The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-07

daring attack upon a house, previously
alluded to, was by one of the small
bands of bandits These fellows are
bold, cunning and courageous, and
most Of them received their training
in Italy. Indeed, have il from good
authority that there is regularly or
gained band in the Hazleton region
who in Italy were members Of the IA
nous Malo Vita, a society more extern
sive and powerful than the Malta
OF all the murders committed by the
foreign element" in this region dur
ing the last seven years but two have
been avenged by the execution of the
murderer.
Mike Valckvitch, an intelligent
Hungarian, was hanged in 1855. He
was jealous of one of his boarders, who
had been paying attention TO his wife,
aid one night Drained him with an AK
He was caught red-handed.
The other was Michael Rizzilo, .
well educated and bright young
Italian He was known as Red
Nosed Mike" In 1889 he was inter
prefer for a gang Of Italians building
railroad in the mountains few miles
from this city. He organized n party
of three, who waylaid Paymaster Nc
Clure and his assistant, Flanagan, of
Philadelphia, shot them dead and stole
twelve thousand dollars they were
taking to pay the men Capt Linden
and eight detectives were engaged on
the case. Red Nosed Mikes" ac-
completes escaped to Italy and Mike
himself. staying behind TO avert suS-
picion, was arrested three months
afterward, tried and hung. Through
the efforts of the government the men
in Italy We're captured, tried there,
and sent to prison for long terms
A few days ago John McCoolick, .
Hungarian, convicted in the second de-
gree, was sentenced to eighteen years
He shot and badly wounded another
Hungarian and his wife, and one of the
bullets flying wide of It's mark killed
baby. McCoolick then fortified his
house and for eight hours held the au-
thorities at bay; the house was riddIed
with bullets, and McCoolick. after be-
ing shot three times, fell senseleSs from
loss OF blood.
For all the murders committed IN
these coal regions by the Foreigners
none of the guilty ones except the
three thus named, and comparatively
few others who were sentenced TO light
terms, have been punished Highway
robberies, burglaries, criminal assaults,
felonious wounding, assault and bat
terry cases and the like have been so
numerous that statistics are uuobtain-
able, but the percentage of convictions
has been naturally far less than the
very small percentage in murder cases.
This very general statement-a de-
tailed one would be voluminous-of
the prevalence of crime in the coal re-
gions, makes it evident that there is
pressing need of instant reform in the
methods of dealing with the crime and
the criminals
The authorities must bestir them
selves; protection Is needed. and the
people are willing 10 pay for it. At
present each county has but one coun-
" detective. He receives twelve hum
dred dollars year, and is supposed TO
distribute himself all over the county.
In Luzerne there are two hundred
thousand people, and about one hun
dred thousand each in Schuyllfill and
Lehigh. Three detectives for four
hundred thousand people LecOq him
self would be unequal 20 the task.
More detectives are needed Ordinary
methods cannot cope with the situa-
ton. The counties are rich, and as
money will purchase the best of every
thing, the county commissioners Of
each are urged 10 spare none in an ef-
fort 20 stay the deluge OF crime which
is staining the coal fields with blood,
and giving them a reputation worse
than that of California in the days Of
&9. T. ). RIDsDAI-E-