The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-08
THREAT TO KILL
SENT DIRECTOR OF
UNITED HATTERs
Orange Police Hunting for
Writers of Black Hand Let
ter to Forsythe.
BLOOD=STAINED NOTE
DEMANDS NEW OFFICERS
Sequel to Fight to Gust Pres.
ident and Others in Local
Union No. IL.

81 will utilize the services of every
ma in the department if necessary tc
locate the man who wrote that Black
Hand letter." said Chief of Police
Washer, of Orange, when asked today
what progress was made in locating the
sender of a threatening letter to John
Forsythe, a member OF the National
Board of Directors OF the. United Hat
tiers of North America. The letter, writ
ten in a good legible hand, warned Mr..
Forsythe that unless he got a new
list of officers for the local union With
in two weeks he will meet his fate"
The officers of the local union are as
sisting in the investigation.
The letter was mailed in Orange
October A at 8 2. m, according to the en-
velope. 1t has three. long spots of
human blood on 1t, and is signed by
THE italian Hatters' Black Hand So
ciety of Orange Valley" There have
been a number of attempts to get ofi-
GERS of Local Union No. II displaced,
and the letter is evidently meant to
aim at the removal of President
Michael Brennan, Secretary Louis
stellplug and other officials. At a
meeting last Thursday night there was
a big ~ruction, which resulted In break
ing up tho session.
Mr.. Forsythe. when seen today, said:
Forsythe's Statement.
81 received the letter Monday morn
ing. Apparently the writer's believe me
responsible for this state of affairs,
whore a few officers are able to defy
more than 600 men. The writer's refer
to Local II, where we have officers over
US that we don't want. We have been
trying for months to get rid Of them,
but they continue to stick. The men of
| our local are almost unanimous in their
demands hat these men get out, but so
far they have succeeded in defying u.s."
Mr.. Forsythe went on to explain that he
is a member of the national board Of
directors of the hatters. Up until three
months ago the fnishers and makers
had one local.. The men got tired of
this and thought there should be two
separate locals for the two depart
ments. Through his efforts a local
known as No. 4 was formed for the
fnishers. They elected their own off,
CttS. DlIlCt t1tIi tAhC oAA &ilCCt Aldt0
continued to o~fficiate for Local II, at the
same salary they received for repre-
senting both departments. The fight
has been to get rid of these officers, bat
so far the makers have been unsuccess-
full.
Contents OF Letter.
The letter was as follows:
"Orange, N. j., Oct. 8, 1908. !
49, An 49, $1,000
West Orange, N. J.
"Dear Strive feel it is our duty to
notify you of what Is going to take
place. You are a director for tho
makers of this district. We want you
to protect and assist the makers of
your district.
1--WE know that you fought . great
battle to get the finishers a new local.
we think 1t is better for the trade to
have two locals. We want you to get
your brains working together and see
the national officers and get a new
local and new officers for the makers,
as you are the head man of the makers.
1--WE will give you two weeks in order
to get the makers trouble in right
shape. And get new officers for the
makers. All us Italians want new off,
GERS.
Throw the old officers to hell. They
are bosses men, and are no good for
us italian men that got to max a liv-
ing at the trade. We Italians will give
you two weeks to get new officers for
us. If you don get them in that time
you be ready to meet YOU fate.
I'VE Italians will put you out ef
existence.
I'VE remain,
"THH ITALIAN HATTERS' BLACK
HAND SOCIETY, ORANGE VAL
LEY"