The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-06-17
MARKED VICTIM
MUCH EXCITED
Refused to Talk with
Reporters, But No
tilted the
Police.
LETTER DEMANDED THAT $1,000
BE PLACED IN YARD NEAR OLD
SPANISH HosPITAL-LocAL OF.
FIcERS HARD AT WORK TO
FERRET OUT THE MYSTERY.

That a Mafia or Black Hand society
has been formed in Pensacola seems
to have been conclusively proven.
Nick Guardina, an Italian, and prob
ably the most wealthy one Of that
nationality in the city, received a let
ter last night, and if he does not car
ry out the instructions therein con-
tanned he is threat ened with assassina-
ton, according to statements in the
letter.
The letter was ssent through the To-
cal postofice and had Pensacola
date. so of course was written in this
city. Guardina when seen last night
seemed to be very much excited, and
was in conference with the police and
county officers for some time, but
when approached by Journal report
er, he refused to diVulge the contents
Of the letter which he had received.
Demanded $1,000.
1t was learned however, that the
letter was written in Italian and stat
ed that unless Guardina placed $1,000
in the yard near the old Spanish hos
pital on West Main street that he
would be assassinated, and further
more that if he divulged the contents
OF the letter TO the police or to the
county officers that he would be mnr-
dered The hour of death was piac-
ed at Sso'clock tonight if he failed to
comply. =
What caused the police to take more
than usual interest in the black-mail-
ing letter was that it bore the drawing
of a dirk, revolver and Black Hand.
1offnr Tc r. Mt
vided that members of the organiZa-
ton which terrorized New York, Chi
cago and other cities for years, are In
Pensacola. The drawing of the Black
Hand, the revolver and dirk are said
to have been done by an expert pen
man. At least this is the statement
made by parties who saw the letter
and who examined it closely.
The Black Hand.
Whether or not parties connected
with this society are in Pensacola and
have come here for the purpose OF
operating is yet to be learned. In
New York, where persons received let
tiers with the Black HAM drawn upon
them they knew that they would either
have to pay the money demanded or
else be doomed to die by ziletto or
revolver. Dozens of murders have oc-
Cured in different cities during the
past two years. and while 1t is hardly
probable that actual murder would be
committed in Pensacola, 1t is very
significant that letter of this charac-
ter should be received By a weakly
and unpopular Italian, bearing the
famous Black Hand.
While Guardina refused to talk with
reporters, it was stated by parties
who had been in consultation with
him that he spoke several times re-
garding a society, and told one or
those speaking with him and who was
endeavoring to allay his fears, that
the outside public did not know what
was being done, or those who were
behind the writing of the letter.
Guardina, it is understood has a sus-
picion of who wrote the letter, ami
the officers have been so informed.
Sheriff Van Pelt, Deputy Sanders, Con-
stable Bobe, Chief Schad, Special O1i-
Ger Ray, Deputy Frank and a number
OF other officers were at work last
night in an effort to ferret out the
matter.