The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-01-03
HORK Of THE BLACK HAND.
Encouraged by Success
They Become Bolder
"BIRD" BEARS THREAT
Expert in Such Cases Explains why
the Criminal Can Flourish and be
More DarinG-Send Letters to
Merchants Demanding Large Sums
--Laxity Of Our Laws IA Factor.

--Lnxity Of Our Laws Factor.
"BIack Hand" blackmailers have
extended their field OF operations.
Where formerly only Italians were
victims. nowadays Americans COM
plain frequently to the police that
they are in receipt of letters de-
n,snding money on pain OF dtath or
Injury, says the New York Herald.
In police headquarters, among tho
more recent blackmailing letters
cent there by the recipients was one
demanding $4,000 from a man whose
name the police would not make pub
lie
Why he was selected as a victim,
he told the headquarters staff, he
does not know He also said he
would pay no attention to the letter
aud did not believe the threats made
II fits demands were not compiled
With, would be carried out. Details
are not obtainable except with re-
gsyd to the rude drawing which was
part of the blackmailing letter.
This is a sketch of a bird having
in its beak an oblong object upon
which Is written $1,000" and the
bird is lowering over a boxlilSe re-
eeptacle which represents in a Grade
way the place where the merchant Is
directed to deposit the money de-
mauded. Around the bird are rows
or daggers to indicate its fate il It
does not leave the packet OF mony In
Che box.
Sergeant Dunn and Detective
Sergeant Petrosino, experts in black
ugxil cases, say that often the at
tempted extortion is traced to per-
sons near in business or even in fam
Ny Relationship to the intended vic
Tins.
The bird" letters character
seems to stamp 1t, however. as a
"BIack Hand" effort. and one of the
several which are going outside the
ifs thousands of ignorant victims in
this city annually
This case has followed closely on
~ attempt to blackmail woman of
excellent social position who lives on
MADISON avenue. A demand for
$1,000 was made upon her and she
turned the letter over to the police.
Though 1t attempted to throw. a
"Hiack Hand" character into its ap-
pcaFance and demands 1t was traced
TO an artisan who had been employ
ed by the woman. She would not
hear Of prosecuting him, and the po-
lice could only use extreme measures
10 make an impression upon the
mHu. They did so with enthusiasm
aud success, as he was not heard
from again.
The widest field so far covered b.
the blackmailers outside of their own
race is among Hebrews who are own
ezs of small shops.
Men in headquarters say ut Is
anly a question of time when the
Black Hand will get Petrosino."
He has won high fame in the ferret
fng out of criminals among the Ital-
lsns but takes gloomy view of the
possibilities of real success In extir-
pating blackmailing He says the
laws concerning evidence In this
country make convictions almost i'm
possible.
They are good laws for Americans,
but not for these brigands, whose
whole ancestry has practised the
samesort of crimes. There are hun
dreds, yes, thousands. Of Italians
Who live well altogether on black
mail In New York. They have reg
niar system, and not one man out of
thousand who is blackmailed ever
reports it to the police. Shopkeepers
all over New York are paying tri-
butte of from fifty cents a week up to
the BLACK Hand" They have their
lawyers, and when one gets in trou-
hic money, the best legal advice and
g horde Of men ready to perjure
themselves on the witness stand are
prepared in his defence. They are
the oifscourings of italy, criminals
who would never be permitted to
hand there If they attempted to re-
turn. They live by this blackmail,
3ust as their fathers and forefathers
have lived since the Bourbon kings
ruled in southern Italy.
The BLACK Hand" makes large
sums out of the great Italian rellg-
fous festivals. The city should not
permit those affairs. When the feast
day of great saint comes on the
"Black Hand" goes out and makes
every italian give large sums for the
shrine and the affairs. and they cost,
say, $1,000. The BLACK Hand" col
ieets $4,000 and keeps $4,000.
They set off fireworks and endanger
teuements. 1t is Illegal and very
dangerous. but because 1t is under
the cloak OF religious celebration It
ik permitted.