The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-08
NABALLEGED
LEADER OF
BLACK HAND
Young Italian, Once Tried
for Murder ia Paterson,
in Tolls Again.
CAUGHT IN JERSEY CITY
Police Say lie Is Man Who Led
in Attempt TO Extsrt $500
From a Paterson Barber
Recently Others Caught
at Time.
CAUGHT IN JERSEY CITY

"A tOO1N, aug. Os-odElaAAO ~
teneIli, acquitted of murder at the last
September term of court in this coun-
ty, was arrested in Jersey City yes
terday afternoon and brought here
during the evening.
Pettenelli. so the police now claim,
is the leader of a Black Hand society,
the members of which have been ter
rorizing fellow-countrymen in this Sec
tion by demands for money, under pen
atty of death in the event of refusal.
Two of Pettenelli's companions were
caught on a lonely part of the Mar
ket street road, near T~wenty-first ave
nue., a week ago Tuesday night. Pet
tenelli was with them that night. SO it
has since been learned. but was for
tunate enough to escape when Captain
Taylor and Detective Lord appeared on
the scene.
George A. Palermo, a prosperous bar
Der of 1877 Beech street, vas ordered to
hand over an envelope containing 5000
that night. He did hand over an en-
velope to one of the two "Black
Handlers" who approached lin. 1t did
not contain cash, but the threatening
letter that had been addressed to Pa
terno.
III III dllC6l. VI llhC wv $3.50 1890
evening, George Sportelli, a carpenter,
of 245 Clay street, and Sante Casoni,
a laborer, of Thirteenth street, Jer-
sey City, the police have been active,
and it is understood that Chief Bim-
sons staff have secured valuable In
formation from the two men who are
now awaiting action by the next grand
jury on charges of conspiracy.
NITLfIA flA nAlina dfd NOT diVIIIK6
their source of information, IT was
stated with confidence at headquarters
last night that Pettenelli has been
caught dead to rights" as the police
say.
P%ettenelli was the leading spirit in
the deliberations of the society, and
directed all movements. He did not
come out in the open himself, but was
intelligent enough to induce others
to carry out the hazardous part of the
cowardly schemes. That this IS SO is
Indicated by his conduct the night
the barber was supposed to produce
5000 on the Market street road. That
evening Pettenelli, after sending out
his agents to collect the spoils, con-
cealed himself in the bushes close by
the junction of the roads named. and
there awaited developments. Upon the
appearance of the police Pettenelli dis
carded his weapons m disappeared,
leaving his two subjects alone In their
plight. The weapons, a long bladed
dirk and a loaded revolver, were found
the following morning along the road
side.
Snortelli and Fasonl received the third
deeree" before they were finally turned
over to the custody of the sheriff and FUR
nished the police with a good line on which
to start work.
The plans of the police were carried out
to perfection Yesterday morning Chie1
Bimson sent Sergeants Lord and Keppler
to Jersey City for the purpose of appre-
hending Pettenelli.
Pettenelli was located in 4 saloon at the
corner of Erie and Fourteenth streets. The
license of the place has been held up by
the Jersey City Excise Board because of
the fact that men known 70 be crooks are
allowed 70 frequent the place.
The doors were closed when Keppler and
a Jersey City detective approached Lord
stood some distance away, because he is
known to Pettenelli and the italian might
have been put on his guard had Lord APP
peared. +.
The two officers were admitted after
making threats to burst IN the doors.
Pettenelli and three or four ~fellow-coun-
lNYmeH were lOunO bCdlSu GDOul u tuDlS.
He was placed under arrest. and later
viewed by Chief Monahan and the Jersey
City police commissioners
The crowds that gathered about the
saloon when PettenelH was taken away
seemed to recognize the fellow as a hard
customer. for many In the gathering
shouted, They've got n OF the black
hand people now
Before locking Pettenelli up the officers
took him to his living apartments. BIT
Fourteenth street, just around the corner
from the saloon. He lived alone in three
rooms.
The officers went through the Italians
effects and among other things came
across q stiletto with q blade at least
one foot IN length; also a revolver. They
took these weapons, together with a large
number of the mans papers.
The prisoner stepped to the drawer OF a
coffee grinder and started to crumple
something In his hard d. 1t was taken from
him and found to be putty. Although he
had squeezed the substance out of shape,
the officers could see part of the imprint
of a half dollar, and Information picked
up later led TO the belief that the man
was connected with a band of counter
feiters.
In their investigations the police have
determined that the headquarters of the
Black Hand Society Is located in Passaic
city. The location is known and 1t is
likely that the probe will be eXtende TO
that town and other arrests may follow.