The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-27
BLACK HAND LEADERS CAUGHT
JATTS LIEUTENANTS TAKEN ~
PLAINFIELD. ". j.


Police and Detectives Had Deen Searching
for Heads Of Notorious Newcastle. Pa.
Gang for Weeks-GaIIed 'siost Im-
portant Black Hard Capture In Years"
PLANFmLD. N. j.. July c8.-Chief Of
Police Kelly to-day arrested two Altar
who are believed to be rinRleaders 81 one Of
the strongest branches OF the Black Hand
society in this country. While robbery
is the specific charge against them II 10
probable that when they are returned TO
the place Of their crimes at Newcastle. Pa.
murder will be added. Two other members
Of the gang who have been in Plainfield
recently escaped. but II Is thought they will
be captured soon.
The prisoners are Nicola Lobianco and
Joseph Novetta. alias Joseph Novello. They
have been terrorizing their countrymen in
Newcastle Pa. during the last six months.
They are reputed 70 be ths Representatives
there Of John Jati, head of the American
branch Of the Malta and partner Of Mussil-
limo, the bandit for whom the Italian Govern
ment offered many thousands Of dollars in
rewards. Through the writing Of Black
Hand letters and by holdups the gang
has been getting large sums Of money from
Italians at Newcastle One man, II is said.
gave up 81, 900.
majority Of the victims were employees
of the Bessemer Limestone Company at
Newcastle and the officials Of the concern
engaged the Pinkertons to u down the
gang. EARLY in July they made a raid in the
town, capturing twenty Of the less impor-
tant members Of the gang. Some OF the
timid ones made confessions by which IL was
learned that Jati was the head OF the Black
Hand and that Lobianco and Novetta ana
Two brothers, Rocco and Francisco AlJiro,
we're his lieutenants. Jau was arrested Al
Lima, Ohio. =,
On july 10 a Newcastle man who refused
TO give up 81 ,0OO as ordered was held up
by members Of the gan and his throat was
cut from ear TO ear. Other arrests folIoWSu'
and again il was asserted that Jatis neu,
tenants were at the bottom OF the crime ano
that instructions were being received from
somewhere in New Jersey. The trail fol-
lowed by the Pinkertons eventually led to
this city. Last Tuesday Chief klely re-
ceived word from the detectives that the
men they were after were either In Plaln'
field or North Plainfield and requesting
that he put his men to work on the case until
they could reach here. IL was soon learned
tina Lobianco and Novetta were staying
at an Italian boarding house pear the loot
Of the mountains In North Ylainfeld ana
that the Ajiro brothers visited them fire.
NIAlA n NoNN Wv
morning, after a long wait, Lobianco and
Novetta and two companions we're seen 70
enter the post Office and call for their mail.
Chief Kelly and Detective Brancati en-
tered the office through one door, Detective
Sergeant Flynn came in the other, and the
three arrested the Italians 80 quickly that
they had no chance TO resist. As soon as
the men were in a cell at police headquarters
word was tel~egraphed to the New York office
OF the Pinkertons and Assistant Superinten-
dent Fuller came to Plainfleld. He recognized
both Lobianco and Novetta, but the others
he could not identify. and they were re-
leased. Fuller had photographs, OF the
leaders. and it could be seen from these that
the right men were caught. Both men
admitted the pictures 20 he OF themselves:
In response to a telegram sent by Chief
Kelly 20 Sheriff J. ". Washington OF Law
renee county. Pa, in which Newcastle ~
located. the former was requested 20 hold
the prisoners until officers arrived with
extradition papers. The men were ar
raigned before City Judge William n. Run
Won and afterward remanded in order TO
comply with the legal formalities.
Following the arrest Of LobiAnco and
Novetta the police received a tip that the
Aiiiro brothers were likely to return here
AT any time. Every effort will be made TO
get them.
Supt. Fuller declares that his is the most
important Black Hand capture in this sec
ton in years.
~Jati was the ringleader,' he said, but
never appeared at the scene of the crime
10 he committed. Lohianco and Novetta
wrote letters and arranged the assaults.f
II is expected that the prisoners will be
taken back 10 Newcastle tonight.