The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-09
"CASHORDEATH" THEIR MOTTO
EIGHT OF A JERSEY CITY BLACK
HAND BAND LOCKED UP.
Vain Effort OF Police to Corral Them at
Meeting-Italian Cop Gets Evidence
Against Then--ItaliRn Butcher Tells
How They Scared Him Out OF 81.


Eight Italians who are accused Of soaring
money out Of ignorant fellow oountrymen
! by threats Of death, were arrested yester-
day by the Jersey City police. They were
/ locked up In the city prison without bail
on charges Of conspiracy.
| Chief Murphy got tip last Monday that
! the Black Hand had been doing lively
business baokmailing residents OF the
Italian districts. He assigned Policeman
! Caprio. an Italian, TO the case and he turned
in the names of several Italians who had
given up money after receiving letters
telling them that it would be cash or death, !"
Caprio also reported that the Black
Hand met every Sunday morning at II
o'clock in their headquarters on the third
floor Of tenement at so Essex street. The
cop disguised himself in a cap and red
sweater and went around among the
Italians looking for evidence.
He learned that Joseph Mangosa a
butcher at $50 Newark avenue, had been
ordered to report at the house OF Forunio
Paulo at 25sRailroad avenue on the night Of
Friday Dec. 30. Mangosa said that when he
was admitted to a room he was greeted by
ten Italians who told him they formed a
branch OF the Black Hand. One of the
leaders told him, he says. that the society
wanted him to hand out $40 in hurry.
And If you don't, Mangosa said they
told him, you will be killed
Mangosa had only IS and volunteered TO
contribute that to the cause, il the Black
Handlers would spare his life. There was
a conference and 1t was decided to accept
the V and give the butcher an opportunity
to pay the balance on the installment plan.
The Italians threatened to kill Mangosa,
anyhow, II he went near the police, and the
butcher left the place. badly scared. On
Saturday night he procured warrants for
several Does and Roes who, he said con-
stituted the active membership OF the Black
Hand
squad Of detectives went TO the head
quarters Of the gang in the Essex street
bOuse yesterday morning and waited Tor
che Italians 10 appear for their regular
Meeting. They waited until noon. Nobody
showed up and they left
The Black Hands headquarters COLI
sists OF two ill-snelling and very dirty rooms.
4 half dozen beds and seven trunks and
satchels were found in the rooms, which
evidently had been used as sleeping quar-
tiers by a number Of men.
The police believe the Italians learned
that plans had been made to arrest them at
their Sunday morning meeting. and post
poned It, without fixing date.
Caprio located several members OF the
gang at their homes and the cops went after
them. Fortunio Paulo. driver. Was found
II
had a loaded revolver in his trousers leg.
He was looked up,
Inspector Samuel Archibald took a squad
OF men TO the Italians headquarters at
o'clock in the afternoon and found nobody
hanging around. Then the police went to
the home Of Angelo de Marco. a shoemaker.
Of 81 Morris street. who Caprio says is the
captain Of the Black Hand, and found him
entertaining company Caprio knocked
and was admitted. He placed his hand on
his revolver. announced that the jig was up
and invited all hands TO take walk"
The captain and his guests" offered no
resistance The Italians were taken to
Police Headquarters where they were booked
as follows; John Freasto, 40 years old.
and his twenty-two-year old son, Antonio
Freasto. OF 2305 Pacific street Brooklyn;
Joseph Burtonia, IS years old, Of iOs Four
teenih street, Hoboken Antonio Pratico,
40 years old. Joseph Merio and Antonio
Baraso, 10 years old and Angelo De Marco.
az years old. all of "a Morris street.
The prisoners refused TO talk.