The Irish standard., 1906-03-31
SIX ARE VICTIMS
OF: BLACK HAND"
1rur11ArFp BODIES OF ITALIAN
LABoRERs FOUND IN MN
NEAPoLIS sHANTY.
sLooDiEsT CRIME EVER
ENACTED IN NORTHWEST

8lOOOlEST CRIME EVER
ENACTED IN NORTHWEST
Floor of House Runs with Human
aore-Men Are slashed to Pieces
with Knives and Left to Bleed to
Death.
Minneapolis. Minn., March 29.-Ths
bloodiest crime ever committed in the
northwest was enacted here some time
between midnight and daylight
Wednesday. Six Italian laborers were
slashed to death in a fight with six of
their countrymen at 21S Tenth avenue
south. The bodies were found Wednes-
day morning, horribly mutilated.
They were slashed In an indescribable
manner, beyond all recognition. The
tragedy occurred in a frame shanty
owned by H. Magnussen, country
produce peddler. He rented the shack
to nine Italians, who were gone most
of the day, but were together every
evening.
Crime Laid to "Black Hand"
It Is believed that the nine men con-
stituted Malta or "black hand" or
ganization. The nine returned with
three others Tuesday evening. The
evening was passed quietly. At mid
night fight started and evidently last
ed but a few minutes. Then six men
only were seen to leave. The police
thought 1t was only a little fight, for
but little noise was heard, and paid no
attention to It.
changed beats the new officer heard
that six men were seen running from
the building. He started an investiga-
ton and found the door of the house
closed. He broke in a door and there
discovered terrible sight. In the
center of the dark and dingy room lay
side by side -four dead bodies. Blood
lay In pools all about the room. so that
the officatshad to step into the masses
Of blood let to the bodies.
Victims Bled to Death.
The officer ran to the street for help
and returned for further examination.
He found three long black-handled
knives beside the bodies. the blades
bloody. The murderers had evidently
let tho injured bleed to death, for the
wounds were not deep, but rather in
long, systematic slashes.
Revenge for some wrong is believed
to have been tho motive. for the bodies
we're evidently systematically cut. The
slashes run lengthwise along the bod
les. The faces are mutilated. None
of the wounds was deep enough to be
fatal, but the loss of blood must have
been frightful. The faces were cut
and slashed into strips and slices.
Two More Dead In Cellar.
When the search was concluded in
an upper room Officer Peterson and
Magnussen, owner of the house. went
into the cellar Here another horrible
sight met their gaze. Two more bod
les. cut and slashed in similar man.
ner, were found lying in pools Of blood.
In tin box on the floor in the first
storeroom was. found check for
$373.GO, made out 10 Nicolo Demtri,
evidently leader OF the gang and a
priest In the Greek Catholic church.
The box also contained $500 in Italian
gold pieces and $4OO in American cur
rency. The room contained several
grips. One grip was marked NicolO
Demtri and contained the complete set
of vestments OF a Greek Catholic
priest, even to the costly mitre and
robes. In this grip were found pass
ports In Turkish, Greek and French.
Addressed to Demtri were also found
as follows: Lincoln, ILL.,. box 345;"
Chicago, ILL.,. 315 Austin avenue" ana
New Salem, s. D." An address of
"Kersten Rovko, New Salem, s. d."
was also found. Another grip with
similar vestments and garments was
found, labeled Carsco Demtri. Other
grips were marked Dalson Capons and
Sami Yesymi.
Robbery Not Motive.
The police believe that the victims
were lured to the spot and then told
that they must die. A fight was start
ed, and during the fight not only tho
three victims. but three of the assail-
ants were killed. Robbery was not the
motive. for the money was left un-
touched and the victims all had small
amounts on their persons. The MAN.
ncr Of the cutting as we'll as the cir
cumstances surrounding indicate
clear. deliberate. revengeful murder.
The nine men who rented the place
were mysterious in all their move
ments during the two months of resi-
dence in Minneapolis. They stayed up
all night Monday. but Tuesday there
we're no lights in the place. despite tho
fact of the presence of the three extra
men. They evidently stayed up all
night Monday to plan the bloody work
of Tuesday evening. The police are
at sea, with no clue of any kind TO
work on.
Kills Wife and Himself.