The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-31
CATCH TWO
BLACK HAND
SCHEMERS

The scheme was arranged nicely. The
victim, who had received notice to
give up" was to meet the writer's of
the letter in a lonely spot on the upper
Market street road. He was directed
to have 5000 cash with him and pro
duce,'' under penalty Of death. He
went there as directed and passed oyer
an envelope to the crooks. but the en-
velope did not contain cash. as the
men supposed. 1t did contain the letter
that had been addressed to the in
tended victim, and this letter was
found in the pocket Of one of the men
arrested. 1t will furnish DANA ging evil
dence against the accused.
There were fiye men in the party
that gathered on the Market street
road. The captain and detective did
well to land two of them, and infor-
nation gathered during the night may
lead to the arrest of others.
George A. Palermo, a barber engaged
in business at the corner of Clay and
Beech streets, was the victim singled
out by the "Black Hand" men. Pat
emo, better known to residents in the
vicinity as TONY has been in BUSH
ness in that section for a number OF
years and is considered to be a well-to-
do Italian. Probably the p%lotters con-
sidered him an easy mark.
Early this week the barber received
q letter. 1t was written in the usual
BLACK Hand style and advised him
to have 5000 in readiness to turn over
to the society on Tuesday evening. The
missive went on to tell OF the need the
society had OF the money and was
signed zone of us" The spot selected
for turning over the money was the
corner of Market street and Twenty
first avenue and the time was to be not
later than 1890 o'clock.
Tony is not of the kin easily in
undated. He did not pass over the
matter lightly. however, but resolved
to make a report to the police. He called
at Headquarters and presented the letter
to Chief Bimson. The chief called In
Captain Taylor. and after q conference
between the two ~oficerss 1t was decided
that the captain and the detective go TO
the scene. 1t was previously arranged
that the barber should precede them and
hand over the envelope that he had re-
ceived. He was instructed to say that
this envelope contained the cash demanded
The barber fulfilled his part. He passed
dtOtik dHG HOiGAg AVau ~ Wv
and wnited for the 'Black Handlers to
appear. In the meanwhile Taylor and
Lord. who had proceeded there by different
routes. had concealed themselves in good
vantage points. One was on Market street
and the other on Twenty-first avenue.
The officers only had TO keep a short
vigil. Soon they saw a man approach
the barber. There seemed to be a whis-
pered consultation between the two. Then
a second man appeared from the dark
ness and to this man the barber was seen
to pass an envelope.
The opportune time presented itself,
Taylor and Lord rushed forth from the
cover of darkness and started after the
two men. Lord caught the second, after
a short sprint through Twenty-eighth
street. The latter Is no t~horoughfare, and
when the prisoner was questioned as to
why he had proceeded In that direction
he replied that he was on his way home.
He stated that he lives on Clay street,
and, therefore, was proceeding in the
wrong direction for his home.
Three other Italians were noticed in the
vicinity, but they were wise enough t.
escape as soon as they say thei com
panions in trouble.
Thu prisoner taken by the captain CAV
his name as George Sportella. his resi-
dence as 25 Clay street, his age at 2
years and his occupation as n carpenter.
Lords prisoner said his name was San
tene Fason, of Thirteenth street, Jersey
City. He said he was rs years old and 9
railroad laborer by occupation,
In the pocket Of one of the prisoners
was found the ''Black Hand. letter tina
had been addressed to the barber. The
prisoner did not have time to examine the
contents of the envelope, for the police
sprung upon hin without warning.
Captain Taylor stated after the arrest
last evening that he was confident that
the prisoners were genuine BLACK Hand
laid for the capture of the thieves did not
miscarry.