Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-15
BLACK HAND METHODS
STATUS OF A POWERFUL SECRET
ORGANIZATION.
How It Lays Tribute on the Wealthy
Of Its Acknowledgements
ton Of Threats.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

special Correspondence Of The Star.
SCRANTON, Pa, January H. 1906.
sinister manifestation of underground
crime has recently been attracting atten-
lion In this section of Pennsylvania, and
terror1zing the better class of Italian citi-
zens. Its operations have been conducted
In the name OF an organization called THE
Bleck Hand whose members are COM
posed of the most desperate elements of the
Italian race.
These banditti levy tribute on the more
prosperous of their compatriots, upon
whom they serve notice to pay, accom-
panied by dire threats. Within the last few
days several of these sanguinary notices
have been made public
That they are not idle menaces by any
means was shown in the case of a macaront
manufacturer named Fazio, living in the
heart or Scranton in the midst of a thickly
populated business district. FaZio received
a letter demanding payment of $500 TO the
Black Brotherhood.
Bold in Demands.
The holiness of the writer's was shown In
the manner in which they directed that the
payment should be made Fazio was in
structed to take the money in a package
to the Delaware and Hudson railway sta
ton. In the waiting room he would meet
a man who would accost him in Italian.
saying, 1T is pleasant evening" To this
man Fazfo was to hand the money and
make no comment, but walk away He was
given TO understand that betrayal of the
scheme meant certain death, as the agent
of the Black Hand would have half dozen
men within call, who would plunge their
stilettos into the heart of their betrayer.
Fazio was told that failure to give up the
money meant the destruction of himself
and his entire family. He disregarded the
given warning, and two nights after the
date set for the meeting the house in which
he lfved(had Its porch blown down and all
It's windows shattered with dynamite The
windows of the houses adjoining were also
blown out and the buildings for an entire
block were shaken as by an earthquake. 1t
is regarded as little less than a miracle that
the Fazio family escaped instant annihila-
ton.
Big Reward for Arrests.
Mayor Connell, by authority of the city
councils, has offered a reward Of 81 900 for
the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators
Of this outrage. 1t is stated that since
offering the reward the mayor has received
a threatening letter, but he refuses to dis
cuss the matter
Two Italian merchants in the western part
of the city have also been notified that
unless they pay tribute to the Black Hand
their lives will be forfeited.
The demand in one case is for $500 and in
the other for $1,000.
The better class of Italians are in state
of panic over these menacing missives and
the desperation of the society by which
they are sent out
Owing to the prevailing fear of the ban
ditti 1T is impossible for the authorities to
obtain information against its members
Composed of Desperate Characters.
The belief is prevalent that this evil So
ciety is composed of desperate characters,
who made brigandage a trade in the old,
country, and who resort to this method of
obtaining money from their frugal and
prosperous countrymen.
Thus far no demand for tribute has been
made upon any one but an italian, but 1t is
believed that unless the conspirators are
run down they will grow holder in time and
extend their operations to persons other
than their own race.
The Black Hand has been particularly &C
tive in the Wyoming and Lacka wanna val
1eys, where there has been a large influx of
Italian laborers who have found employ
ment in and about the mines during the last
few years.
The situation demands vigorous action on
the part of the authorities, and there is
need of some clever detective work to run
down the murderous outlaws.