The Barrel MysteryFlynn, William J. (William James)
General
The Barrel Mystery
Flynn, William J. (William James)
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
"With these few words I come to make you a note of my perfect
health, the same I hope to hear from you, you brothers also,
I desire to know how your father has been; therefore I
recommend to you that affair that I left in your charge. If
my Uncle Thomas comes from Ebgostien, do not forget the
affair that is the direction that you have given to Carmino,
do not let it go up in the air. As soon as possible that you
can, make it. Nothing else to tell you. Give my regards to
Paolo Marchese, regards to Giuseppe Morello and John Pecorain
and all the friends that ask for me, with the best of regards
to you, I say your dear friend 'Salvatore Matisi' accept the
regards from Carmelo Blandina. This is the direction--Salvatore
Maccari, P. O. Portage La Prairie Manitoba, Canada."
No comment is necessary concerning the letter. It speaks for itself as
another thread in the net I was weaving.
It did not take agents of the Secret Service long to "pick up"
Maccari. He was not aware of the fact that he was under surveillance
for some time prior to May 2, of 1902, when he was placed under arrest
at his home in No. 70-1/2 James Street, New York City. When his
apartments were searched agents of the service looked under Maccari's
bed and found letters written from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba,
Canada, and signed Salvatore Maccari. These letters were addressed to
Maccari's wife, and contained what is termed "rivetting" evidence.
Also, there were letters from his wife to Maccari and addressed to him
at Portage La Prairie.
When placed under arrest Maccari at first denied that he knew either
Lupo or Inzarillo, and proved to be a proverbial Italian at giving
information to the police. He would not admit that he had ever seen or
heard of either of the two men. He knew nothing about the counterfeit
money, and had never even seen any spurious bills either in this
country or in Italy. He made the sign of the cross and called on the
saints to prove the truth of his lying statements. He declared that he
could not read, neither could he write.
Later on he admitted that he was intimately acquainted with Lupo and
that Lupo's father and his father were great friends in Italy for
years and that both families were life-long friends. He also admitted
that he was well acquainted with Inzarillo. He also declared that the
letters were written by a friend and signed at his, Maccari's,
dictation. And more evidence was ferreted out.
The water mark in the billheads used by Lupo in his grocery business
was identical with that in the letter sent to Portage La Prairie, and
having on it the return address of Giuseppe Conti, No. 8 Prince
Street. The envelope upon which the return address was written was the
same make as the envelopes found in the café of Inzarillo when that
place was searched following Inzarillo's arrest in connection with the
barrel murder.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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