New-York tribune., 1903-04-06
ITALIANS FEAR BANDITS.
San "The Society Of Bad Life
Threatens Death.
MURDER BY OUTLAWS ALLEGED.

The police of New-Rochelle Port Chester.
White Plains and other Westchester towns are
after a band of Italians who for months, it is
said. have been holding up their wealthy coun-
trynen and compelling them under threats of
death to pay ransoms.
The great obstacle to obtaining convictions
is the reluctance of the victims to TESTIFY
against the outlaws. They exonerate the pris-
oners in court, asserting that the accused men
came to then; merely to borrow money or TO
ask them &c contribute to some charitable
cause. Privately they say that they have been
held up by men armed with revovers and
knives and compelled to contribute money to
the band, which calls itself "The Society Of the
Bad Life" The outlaws tell their victims that
they do not fear the police. they are con-
Quoting their society under higher authority.
In come cases, it is said. the money is col
lected in instalments of so much week, and the
victim is compelled by threats Of death not
to divu1ge the secret. The men promise him
that after he has paid 500 he will be made
member of the society. and that it will guaran-
tee him protection If he wishes to prey on
others
Thomas Balletto. Italian, of New Rochelle
who has served deputy sheriff in West
chester County, relates a remarkable story of
how the outlaws tried to kidnap him and hold
him for ransom. Balletto lives in Mechanic
ST., in the centre of the city. He says that at
o'clock last Friday morning he aroused
by knock at his door, and that upon respond
ing to the call found runa about containing two
men in front of the house.
He let the into his bedroom, and here
he alleges, they sprang on him with knives and
revolvers and told him they we're going to
carry him of. The strangers tried to drag him
down the stairs. he says but in the struggle
Balletto fell to the floor. AS he lay there. he
tells the story. his visitors fourished big sti-
lettos in his face and told him If he did not go
with them he would never leave the room alive.
Balletto says he succeeded in breaking away
from his captors. grabbed his revolver and be-
gan shooting from a window. The shots We're
heard by a policeman who running up
just the strangers disappeared.
A general alarm was sent out by the police,
and later two Italians who were driving with
out light were arrested. They said they
Antonio Refelo and Louis Reth of Mount Yer
non. Balletto is positive that they are the men
who tried TO kidnap him. and Judge Phelps has
held them in $500 bail, and adjourned their
cases until next Monday.
Chief Timmons Of New-Rochelle says that he
knows of several of the kind, and
he is determined to break up the gang. The
prisoners deny that they were at Balletto's
house
Rocco Brigando another Italian whom the
police believe is a member of the society. is
locked up in the White Plains JAIL awaiting
the session of the grand jury. He sent
from Port Chester, where it is alleged, he
attempted to extort money from Joseph Coloso
Coloso says that his countryman demanded $50
OF him, saying that II he did not produce it he
would kill him. Cooso became frightened and
to the telephone of his employer, E. W.
Brown. of King-st., and called for the police
At the trial Brigando put up the same defence
that has been made by all of the prisoners sus-
pected Of being agents of the society. He said
that he was not trying to extort money, but
merely to borrow it. Brigando testified that the
man had collected money from him from time
to time under threats of death.
Prominent Italian residents of White Plains
and Tarrytown have received letters from the
society demanding from SJ TO S25, signed "Presi-
dent. The recipients are informed that if they do
comply with the demand in ten days they
will be in constant danger. The letters say that
the money is wanted to promote the interests of
a secret organization which is going to be a
great benefit to all the Italians of the United
States.
Chief Tmmons of New Rochelle, yesterday
received a letter from victim of the society
The says he does sign his name be-
he has wife and family and doesn't
wish them to be left without support He says
that the reports concerning the society have
not been exaggerated: that it is an organizati tion
composed of the most dangerous type of Sicil-
ians, some of whom are outlaws and murderers
who have been forced to fee from Italy. While
wishing to the band broken up the writer
says the police can expect little help from
Italians, because even the most prominent of
them believe If they divulge any of the secrets
of the band they will be waylaid and assas-
snated.
A few months ago a prominent Italian of
W-Rochelle was found in the street with his
head cut off. His countrymen do not hesitate
to attribute his death to agents of the society.