New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-26
4" MAFIA WILL DO DEATH"
LETTERS TO CLERGYMEN.
Protestant Mission Workers Warned
TO LeaDe Port Chester.

The Rev. John J. Cross. assistant rector Of
st Peters Episcopal Church. end the Rev.
Vincent CiglIano, who conducts the italian
mission connected with the First Presbyterian
Church OF Port Chester turned over to Police
Chief Donovan last night two letters. In which
a. was declared that II the ministers DO not
leave Port Chester IN fifteen days they viii be
murdered by the Malta
TIE letter received By the Rev. Mr.. Cross
reads as follows:
DR.. Rev Cross: let you know that IL you 60 not
70 away from Port chester. from tnis yil;age, you
and the other priest CHE keE Llncsnt Slsano we
DEAN DEATH
4 facsimile Of this letter was sent to the
Rev. Mr.. Cigiiano who lives IN BrooksVille
hamlet On the outskirts OF the village. The
letters are dated Port Chester. n. z, Janu-
ary 20. 1904 They were mailed ct the local
postof7ce 81 o'clock at night. and were re-
eeived by the clergymen the following morning.
Both letters were written In q bold, round
hand by the same person. At the top Of each
g & skull and crossboncs within a circle. Down
At the bottom Of the notes IS written '3XSX3,'
which means, the police say, that this is the
last notice that the writer viii send. On the
back OF the paper. In each case. there are pict-
ures OF two men, under which are written.
"'Rev. John J. Cross" and REV. Vincent
CIgliano." Over the pictures the word Death"
81 capital letters. IS printed.
Chief Donovan says there is y MaHa Society
IN Port Chester. and that it has committed crime
after crime.
"Au can say IS that every effort will be
made on the part OF the police to prevent the
sIaha from accomplishing its purpose" he said.
Il have advised the clergymen to stay right here
sn Port Chester aad aid the police in trying to
run down the criminals. They both told me that
they had TO intention of running away, and that
Il their lives had to be sacrificed it would be in
the discharge OF their duty"
The Rev. Mr. Cross is assistant TO the Rev.
Charles a Brugler rector OF st. Peters, in
Westchester-ave. The church is a 100000
structure. and is attended By q number OF
wealthy New Workers. who have summer homes
along the Sound. Dr.. Cross is hfty-fve years
Old BE was born in Italy. and when young
man went TO Spain to be educated. BE studied
for the priesthood, and, after being ordained.
renowned his religion and went to England.
There he attended Cambridge and later Joined
the Church OF England After receiving his or
ders he went TO Brazil. where he did missionary
work for twenty-four years. About q year ago
DIT. Cross came here. and Bishop Potter assigned
him TO missionary work in Port Chester.
The Rev. Mr.. Cigliano Is about thirty years
old, married. and lives in BrookevfIe. He cana
10 Port Chester about seven months ago ana
established a Presbyterian mission at No. 80
South Main-st. The Methodist, Baptist and
Congregational churches have assisted him in
his work.
Neither OF the clergynen can assign q reason
for the threats. unless it is because they have
been doing missionary work In the italian col
ony.
eyes. my life has been threatened" said Mr..
Cross. 81 have been notified to leave this beau
tiful village Of Port Chester. where the people
have been so generous to me and my mission is
doing such good work. They say they will Kill
me II / don't leave within fifteen days. don't
want 10 brag. but I'm afraid they viii have to
DO their worst. for I don't intend TO leave. They
can Kill me II they choose, but my life viii have
been sacrificed for a worthy cause.
Detective Aiello, who is an Italian, has been
trying for the last two years 10 break up the
Eo-called 8isla colony He says that the mem
bers Of the Bad Mems Society" II Is known
20 Port Chester, would not stop at anything.
Dozens of complaints have been received by the
police from prominent Italians, who have been
forced to turn over from SO to $50 at a time
20 alleged Malta agents. under threats of death
Among the poorer class Of Italians SIS is the
amount usually levied.