The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-05
"BLACK HAND" SCATTERS SHOT
BLOWS HOLES IN WINDOW FOR
THREATENED BARBER.
-Four Letters Demanding Money Were IL.
nored-Police Think the Bomb" Was
Sawed on ShOtsun-Two Efforts
10 Catch the Blackmallers Failed.

HhNtu VII sHOlbuH-lM W. i-iplts
TO Catch the Dlackmallers Failed.
Black Hand blackmailers exploded
SOME thing in front OF Sam Fassett's
barber shop. at lli3 First avenue. shortly
after o'clock last night The window OF
the shop is perforated with many little
holes and many small pieces of shot rolled
harmlessly to the floor inside The window
remains intact except for the holes.
As far as the police can learn only one
person was injured "a a result OF the ex-
plosion. He ia an Irish truck driver who
was being shaved by Fassett The latter.
already nervous ms a result Of threats, was
lathering the truck drivers face when the
explosion-or whatever it may have been
took place The shavee got an eye full Of
lather and for time he threatened 10
wreck the shop.
Fassett has received altogether four let
tiers demanding money He didn't give
up, but appealed to the police. His barber
shop is located on the ground floor Of
six story double decked tenement in the
heart Of that section known as @Littlest
Italy Joseph Skudera has shoe store
on the same floor
Mrs. Annie Kareicek and Lizzie Mayer
were standing in the doorway between
the two stores last night when they noticed
two men who walked past many times.
Each time they peered into the barber shop.
Finally a coal truck halted in front of the
place.
Then one Of the two men drew n revolver
and fred several shots in the air. Imme-
diately the explosion followed, the two men
do. -.
Policeman Bellingcr OF the East Sixty
seventh street station was on post two
blocks away and ran up. When he arrived,
the tenants we're rushing down the stairs
and folks were hurrying TO the scene from
all directions. Belinger telephonod 10 his
station house and the reserve platoon, to-
gether with all the precinct detectives. hur-
ried to the tenement.
The police were unable to find any trace
OF an explosion on the sidewalks, where the
snow lay undistrrbed. There was no evil
dence Of a bomb having been thrown against
the window or against the side VI the build
ing. The theory Of the police is that the
loud report clme from a riot gun, such as
express messengers use, which was well
filled with buckshot.
Fassett received his first BLACK Hand"
letter on Dec 8. 1t was posted at Station
II, Fofty-fourth street and Lexington
avenue, and read:
DEAE FmENp: Meet us Mt the end Of Third
avenue route. l29th street bridge az O'Clock
in the morning. Bring 5000 with you in a bas-
ket Failure TO come means injury TO you.
la MANo NIRA.
Fsssstt didn't 60 to the end of the Third
ayanlie route and "a n result received this
letter on Dec. 10:
DEAR FREED: We notified you TO come
and bring $780, and you die not show. but We
give you one more chance. II you do not
show W. We will Kill you. We Will kill you.
and we do not care for the police. so il will
do you no good TO tell them Meet VIZ at the
same place. La MASo NERA'
The barber disregarded the warning
about telling the police and went to the
East Sixty-soventh street station. He was
turned over to Detectives Bonser and
AicGuire. They fixed him up with basket
and phony roll OF. bills and placed him
at the entrance to the Harlem Bridge at
10th street
Tie two sleuths stood near by to await
developments. After standing for an hour
and half in the cold, the detectives and
the barber left, as no blackhanders had
put in an appearance.
The third letter. which reached Fassett
on Dec 20, read.
You CowAHpIY - We want you to come
this time and we VIII surely show up whether
You bring police or not.
Fassett weakened when the Sleu,hs pro-
posed that he go again to tho bridge at
: o'clock in tie morning. The detectives
fixed up n COZ to resemble the barber.
With basket under his arm the cop stood
on the ridge from o'clock until nearly
hut alked when Ills face grew
blue and mono 81 tho Black and arrived.
On tuesday Fassett received hi, fourth
letter. hs contained more threats and
the information that the lim.t had been
'pised TO 1900 lie was TO be- o hand NJ
'ock in the morning without fa.L He
iidn, 20. Neither did he take the police
into his confidence concerning the letter.
asset was a adly frightened barbor
last night He talks OF turing to Italy