The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-07
ASSASS|NS SEND
THREAT To FATHER
LEO'S SUCCESSOR
Police Guard Franciscan Mon
astery in Paterson to Pro-
tect Father Joseph.
RIOTERS HATED MARTYR
CLERIC AND HIS FRIEND
Black Hand Letter, Following
Killing on Denver Altar,
Stirs Up City.
Especial to tho Evening star

PATERSON, March Father Jo-
seph, pastor of st, Bonaventure's
Church in this city and successor to
Father Leo Heinrichs, who was as
sassinated ON the altar in Denver, has
received a written Black Hand threat.
Fearing that the Black Hand will
attempt to kill Father Joseph, the
police have placed heavy guard about
the Franciscan monastery. An in
vestigation is being made to trace the
Black Hand letter and to cause the
immediate arrest of those who dis
patched 1t to Father Joseph.
1t is now believed that the plot for
the assassination of Father Leo dates
back two years, when trouble existed
here among certain elements of the
population. in which Father Leo at
tempted to act as the peacenlalker.
His efforts were not taken kindly by
one element OF the conflicting parties.
and it Is known that at that time
threats were made against his life.
All Paterson is arq1sed over the
death threat directed against the sue
cessor of the slain priest. Father
Joseph has been requested by the
ing the receipt of the Black Hand let
/ ter. and an investigation Is now under
way.
John r. Fitz Gerald, playwright and
author one of the most prominent
members of ST. Bonaventure's congre-
cation, said today to an EVENING
STAR reporter:
1.-THE receipt of a Black Hand let
for. hxy TToft t.
line with the assassination of Father
Leo. The time has come for every
reputable member of society TO wage a
personal and relentless war against
these murderers and outlaws.
1.-THE North has stood the atrocities
and outrages of the Black Hand and
kindred societies long enough. The
time has come we OF the North should
act. Every member of the Black Hand
band caught red-handed should be
burned at the stake. The sooner
Northerners adopt the methods of the
South the sooner will reputable So
ciety be protected against the machlna-
tions of the murder band"
Threat on Heels of Murder.
With the threats made against the
priest who succeeded the man that
recently fell beneath the bullet of an
assassin as he was administering the
holy sacrament, the citizens of Pater-
son, irrespective of religious denomna-
ton, have been fully aroused. All sus-
picious characters who have been mere
ly tolerated are regarded with suspi-
cion, and the Totowa district Is closely
watched for q demonstration. The po-
lice fear one false move would lead
the indignant citizens TO take the law
in their own hands.
Father Leo, the murdered priest, and
his successor, were among the best
beloved of the Catholic clerics in Pat
erson, their aid and sympathy never
being sought in vain. The foul murder
of the former aroused citizens, and the !
fame which threatens to break forth !
in a public demonstration has been
famed by the Black Hand letter
Father Joseph has received.
This last outrage, coming as it does
within week of Father Leo's burial, !
indicates that there is a determined /
effort on the part of the Black Hand |
to extend their murderous work to |
other men of the cloth.
Element InimIcaI to Both.
Father Leo and Father Joseph both
earned the enmity of foreign element |
in this city several years ago during |
labor riots. The two priests went |
among strikers and troops counseling 1
the latter not to use violence and beg |
ging the troops not to injure any
strikers. Later it developed that the
trouble was not so much sctuated by
labor conditions as a revolt against |
society, started by the REDS and |
then the priests helped the police to
run down the ringleaders
Especial to the Evening Starl
UNION HILL, March Father Will
lam T. Mclaughlin, pastor of ST Au-
gustine's Roman Catholic Church here,
received a fourth Black Hand letter
today, all having been received by him
since Father Leos murder in Denver.
The last letter Father Mclaughlin got
says: