workers he had reported the robbery to Moorestown police and they informed him he would have to make a report to Camden police, where the kidnaping occurred.
Accompanied by his fellow workers he was led to Detective Bureau where he told his story to Detectives Thomas Murphy and August Fortune.
Carrozza first said he was about to cross Third street to return to the plant after leaving the bank when he was accosted by two Negroes, revolvers in hand, who ordered him to enter a nearby parked car with a third man at the wheel and the motor running.
The car was driven to Moorestown, Carrozza told Murphy and Fortune, where he was robbed of the money and tossed from the car. Carrozza told police he then went to the Moorestown police headquarters and reported the theft.
Carrozza said he had some change in his watch-pocket and boarded a bus and returned to his place of employment.
After hearing Carrozza's story, Murphy noted several discrepancies and ordered Carrozza held for further questioning.
Youth Confesses
Less than an hour later Murphy and Fortune announced Carrozza had admitted telling a false story to obtain the money. Carrozza, the detectives said, gave the money to a friend after he left the bank and instructed him to take it to Philadelphia, where he would meet him later after he finished work.
Murphy and Fortune then took Carrozza to Philadelphia and directed them to Warnock and Porter streets, where he pointed to a youth standing on the corner. Brought to the police car, the youth, whose name was withheld by police, readily gave the money to Carrozza. The entire amount was recovered.
Murphy said the 12 men whose checks were cashed by Carrozza will be summoned to the detective bureau today and their money returned. Murphy declared that in the event none of the 12 wished to prefer charges against Carrozza he would be released at that time.
The intended victims of the hoax are William Matteo, of 628 South Fourth street, and Vito Ladik, of 404 Clinton street, both of Camden, and Abraham Mozeff, of 3524 South Mildred street; Eugene DeRenzi, of 1144 Tree street; James Visconi, of 2017 Mercy street; Ralph Vulli, of 2128 Morris street; John Schipani, of 1728 Ellsworth street; Joseph Maroni, of 2225 South Chadwick street; Vincent Giannone, of 1634 South Eleventh street; Roger DiBenedetto, of 2100 West Stella street; Anthony Petroneck, of 26 Queen street, and Dominick Campagnola, of 1718 Morris street, all of Philadelphia.
