The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-12-01
FIRED ON CONSTABLE
Attempt to Drive Malta From Car
bondale, Pa. Ends In Bloodshed.
TWO KILLED AND ONE INJURED

Gang Attempted to Rescue Italian
Caught Levying Tribute On Fellow
countrymen and Shot Three Law
and Order Men.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 29.-As a result
II the efforts Of the better class Oh
Italians in and around Carbonate TO
rid their colonies Of the members OF
lawless gang who have been commit
ting many outrages, a street battle &C.
Cured at that place, which was az
tended with the loss Of two lives ana
the serious injury Of second man.
Sonto Carressi, one OF the gang, was
caught by a constable In the act OF
holding up and levying tribute on one
OF the Italians OF the colony. The con-
stable and three OF the law and order
men started TO take Carressi TO jail.
Word was quickly passed to the gang )
Headquarters In a nearby saloon, and
four of them rushed out and opened
fire on the constable and his posse.
The latter returned the fire. When the
attacking party had emptied their re-
yolyers they fed, leaving all three OF
the constables escort lying in the road
with bullets in their bodies. The con-
stable preset himself by holding his
prisoner in from - him.
Joseph Tolerico was shot through
che head and heart and died in few
minutes. Frank Ferressi died IN the
emergency hospital with bullet in
his breast near the heart and anoth"r
In the abdomen. The third victim re-
ceived a bullet in the arm, and after
recovering from the shock was able to
walk home.
No trace has been found of the fugi-
tive assailants.
Italians OF the better class are
organizing society to rid their
colonies Of the members OF the
lawless gang. which for the past year,
and particularly for the past month,
have been committing outrages that
would put the banditti OF their native
country to shame. The first practical
step 10 the end in view was taken on
Saturday, when a committee OF tEe
new organization furnished the Edgel-
ton Coal company officials with the
names OF four members Of the lawless
band. and asked that they be dis
charged and eyicted, which was done.
Two OF the four left the colony. The
other two secured quarters with par
ties who are suspected of being fellow
members OF the gang The reformers
will now try to have the company
agree to Danish from the colony any
one who gice shelter to any member OF
the gang.
The identity Of most OF the members
of the gang has been revealed by one
Of its number who was shot In the
thigh by the alleged leader last week,
I'm a dispute over tribute money which
was secured from some terrorized fell
low countrymen.
II Is believed that the gang IS ami
lated with the Malta or some other like
organization. as part of the tribute
money is sent to headquarters in New
York. according to the statements
made by members of the gang when
levylng tribute.
Among the outrages recently perpe-
trated was the knitting Of four men
who refused to pay the tribute. In
each instance the victim was called out
Of his house late at night and slashed
across the face. Arrests have been
made from time to time by the Car
bondale police, but in every case the
parties who privately gave the infor-
nation which led to the arrests could
not be induced to testify in public, so
fearful were they OF the vengeance OF
the gang.