The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-11-16

Only in Pennsylvania has a means
been found of curtailing the murder
GUS activities of that terrible organize
ton. which, under the name of''Black
Hand" has been committing outrages
all over the United States. r..
While the entire police force of the
city of New York is powerless to pre-
vent the almost daily murders, that
mark the work of the Black Hand in
the metropolis, while Postal Inspector
Cortelyou is striving to find means by
which the postmaster generals de-
partment can prevent Uncle Sam
from ,innocently acting as the agent
who carries dead threats, and while
special laws are being enacted in
some states and legislation may be in
troduced into congress at the next
session. the Keystone State, through
it's own normal police machinery is
steadily stamping out every vestige of
this Italian outlawry.
The work is being done through the
state constabulary, an organization
unique in the United States.
It consists of four troops, each
made up of a captain, lieutenant, five
sergeants and fifty men. The force,
under the command of Capt. John c..
Groome, has been more carefully.
made up of picked men, and there are
many noted athletes, rough riders and
men who made regulations in the
short-lived Spanish-American war, in
cluded in the mum er.
This organization is entirely sepa-
rate from any local police organiza-
ton, and takes precedence in authori-
ty anywhere it goes.
The superintendent, Capt. Groome,
can compel local authorities to give
aid to his men, though usually he pre-
fers to work alone.
In it's two years of existence the
new body has done such valuable
work that it is welcomed everywhere
in times of disorder.
Undoubtedly the best Of achieve
ments has been the recent triumph
over the Black Hand.
The Black Hand stood as the sue
cessor or partner of the Malta and
Camorra, and was but another out
cropping of the custom which more in
Italy than any other country seems to
force criminals into oathbound unions
The motive which actuates all these
companies of assassins is the desire
for blackmail. Blackmail causes them
the abduct children of rich men.
Blackkmail inspires the threats they
hand over the poor who can only yiel i
small tribute, blackmail is the motive
for which they commit arson, murder,
torture, and defy the police powers of
state4and nation. 5 = :: ,'ts s4$ - u ::.vs
In Pennsylvania the first display of
the power of the Black Hand was dis
closed in a curious system by which
whole company of miners was made
to pay tribute.
Into company of workmen went
trusted member of the organization.
No one knew his connection with the
Black Hand. After a time he COM
municated to one of his new acuuaint-
ances that he had received a message
which said that unless he gave up
one dollar of his next weeks wages
his child would be murdered. He
craftily spread the idea that not less
than a dozen members of the Black
Hand were working in the mine, and
that every miner who declined to pay
or who dared to expose the blackmail.
ers was spotted and would be dealt
with to the limit.
Thus a condition of panic was
spread and by the time the Black
Hand collector was ready to appear
the entire company willingly pur-
chased it's immunity by giving up the
dollar.
Such men as refuse to contribute
are handled with gloves. They get an
announcement that because of their
refusal the tax on them has been In.