The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-08-09
THE BLACK HAND
Is Ralded and Assassins and
BIackmaiIers Are Caught.
DOZENS ARE JAILED.

Ihe United States Steel COrDOratio,
Was Back of Plan to Romnd Then
Up-Twelvc Murders in Two Year,
Arc Attributed to tho Organization,
Which Is Composed of Il Lot ot
Dcspcradocs.
After waiting for months and
spending thousands or dollars and
spreading drag net that has caught
men IN four states, the United States
steel Corporation has rounded ur
what Is said to be the worst gang OF
Diackh hand aSsassinS i'm the country
Dozens or arrests have been found
and men are in Jail in New Castle
rem; youngstown, Ohio; Sharon
"a; Planfield, N. j., and Rochester
N. Y. ''''oi
A dozen murders in the Mahonine
ana Shenandoah Valleys in the last
couple OF years are attributable to the
gang. For headquarter the gang
picked Hillsville, a quarry town in
Lawrence county, Pa, few miles
west OF New Castle. Here are locat-
ed inc immense quarries Of the John
Stoh Limestone company. Hillsville.
locaiiy' is known as "Heiltown." The
Iuarries, fall Of caverns, afforded
nldlng places that could be searched
for week for suspects without re-
suits.
Detectives were started after the
gang. Some went to italy and came
pack as immigrants, going to Hills
vile, where they worked with the
Black Hand members.
The raid was made Saturday aftor-
noon, July 18th, by County Detective
Logan, Detective B. Marshal, Of New
Castle; Deputy Sheriff Frank Wad-
dington, Detective Mehard, several
New Castle policemen, and railroad
detectives. The time selected for the
raid was payday at the Johnson quar-
ricS.
As the men came up for their mon
ey stranger with a check list scam
ed them. When a man wanted an
peared the stanger would tell him
there was something wrong with his
envelope, and ask him to step into
back office. Before any alarm was
raised twelve men had been inveigled
into the room and hand-cuffed. Final
ly all the men We're paid off, and
nine suspects were still wanted. A
house In the town was then raided by
the police, and the missing nine men
caught
The men under arrest were charg-
ed with conspiracy to rob and being
suspicious persons. Men and women
of Hijlsyille, no longer afraid fell OF
what became known as "nashlights
firing" Every night, long flashes of
light suddenly would be seen all over
town. Finally it was explained that
the lights were made by pocket flash
lights used by Black Hand leaders to
scare timid Italians into giving up
money. The lights were ascribed to
supernatural causes.
NicolO Ciurlee, who was suspected
by the gang of being a detective, was
subjected TO abuses and torture such
as few white men endure and live He
told his story in a Justices court at
the hearing Of some of the suspects.
jim Rocs, grocer, who caused the
arrest of Salvador EXposito, says he
was compelled to mortage his home
for $500 to meet the demands Of the
Black Hand. lIXpoSito is said to be one
Of the few real Black Hand men.
John Jotti, arrested in Youngstown
by Chief Mcdowell and Detective
Kane, is said to have conducted "a
school in which Italians were taught
the use Of the stiletto. 1t is said that
he had a rubber figure of a man. and
on ii were marked the places in
which properly to insert the stilletto
and cause instant death.
Joe Bagnato, who is said to have
levied tribute money from Italians
for months and finally left Flillsdale
with 81 900 In gold, is badly want
ed
Joe Pochcsso was murdered in
front of Sam Sanlinc's saloon, East
Federal stree, Youngstown, Sustai-
no Martone, boy Of nineteen, is un-
der arrest for the crime. He de-
clares he shot PochcSSo in self defen-
Sc When asked if he belonged to
the Black Hand. he boastingly said
he did. The murder of Pochcsso, the
police say was caused by his efforts
to stop the Matchmaking Of arch
Italian women OF Youngstown. The
boy felt SO secure that he did moot go
fifteen miles away from Youngstown
In South Sharon the police say that
Sam Yallous and Sandy Pcrcno were
murdered by the Black Hand. South
Sharon WOrkmen at the Steel cOrpO-
ration furnaces are said to have con
tributed $4,000 to the black hand
agents. TWO men were arrested Sat
urday charged with attempting to
blackmail woman by threats OF vio-
lcncc.
Owners Of mills and other indus
trial establishments are still fearful
OF vengeance. One big cement con
Germ near Newcastle, which has ST.
900 900 invested in plant is said to
be guarding against fire. In other
mills extra precautions are being
taken to guard against incendiariSm.