The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-01-25
BLACK HAND GANG
ABOUT RUN Down
IN PENNSYLVAN

| Washington, Pa, Jan. s5-with
the alleged leader under arrest, the
two secretaries cornered and sure Of
capture, and prospects of getting
lothers in few hours, the Washing-l
ton county authorities believe they
Twill be able to break up the anarcb-
istic BLACK Hand" society, whose
existence was discovered Tuesday
land whose object was found To he
1.-THE assassination Of prominent par-,
sons, including the governors Of
Pennsylvania and Ohio.
One Of the startling disclosures
made by the police was the discovery
that Judge j. +. Taylor, ofsWasli-
ington county, had been marked last
fall during his campaign for re-eIec-
tion as victim, but that his life
was spared by the knowledge that
his death would balk more important
conspiracy to kill the governor.
Two more murders we're laid to
the charge Of the society, that of
stephens Corusco and John Lie.
Michael Corusco, a wealthy Italian,
received a demand for $4,000, the
penalty for refusal being the DEATH
Of his son, Stephen, aged 10. Cor
usco refused to comply and his son
was shot to death. Lies body was
found mangled beside a railroad
track but a further investigation re-
ycalcd that he had been shot twice
before being placed on the track.
The publicity given the existence
Of The conspiracy has driven many
Italians who are badly wanted, To
cover. and it is feared many Of them
have left the county. Officers from
other sections who have been asked
to cooperate are pouring into the
village Of Baird. Levi Constantine
and Petro Iareachi, the two secrc-
Itaries Of the order are cornered near
l'inleyvillc and will be arrested.
The authorities say the county ~
completely honeycombcd by the plot.
Additional discriminating letters
found in the house Of John Spida,
the president, under arrest, were
from Bridgeport. Connecticut, and
signed by Leopold Spida, a brother,
whose address was given as 447
EIasting avenue. These letters gave
further proof of a wholesale plot and
Ione Of them concluded: "You do
your duty and We will care for the
Iothers.'
While Washington county officers
were hunting for.allcged leaders Of
the anarchist gang. a meteing Of
members of the society was held
Tuesday afternoon at Courtney.
about two miles north Of Mononga-
hcla. Knowing that nothing was
suspected 1t that place leaders of
the Reds" who are charged with
various murderous conspracics,
gathered in the saloon Of John Eek
ert, German, and with impassioned
speeches urged the members of the
society to resist arrest and conceal
Ithcir fellow members wherever pos
sible. The meeting, evidently Il
prearrangcd one, was held about 3
O'Clock in the afternoon. There
were more than fifty in the saloon.
l1ckcrt was then quietly informed
that he would have TO close his place
and not permit anyone to leave or
enter until notified.
The doors were shut and barred
land Eckert held a prisoner. Vim
ceazio Valdi and Petro Giuseppe,
Headers Of the band, are said to have
made fiery addresses in which they
urged their countrymen to carry out
their prearranged plot Of assassina-
Ition and not to be intimidated. They
!adyised the Italians, it is reported,
to use every means possible to over
Throw the government. "Use blood
shed il necessary" said Valdi and
Giuseppe reiterated his advice.
The meeting lasted until about :
O'Clock The Italians then quietly dis
persing. The officers did not learn
Of the meeting until it was too late
to apprebend any of the leaders.