The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1905-01-11
A BLACK HAND MURDER.
Contractors Wife Strangled In
Her Room at Hotel.
HUSBAND WAS AWAY FROM CITY

Time She Was not Seen AIlve-Had
Received a Letter Demanding 5000
on Penalty Of Death.
Buffalo, Jan. 10.-With a rope Sc
nrely tied around her neck, the knot
ted ends cutting deeply into the flesh,
Mrs. Josephine Desanti, wife of An
pnio Desanti, q contractor, was
found dead in her room on the third
floor of the Terrace Park hotel at
Church street and the upper Terrace,
shortly after noon yesterday.
The police say the woman was
victim of the BLACK Hand" society,
and as result the police drag net Is
now out for everyone whom the police
have suspected in the past of being
connected in any way with the organ
lzation
Mrs. Desanti had been threatened
by the Black Hand, demand being
made that she pay to the society 5000
on penalty of death should the money
not be forthcoming.
Last Thursday night, the police
learned, two men visited her and 1t Is
believed their visit was for the pur-
pose of collecting the money. 1t is
believed Mrs. Desant refused to COM
ply with their demands, and they then
tied her hands and feet and slipping
the moose of a clothes line about her
neck attempted to force her into Civ
ing up the money. She refused and
her death resulted.
Then the men searched the room.
They broke open trunk, but wheth-
er they secured any money the police
have been unable to learn.
Antonio Desanti, the husband, was
in Olean at the time the murder was
committed. He returned to Buffalo
Monday morning and failing to get in
to his wife's rooms, he called in the
police.
Chief Of Detectives Taylor accom-
panied him to the rooms and forced
open the door. The woman's body was
found on the floor of her sleeping
room. She was fully dressed, and
from the condition of her features II
was evident she had suffered terrible
agony before death relieved her suf
ferings.
Mrs. Desanti was "a years old. She
was married to Antonio Desanti about
five years ago and the couple have
since lived in various hotels and room
| ing houses in the italian district
Desanti was contractor AMI sait
to be worth considerable lone. He
was well known to the lldllana no
only in Buffalo but in several of the
cities in this end of the state anC
Pennsylvania.
About three months ago with his
wife he moved into the Terrace Parl
| hotel They were given a small suite
of rooms on the third floor facing the
Terrace. They were well liked by the
Italians and people who occupy adjoin
ing rooms say they had many visi
| tors.
They were thrifty and for severa
years had been carefully saving theil
money. With a substantial bank ac
count they had finally announced theil
intention of returning to Italy. They
had made all arrangements to leave
Buffalo on the Goth of this month.
About three weeks ago while the
Black Hand excitement was at 1T
height in the Italian district, the Des
antis were among those who received
demands for money.
They received letter in which Mrs
Desanti was instructed to give to twt
men 5000 by certain date. The let
ter said should she fail to pay tn,
money she would be put to death.
The Desantis did not become fright
ened over the letters. They laughed
at them and did not even notify tn,
police, as many other Italians hat
done ups the receipt of similar lei
ters
The police now believe the Tine 70
turning over the money expired las
week and the Black Hand agents bold
ly visited the woman and strangle,
her upon her failure to give them tn
money.
Desanti said that when he left 70
Olean, about week ago, his wife ha,
something more than $4,000 In he
trunk. 1t was this money, in who'll
or part, that she intended to use 70
tteNtrip to Italy. A search Of ever,
part of the Desantis' rooms reveale
only few dollars in change.
| E.t,k. af NIiuar Larri,ooan