Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-05-09
BLACK HAND CHIEF
MURDER LAID BARE
Prosecutor Tells How "The
OK Prince Of Extortion-
lists, Met His Fate.
"PLOT," CRIES DEFENSE
Lawyers Tor Secret Italian Band q
Assassins Declare Alleged Vic
Tins Are Themselves in a
Conspiracy.
"PLoT," CRIES DEFENSE

Wiikesbarrc. PA. May . Although
The opinion prevails that the prosecu-
tion has roven its case against the
thirteen Black Hand leaders. yet. ar-
cnrdinR To attorneys for the defense.
all the accusations against the prison
erS are II result of :, plot OF the lNZ.o
brothers To send innocent men to jail.
Defendants attorneys say 1t is much
more likely the l.izz" brothers belong
to the Black Hand society than that
their clients are guilty.
Sure of Conviction.
District Attorney Salsbur, feels con-
fident there can he but ono resnlt-con-
Viction. In am Interview. the district
attorney said:
II am firmly convinced that there is ~
branch of the Black Hand society In
this county 1t is AN offshoo of tha
New York and Philadelphia ~organtza-
lions. l am led to believe this from
the fact that Louis Perino. better
known as the ON was active in
Browntown. "A suburb of the city of
Pittston. until he met his death at the
hands OF an ~assassin one night. PerinA
was Undoubtedly implicated I'm the
barrel murder mystery in New York.
After his release from prison there he
came direct to Browntown. which was
then the headquarters for the ioca!
Black Hand He was shrewd and
cunninS and, ! have no doubt. sue
ceeded In getting large sums of money
from his countryinen. He was not long
in-this- section until II number or
strange Italians from the large cft1eS
Joined him.
Gave UP the Cash.
The OK Introduced the strangers to
the most prosperous Italians as his
friends. After remaining at Brown
town some weeks the strangers left.
but the OK remained. Then letters
began To be received by the we'll known
and wealthy Italians OF the place. no
tifying them that If they did not pay
over certain sums of money to agents
of the society their lives would be in
danger
Many who received the threatening
letters went to The OK and asked him
vised a settlement. He would agree to
accept SO per cent. of the claim. and
give assurance to the parties that they
would not he bothered in the future.
In most every case the money was
produced. The OK got IT.
Murder Of "The Ok"
But he was selfish. He wanted hi
This led to IL quarrel with his lieuten-
ants. and one night while he was going
to his boarding house he was shot down
in the roadway. His body was not
found until the next morning. II was
riddled with bullets. showing that his
y Nv mn . ~
Those Italians who refused to pay
the OK soon felt the heavy hand OF
the Black Hand Three murders took
place IN q short time and ] believe the
men killed were all victims of the or
ganization. If murder was not resorted
to robbery was perpefrated.
Compelled to Pay Tribute.
I'm the course of our investigation
we have come across hundreds OF
peaceful. law abiding and Industrious
Italians who have been compelled to
pay tribute to the Black Hand. but
they refuse to give Information to the
authorities. thinking that If they do.
the agents Of the society will revenge
| themselves on them.
During the progress of the trial our
detectives nave noticed in and about
the courtroom Italians said to be i'm
plicated In crimes in Philadelphia. New
York and other large cities In the past
l am sure they were not here for any
good p
.'One of our witnesses was intimi-
dated. but by increasing our detective
force We were able To give protection
to our witnesses and they went on the
witness stand without fear"