The San Francisco call., 1905-04-14
MAFIA' SSHADOW
At The BURIAL
Only His Brother and Three
Friends Dare Stand Be-
side Casket Of Vilardo
TO REPEAT HER STORY
Mrs. Rosa Torturici Will BE
Principal Witness Before
the Coroner's Jury To-Day

only four Italians attended the fu-
neral OF Biaggio ViIardo yesterday, his
brother and three others. Though hun
dreds who had known Vilardo were
congregated near Castagnetto's under
taking parlors. where the simple fu-
neral rites were held, only the four
dared enter and acknowledge that he
had been their friend.
Biaggfo Vilardo collected money to
defray the funeral expenses of Joseph
Brogardo, victim of the Malta. His
fidelity cost him his life. Fear OF the
assassin's knife kept all but four from
expressing sorrow over Biaggio Vilar-
dos fate.
TheOthree men who stood beside the
brother are Beneditto Fretitta, Giovan-
nj Tassia and Francisco Tarano. Rev.
Father Redihan read the Catholic
ritual and the four VINO def1ed the
vengeance Of the Black Hand Joined
him in simple prayer for the dead
mans SOUL
Outside the crowd jostled and muir
INJURED. No doubt there were in the
throng members Of the gang that had
plotted the hideous butchery. They
We're there to bring back to the power
| behind the Black Hand word Of who
mad incurred the displeasure OF the
Maf1a. knowledge of the presence of
these agents of death kept back the
crowd.
There were among those hundreds of
people Sicilians from the same town
as Vilardo, but they only stood and
watched. Suddenly above the subdued
murmuring of the crowd was heard the
sound or a woman's sobs. A form in
black passed the door of the under
taking establishment. AS she did so
the woman held one hand to her eyes.
She turned and was lost in the crowd.
Hers were the only tears shed for
Biaggio Vilardo.
BROTHER SHOWS PALLOR.
The brothers face was pale and sor-
rowful. 1t Is whispered throughout the
Latin quarter that he Is moved by a
sterner emotion than grief. He wants
revenge. 1t is declared that accord
Ing TO custom he has sworn ven
delta against the men who butchered
| his brother. Some day he will find
them and then may be-unless they
Kill him first, it will be blood for blood.
Maybe he will follow on their trail
patiently until the time comes. Like
the Corsican, the Sicilian can wait un-
/ til the time is ripe.
| The detectives have been securing the
town for trace of Pietro Torturici.
! The belief is that he is hidden some
where in or near this city. An extensive
search of the vegetable gardens
brought no results.
Governor Pardee offered yesterday a
reward of $3.50 for the apprehension of
the murderers, to which Chief of Police
Dinan added similar amount. It is
believed that there are some in the
Latin quarter who could tell where the
! fugitive Is hidden If they dared. The
police have some hope that the reward
Will cause some OF these to divulge
what they know.
The Coroner's inquest into the cause
Of Vilardo's death will begin this morn
| ing at o'clock. Mrs. Rosa Torturici,
| wife Of the accused murderer will be
| the principal witness. She is still at the
| City Prison. Judge Spinetti, her attor-
ney, declares that he will not attempt
to have her released on writ Of ha-
| beas corpus until some time after the
| inquest.
SAN JOSE OFFICERS ALERT.
1t is believed by the police of San
! Jose that Torturici, the San Francisco
murderer, and Pietro Caputo, who en-
| gagged in cutting scrape in that city
April 4, 1904, are the same man. AT that
| time Torturici was employed on the
construction of the Saratoga-Los Gatos
road. There were some half-dozen wit
! nesses, all SicilfanS, who Swore the cut
| ting was done in self-defense.
| Policeman de Carli who was inter-
prefer in the case, believes that Caputo
was none other than Torturici.
Chief Carroll and his officers are
searching the Sicilian and Italian quar-
! ters in the city to find the witnesses in
the cutting affray to see If they know
anything of Torturici.