The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-11-08
BLACK HAND METHODS
Rigid Inquiry Suggested to the
immigration Authorities.

BrOughtOn RrauGenburg Advises
That Sergeant PetrosinO of New
York BE Commissioned to Search
Entire Country East of Chicago For
Suspects of Criminal AntecedeV iS,
With IA View 10 Their Deportation.
A rigid inquiry into the operations Of
the Black Hand band with view 10
deportation has been suggested 10 the
commissioner of immigration, Frank
2. Sargent. by Broughtou Brandon
burg of New York city, says the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Post He has written To the COM
missioner suggesting a canvass OF the
entire territory east of Chicago with Il
view to deporting all suspects of that
stripe who are found 10 have criminal
autecedents.
Mr.. Branuenburg's own investigation
Of the imm grafton problem gives Lis
views unusual weight in the minds OF
the federal officials. and his suggestion
is receiving attention He urges that
Detective Sergeant PeuoSino OF New
York be commissioned by the depart
ment OF commerce and labor to under
take this search. as he credits the ltal-
ian detective with qualifications better
than are possessed by any other man III
the United States for experimenting the
lawleSs SicilianS. He is the only man
who knows them by sight as well as
being acquainted with their criminal
records" declares Mr.. Brandenburg.
HE could trail them wherever they
might hide and detect them even
though they attempted to conceal their
identity. If he had once known them
they could not escape him.
Commissioner Sargent has not yet
had time to consider the suggestion
finally, but he regards it with favor.
The main trouble in making such de-
portations. he realizes, will be in trac-
ing those who have gained admittance
to the United States under assumed
names Until the department assures
itself on this point in each case it can
not place the responsibility as to which
steamship company must bear the ex-
pense of deportation. In this eXigency
the personal knowledge which Detec-
tive Petrosino possesses might bridge
the difficulty
The commissioner is considering the
subject in the light of similar case
which engaged his attention only
few days ago. 1t was that of a woman
suspect living in Cleveland. The inves-
tigation disclosed her criminal record
and established beyond Il doubt. from
anarchistic literature and int1amma-
tory correspondence in her possession.
that her activities We're of a lawless
sort and that she should be dep0rted.
This action has already been taken.
Representations to the department
allege that there are 5000 Black
Hand members in the United States
and that an extension Of their depre
dations is imminent The basis for this
prediction is that the increase in the
number of foreign lawbreakerS has de
creased so greatly the opportunities for
proving upon their own cOuntrymen
among the immigrants that they are
making their threats indiScriminately
1t is pointed out that the Malta. Of
which the Black Hand is Il sort of
Sicilan offShoot. was originally deVOt-
ed to the vendetta. but spread out into
lawlesSneSs without tinge of SO called
honor" TO be avenged. The newer
band has gone even further III its dis
regard of methods.
Commissioner Sargent believes that
these developments emphasize the ne
cesSity. upon which he commented in
his last annual report for II stricter
surveillance over immigration. He sees
increasing need for more thorough pro
lection against foreign anarchists seek
ing asylum in the United States, and
favOrs reaching an understanding with
foreign governments to require a vised
passport from every immigrant. De
sirable newcomers would have no diff
ficulty in procuring snch official recon-
ilendation in their home country
Were a passport TO be issued willfully
abroad to get criminal out of the
country he would have to run such
great risk of identification and depOrta-
ton here that he would probably turn
in another direction. At present New
York is the easy refuge appealing most
strongly to the least desirable immi-
grants.