Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
November 8, 1932
Imperial Valley Press
El Centro, Imperial County, California
What is this article about?
In New York's Italian tenement district, 10-year-old Paul Marciante was kidnapped; police face community non-cooperation due to customs, as father Vincent recently gained wealth from selling his grocery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
NEW YORK BOY KIDNAP VICTIM
NEW YORK, NOV. 8.—(U.P.)— A crowded Manhattan tenement district, populated largely by Italians, was tense with emotion today as police sought 10-year-old Paul Marciante and the men who kidnaped him from the side of his aunt yesterday.
Portly matrons stood on street corners, talking excitedly. In dingy little grocery stores and in the corridors of the tenements, men whispered. Police were everywhere, but received little cooperation.
Kidnapings in the Italian tenement district are not unusual. They are usually executed by countrymen of the victims who have heard of new wealth coming into the family or who are aware of affluent circumstances. Ancient customs transplanted from Italy, forbid co-operation with police lest the kidnappers kill their captive.
Police did learn, however, that the boy's father, Vincent Marciante, recently sold his grocery store and planned to visit his mother in Italy. They also learned that young Paul had $750 in his school's savings bank. Police said Marciante was now proprietor of a speakeasy. They expected the kidnappers to transmit ransom demands privately.
The father refused to answer police questions.
NEW YORK, NOV. 8.—(U.P.)— A crowded Manhattan tenement district, populated largely by Italians, was tense with emotion today as police sought 10-year-old Paul Marciante and the men who kidnaped him from the side of his aunt yesterday.
Portly matrons stood on street corners, talking excitedly. In dingy little grocery stores and in the corridors of the tenements, men whispered. Police were everywhere, but received little cooperation.
Kidnapings in the Italian tenement district are not unusual. They are usually executed by countrymen of the victims who have heard of new wealth coming into the family or who are aware of affluent circumstances. Ancient customs transplanted from Italy, forbid co-operation with police lest the kidnappers kill their captive.
Police did learn, however, that the boy's father, Vincent Marciante, recently sold his grocery store and planned to visit his mother in Italy. They also learned that young Paul had $750 in his school's savings bank. Police said Marciante was now proprietor of a speakeasy. They expected the kidnappers to transmit ransom demands privately.
The father refused to answer police questions.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Mystery
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Kidnapping
New York Tenement
Italian Community
Ransom Demand
Police Search
What entities or persons were involved?
Paul Marciante
Vincent Marciante
Where did it happen?
Manhattan Tenement District, New York
Story Details
Key Persons
Paul Marciante
Vincent Marciante
Location
Manhattan Tenement District, New York
Event Date
Nov. 8
Story Details
10-year-old Paul Marciante kidnapped from beside his aunt in a crowded Italian tenement district; police search amid tense community reluctance to cooperate due to customs fearing retaliation; father Vincent recently sold grocery store, planned Italy trip, now runs speakeasy, boy had $750 in savings; ransom expected privately.