The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-12-05
Chief Of Police 0'Hsre Making
Searching Investigation Into
Milwaukee Paper Charges
ASSAULTS ARE NOT ADMITTED
Men Alleged to Have Been Assaulted
and Robbed Deny Facts as Stated
in Italian oaper-To Make
Investigation Thorough


Faro of Milwaukee, Chief Of Police
O'Hare has begun searching inves-
tigation into the assertions of the
Italian paper in regard to conditions
in the Italian colonies of Kenosha
and every member of the force has
been called into the search for the So
called Black Hand society. In speak
ing of the matter Tuesday evening,
Chief O'Hare said, ST have heard on
several occasions that there was an
organization of the Black Hand in Ke.
nosha, but have not given the mat
ter close investigation until this
time. I have found that it is very
hard to get anything out of these
Italians in regard to assault, but am
in doubt as to the truth of the article
which appeared in the Italian paper.
These assaults mentioned there have
not been reported to my department
and / have spent nearly half day
making an effort to find out who the
doctor was who was relieved of a
watch. have called up every physi-
clan in the city and if any of them
were robbed the soca1led Black Hand
has got them so terrified that they will
not admit it. I should like to get a
line on this band of Italian ruf6ans,
alleged to be operating in Kenosha
and I can give assurance that if the
men can be located the Italian people
of the city will be protected from
them.
It is long been matter of corjec-
ture among the police of the city as
to the extent of organization among
the Italians and it has been repeated
ly noted that it is almost impossible
are stabbed or assaulted by members
of their own nationality. &N3A@'
The police find that. even theIas-
sanlted parties are very slow to make
any statements in regard to the peo-
pie who assaulted them and when
brought into Court they are in the
habit of using every possible subter-
fuge to prevent the facts in the case
being brought out. Incidents have
been brought to light where men who
we're assaulted had settled with the
man or men assaulting them for mon
ey consideration and the cases were
dropped. 1t is certain that these as
saults among the Italians are becom-
ing more numerous and the police are
practically poweriess to arrest the
factions of the Italian people of Ke-
nosha and these people have been in
almost constant struggle for the con-
troll of the Italian colony here. 1t is
known that there is bitter feud be-
tween the two factions and the police
have taken this as the cause of the as
saults. It is known that the members
of the two factions often hold meet
ings but the doings at these meetings
are never given to the public.
Italians of the city interviewed to-
day claim that the article in the II
Faro is the result of a disordered
brain of some correspondent for the
paper who has badly exaggerated con-
ditions in Kenosha and they claim
that the, Italians have nothing to fear
so long as they attend to their own
business. 81
Chief O'Hare was out among the
Italians Tuesday night and cOntin-
ued his investigation Wednesday.
and it is pretty certain that if any or
ganized band of ruffians are found
they will be forced to leave the city.