davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04
61s Black Hand.
Fight on In Earnest Against This Murderous
Matchmaking System Imported From Italy.
How the Criminals Extort Money Pain Death
Squad Of Fifty Now Hunting Them Down In New Yo-Poice
missioner Bingham on the 1aSketch Of the Picturesque
Soldier Who Holds Roosevelfs Old Job.

terest to the nation. It is going to re-
suit in a detective story such as no
book covers ever contained unless
General Bingham greatly disappoints
his friends.
It is a rather curious thing that Gen
eral Bingham should be engaged in
this sort Of work. Two or three years
ago who would have thought it Of
him? There was no more indication
then that he would be police commits
sioner Of New York than there is indi-
cation now that Theodore Roosevelt
will be the next shah of Persia or the
ahkoend Of Swat. Bingham had not
lived in New York, and he knew only
one man connected with the city adj
ministration. That was Mayor George
B. Mcclellan, whom he had met at
Washington when the young man was
in congress.
when you get to be mayor Of New
York." Bingham once remarked jocu-
larry to Congressman Mcclellan, It'll
come over and help you run things"
Bingham at White House.
That was long before Mcclellan ran
for mayor. Bingham was then serving
as major domo, drum major, social Sec
rotary or something to that effect at
the White House. His official position
was superintendent Of government
buildings and grounds in Washington.
He was appointed thereto as an officer
In the regular army, being colonel in
the engineer corps. Incidentally he
was military aid to the president and
managed all the social functions at
the White House. He served through
President McKinley's term without
friction, but not long after Mr. Roose-
welt became president there were both
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04
Doing Business Again.

"When my friends thought I was
about to take leave of this world, on
account of Indigestion, nervousness
and general debility" writes A. A.
Chisholm, Treadwell, N. Y, "and
when it looked as if there was no hope
left, I was persuaded to try Electric
Bitters, and I rejoice to say that they
are curing me. I am now doing bust
ness again as of old, and am still
gaining daily" Best tonic medicine
on earth. Guaranteed by c. A. Jack,
druggist. so cents.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04
By ROBERTUS LOVE.

BY ROBERTUS LOVE-
~ HE police commissioner of New
York city has started a move
ment to set his foot down upon
49, the 'Black Hand" One of his
feet Is artificial, but the other is the
real article. He proposes to step down
hard and crush the ugly digits Of this
cruel, murderous, Matchmaking con-
spiracy which has been imported to the
United States by ex-convicts and I'M
convicted criminals from the ''heel and
toe' Of Italy.
This police commissioner is General
Theodore A. Bingham. It is said that
when he gets ready to express an en-
phatic opinion or utter a firm resolve
his jaws click loud enough to awaken
the Office cat. The click means that
the generals mind is cooked and ready
to shoot.
AS his title implies, General Bingham
is a soldier. Though no longer in the
United States army, he is commander
of corps Of 5000 men, the police
force Of the greatest city on the CONT
nent. He cannot mobilize this force in
its entirety and go out after the Black
Hand to crush it, because the Black
Hand never fights openly. He must
approach the enemy by underground"
methods. AS he was an able engineer
in the army, it would appear that he is
we'll qualified for underground boring.
The commissioner has organized a
squad of fifty detectives to do secret
work against the most Infamous gang
of cutthroats that ever infested civili-
cation. Detective Sergeant Joseph Pc
trosino, himself an Italian, is in charge
Of the squad.
New York has a large population Of
Italians more OF less ignorant and
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04
Cot Made for Travel.

The traveller who loves a clean and
easy bed will appreciate the portable
cot, a recent invention. Made to tit
into suit case. it may be used on a
thousand and one occasions; any
where, in fact, where couch or bed
is appropriate. AS a safeguard
against disease we suggest the daily
use of golden grain belt beer. 1t is
brewed from the best of natures
products and should 60 into the home
as a Matchmaker. Order of your
nearest dealer or be supplied by
Henry Veidt, Princeton.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04

helpless. Dumped ashore from the big
Immigrant ships, they settle in the
slum districts Of the metropolis Many
OF them are from Sicily and others
from the lower end Of the Italian pen
Ursula, which on the map looks like
the heel and toe Of a boot. Their own
government likes to boot certain class
OF them out Of that country into this.
This class is made up of criminals.
Some Of them have served prison SEN
fences at home. Others have led lives
or brigandage in the Sicilian or lower
Italy style without being caught at it.
But all Of them believed that there is
more liberty in America, and they come
mere expecting to carry on their crimi-
nality with a lesser degree of molesta-
ton than they find at home.
Extortion on Death Threat.
These rufians are banded together
In society Of vendetta sort, known
to Americans as the Black Hand. The
symbol Of their threat is a black hand
Impressed upon the letters which they
send to their victims. These letters
demand money on pain of swift and
horrible death. Their victims are their
fellow Italians. These poor ignorant
people know the weight Of the Black
Hand, having felt it in their native
land. They are aware that refusal to
comply with the demands of the GRIM
1nals means death. Scarcely a day
passes without at least one murder,
attempted murder or job of dynamit-
Ing in New York by the members Of
this Infamous organization. The az
gregate Of money which they extort
from those Tho comply with their de-
mands is enormous.
The Black Hand hovers like q dark
and threatening cloud over the daily
life Of thousands Of Italians in New
York as we'll as in other cities
throughout the United States where
Italian colonies exist.
This is the kind of hobgoblin which
Police Commissioner Bingham is now
going after with rubber shoes and
baited breath. The hunt should Ge-
velop some Sherlock Eolmeses Of in.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04
Hollow Glass Bricks.

The demand for hollow bricks and
building blocks for house construction
has induced glass manufacturers to put
hollow glass bricks on the market, and
they promise to be used extensively
for novel and artistic effects, says the
Builder.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04

friction and fire. The White House
was not big enough for two Theodores,
each with a mind Of his own and a
tongue to Indicate it's workings Be
fore Colonel Bingham was retired from
that post, however, occurred a little
incident which belongs to modern his
tory.
There was a musicale at the White
House. Senator Chauncey M. Depew
was present. That was in the insur-
ance antebellum days, when he was
"Our Chauncey'' and could laugh at
his own jokes: It seems that Senator
Depew told funny story and laughed
loud and long over it. His laughter an
noyed President Roosevelt and others
who wanted to hear the music. Colo
mel Bingham as master of ceremonies
saw that it was "up to him." and, be-
ing soldier, he shrank not from duty.
Stepping up to the jocular senator, he
said:
a, 'Please be quiet. The others want to
hear the music"
That started feud between Depew
and Bingham, which, it is said, lasts to
this day, though Senator Depew does
not keep the story in his repertory.
Colonel Bingham was transferred to
Buffalo, where he had charge Of the
construction Of breakwater. It was
going from the White House to the pile
driver, but Bingham liked it, for his
speciality was engineering work. One
day in the spring Of 1904 a derrick fell
on him, crushing his left leg so that it
required amputation above the knee.
When he recovered, the president pro-
noted him to be brigadier general
and the next day retired him for dis
ability incurred in the line Of duty"
Thus at forty-fve General Bingham
faced the world on half pay and one
leg.
Surprised by the Mayor.
But the future had no terrors for
him. He began to cast about for some
big railroad engineering work after fit
ting himself with an artificial leg and
a stout cane. Then Mayor Mcclellan
sent for him, Bingham being in Bos-
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-04-04

ton, offering him place IN the admin.
istration. General Bingham expected
to get some post where Ills ability as
civil engineer might be employed. To
his surprise, when he arrived in New
York the mayor offered him the police
commissionership-that autocratic Of
fee once held by the other Theodore.
now In the White House.
About the first thing Commissioner
Bingham did after he took the oath Of
Office was to abolish the "shoo fy"
squad established some years before
by Commissioner Roosevelt to SOY up-
on policemen and see if they were do
ing their duty.
Then he called together the police in
spectors, captains and other command
ing officers and made a little impromp-
tn speech which would go down to his.
tory as classic Of common sense were
1t not for the fact that it contains a
tinker's dam and several stronger ex-
pletives which render it unfit for repro
duction in any great religious journal.
Stripped Of most of it's epithetical
verbiage, this speech runs about thus:
"Men, I'm glad to meet you. You
look like manly lot of officers. I love
man. TRY to be man myself. I've
been sent for to come here and do a
certain piece Of work, and I'm going to
do it if can and if I've the strength.
I want to talk to you heart to heart.
We are strangers now, and come here
with nothing against you, no sus-
picions, and we start on the level: but.
by the nine gods Of war, you've got to
deal with me on the level as I shall
deal with you. You know what that
means. I don't care a tinkers dam for
pull. shall treat you on the square.
Any promotions will depend on YOUR
selves. If you do your work you'll get
along with me, but you've got to be on
the square with me. Any man who
sends man, woman or child to me for
him knocks himself. That settles that
right here. That's straight tip You
have fine, manly men among you. You
look manly, and I'll treat you as you
appear. Count on that. We won't
start out suspecting you. There will
be no spying on you: If you are manly
men, sportsmanlike men, treat me the
same. 1t does me good to look at you.
Men, If you only show up as you look
this town will get what it wants and
pays for. See to it that you do your
work, and don't go back on the hand
I've stretched out to you.''
There was no whipping the devil
around the stump in that little grafton.
1t was q straight cut from the clavicle.
It went Diff, bang, bing-Bingham.
The men understood it without asking
for an explanatory diagram They
knew what it meant. And it startled
them, honest man and CRATER alike.
Here was a new sort of head on the
police department. He was no orator,
as Brutus was, or McAdoo, his i'm
mediate predecessor, but only a plain,
blunt man-yes, exceedingly blunt.
And every police commander in that
group knew that each of those nine
gods Of war thus invoked, whoever
they might be, would stand by the
man Of war who was now their abso.
lutte commander.
The Verb ITO Bingham
FOR a limo tho noxucpopor, bod f,,x
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
CONDUIT ROAD TEST CASE.
Mr.. Lutz, Arrested and Fined, VIII
Take an Appeal.

As the result Of the arrest Of a we'll
known autoist for speeding on the Con.
duit road yesterday, steps have been
taken 10 test the question Of Maryland's
jurisdiction over that thoroughfare. and
the test case will be argued before the
Circuit Court at Rockville on the second
Tuesday in November.
John A. Lutz. who represents the Olds-
mobile Company in Washington. was ar
rested by Deputy Sheriff Mullican, of
Montgomery County, yesterday on the
west side of Cabin John Bridge while out
with party Of friends. The machine
was going about forty miles an hour
when Muliican ordered a stop, and ac-
cordingly Mr.. Lutz applied the brakes
with all force. The arm of the law was
invited TO join the party, and the auto
was started in the direction Of Rockville
where Mr. LutZ was brought before the
authorities and fined SO and costs. He
then, through his attorney, G.. L. Baker
Immediately noted an appeal. and by an
agreement with Robert B. Peter. States
attorney for that county, was released on
his own TecOgniZance for the action of
the county court.
It is expected that when the case comes
up In that court a royal battle will ensue
Whatever may be the decision of that
body. the case will in due course be taken
to the United States Supreme Court. rs
it involves a legal conundrum which has
never been passed upon by that body.
and can only be decided by the highest
tribunal in the country, as 1t is an issue
between a sovereign State and the Fed
eraI government
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
DEMANDS THIRTY DAYS TIME.
Empire City Savings Bank Takes
Advantage of It's Legal Rights.

New York, Oct. 2t-The first savings
bank in the city to take advantage of
the law and require its depOsltors who
reached the bank to-day with their pass
books to give notice Of Withdrawals. was
the Empire City Savings Bank, at 81
West 125th street Depositors who
reached the bank to-day found this no
tice on the door:
This bank has suspended payment for
thirty days on account of heavy with
drawals Of deposits"
This notice was posted up at the di-
| rection Of President Isaac 4. Hopper,
who decided that it was the wlsest thing
! to do under the circumstances
A good many got the impression at
first that the bank had closed its doors.
/ On the contrary, those who hurried to
the bank from all over Harlem found
the doors open, with Mr. Hopper stand
ing outside, telling depositors just what
to do if they wanted to withdraw their
money at the end of the thirty days.
What they had to do was 10 get in line
with their bank books, and upon reach
| ing the window OF the paying teller have
them stamped with the date This also
| IS required by the law when bank gives
| such a notice.
Mr.. Hopper also explained that those
/ who got their books stamped would lose
| interest from October l, even If at the
end Of thirty days they decided not to
take out their money
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
HAMILTON BANK IS CLOSED
After Paying Out $2,500,00O Diree-
tors Decide on Suspension.
selling of Securities at Present
President Montgomery.

New York. Oct 2i-The disassociating
of Edward r. Thomas and the Hamilton
Bank, accomplished last Sunday, came
too late 10 save that institution from a
run that compelled the officers to close
its doors to-day. Heroic endeavors had
been made to get cash to meet the run
in the last few days, these resulting IN
the selling Of some securities at a tre-
mendous sacrifice.
The suspension Of the bank, which has
five branches in Harlem and the Bronx,
ma. be only temporary. Not only did
the officers insist that il was perfectly
solvent to-day, but the State banking de-
partment. which took charge, also made
such statement Albert c Judson, the
State bank examiner, who took charge
Of the Hamilton Bank and the Twelfth
Ward Bank, which also suspended pay
ment for the same reason as the Hamil-
ton, declared after an examination at
both institutions;
"The Hamilton and the Twelfth Ward
banks suspended for lack Of ready cash
The institutions are perfectly solvent"
William r. Montgomery. who succeeded
+. r. Thomas as president after Mr..
Thomas elimination from the affairs Of
the bank had been accomplished last
Sunday, made this statement regarding
the suspension of the bank:
THE Hamilton Bank has paid out 81
100000 cash in three days. The bank is
abundautly solvent, but heavy demands
have been made, and il has decided 10
close temporarily for the protection Of all
Of its depOSitOTS.
ITO attempt to realize further on the
securities held by the bank in the present
state of public apprehension would only
have impelled wantOn sacrifice and
would not be doing justice to its depOs-
itors and stockholders. The fact that the
bank stood such a tremendous strain only
indicates its sOundness, and when calm
ness and good sense prevail again the
bank will be able 20 resume business. All
depOstOrs ultimately viii be paid in full,
and the banks surplus should leave the
stock intact"
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
WITHSTANDS HEAVY RUN.
Trust Company of America VIII Sur
vive Is Cheering Prediction.


New York, Oct, 24-The Trust Company
Of America got 100000 worth OF pound
ing to-day, and came up smiling at the
end of the day. Its main Office, at 81
Wall street. and the Colonial Branch, at
Ann street and Broadway. will be open
for business as usual tomorrow morning,
and the institution will be ready TO take
on all comers, catch-as-catch-can. and
give back blow for blow until the pound
ers have cried quit"
At least, that was the statement made
by the officers of the institution before
they went home 20 dinner tonight. There
was every reason to believe that the
statement will be easily made good to-
morrow. When the run began on Wednes-
day morning. it was the statement of a
director of the institution that the amount
of deposits payable on demand was be-
tween S90,O00,000 and $250OO,OOO.
Between $lOco0,0O0 and s2OJ0OOO was
paid out between the opening and the
closing Of business on Wednesday. As
suming that the amount Of deposits pay
able on demand on Wednesday morning
was S25.O00000. and assuming that the
amount paid out on Wednesday was SIO,-
100000, the company this morning had
Sl5,000,0o0 of deposits payable on demand
At the beginning of business to-day the
Trust Company of America received.
through the Union Trust Company from
other trust companies in the city and, 1t
is said. from the PittsbuTg Trust Com
pany, 100000. Ii was the statement OF
an officer of the institution shortly before
S o'clock that approximately 100000 had
been paved out during the business day
and that $l.0O0.O00 had been deposited. If
these figures are correct, the Trust Com
pany of America has paid all of its de-
mand claims except $6O00000. and has
100000 of the 100000 lent il to-day
and Sl.000.000 of deposits to begin business
tomorrow morning.
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
FINE FABRICS CHEAP
5000 Yards of Finest Woolens
Purchased at 60c on the
Dollar by
Nj. STEIN & CO., TAILORS
Dissolution of New York Firm
Gives Washington Men a
Great Tailoring Treat.

Mr.. NJ. Stein. the well-known Washing
ton tailor, of S0S-a0 F street. received a
telegram last week notifying him of the
dissolution Of prominent New York firm
Of wooden importers and Offering him the
entire balance OF small ends Of cloth at a
great sacrifice Mr.. Stein. realizing the
Importance of the opportunity, imme-
diately went TO New York and closed the
deal for about 1900 yards Of the highest
grade wooden fabrics on the market at
ridiculously low price Those who are IA
miliar with the condition of the market
will appreciate this opportunity. for all
goods are held at fabulous prices, and il
is simply impossible to secure any fabrics
worth having at even a small concession
in price-and these goods were bought by
Mr.. Stein at 60 cents on the dollar. The
cases Of cloth arrived yesterday. and en-
brace the finest of Scotch tweedS. worst
eds, and worsted cheviOts, as Well as
many handsome and staple black and
blue fabrics 1t IS no eXaggeratiOn to
say that suits made from these fabrics
are bringing from So TO $40 in all the
other tailoring shops of Washington. His
lucky purchase enables Mr.. Stein TO give
his patrons the finest taiOred-tO-Order
suits from these goods at Sl4.15 that are
really worth S25. and suits to order at
S1975 that are really worth S35 and $40
This is probably the greatest treat in
quality tailoring ever offered III Washing
ton. and no doubt there viii be a large
crowd of buyers on hand this morning
at the starting Of his great sale The
goods must be seen to have their value
appreciated-no finer fabrics are shown
anywhere in America. The garments will
be designed by MIR. Mudd, formerly of
Keen's. and now chief designer and cut
ter for Stein. MI Mudd is Well known 10
all Washingtonians, as he has cut and
designed clothes for many of the most
prominent public officials Of the past
twenty years, including five of the Presi-
dents.
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
PLAN TOSAVE KNICKERBOCKER
Trust Company Directors to Guaran-
tee DepOsitOrS Full Payment.
Scheme Depends Upon Consent of At
torncy GeneFaI-Permission of
Creditors Wanted,

New York. Oct. 4-The directors Of the
Knickerbocker Trust Company are work
ing out a plan which they hope will save
the company from being liquidated.
Steps have been taken 60 form a syndi-
cate among the directors who shall guar
antee the payment ,f depositors in ruH.
It is planned 90 issue certificates Of de-
posit, indorsed by the directors. these GER
ufCates TO be payable at different periods
A committee. consisting Of Joseph Aur-
bach, Mr.. Wallach. and James W. Gerard.
was appointed TO consider the question Of
the naming Of temporary receivers. This
will be done, Of course, only upon the
application Of the Attorney General The
appointment OF receivers win in no way
interfere with the plans for individual
guarantees which the directors are work
ing out II the consent Of the creditors is
obtained the directors Will 60 before the
court and ask that the property be re-
stored TO them
II is understood that the attornev. gen
eral is disposed 10 give the directors
plenty Of time to work out their plans.
but it is hardly likely that he win leave
the property in charge Of the banking de-
partment for the time that Will be re-
quired to analyZe the assets and get the
consent Of depositors,
The receivership committee was an
pointed chiefly for The purpose OF recon-
meudins the names Of competent men.
a conference was held between the at
torney general and representatives Of the
State banking department on Wednesday
night at which the qualifications of sew
eral men We're discussed.
The attorney general # is understood.
is disposed 10 recommend some trust
company lawyer The Knlckerbocker
Company Itself viii probably seek TO have
a third receiver appointed who shall be
one Of the COmpanys officers or direc-
tors. II is likely that the company. in the
event Of the lrUarantee plan going
through. win ask permission first to open
its trust department. Some Of the direc-
tors said to-day that there was hope that
this department might be in operation
again by the first of next week.
The Washington herald., 1907-10-25
PITTSBURG CRISIS PASSED.
Westinghouse Interests Hope Soon
to BE on Solid Footing.

Pittsburg, Pa, October 24-Pittsburg
fnanciers are unanimous in the reports
that the financial troubles Of the past
two days has passed and the banking sit
uation is much easier. The Pittsburg
Stock Exchange remained closed to-day,
but viii open next Monday George
Westinghouse tonight said that he will
be out of his difficulties within three
weeks
In the future the Westinghouse inter-
ests will be managed by men Of financial
ability. It was learned to-day that Kuhn.
Loeb & Co, New York. had practically
control Of the Westinghouse Electric and
Manufacturing Company, the stock which
was thrown on the market yesterday
having been bought up by the Knhn-
Loeb people.
The associated banks carrying the
Westinghouse securities have decided not
to call for margins or offer them for sale.
In this manner an ultimated panic has
been averted. II is current rumor that
George Westinghouse will be retained as
the managing head. but the financial
cares are to be lifted from his shoulders.