Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-31
POLICE HOLD
TWO ITALIANS
rs TERRORISTS
MAN AND WOMAN ARRESTED ON
TELEGRAMS CHARGING BLACK
HAND" PLOTS.
MAY GAIN THEIR FREEDOM.
Rochester and Chicago Authorities Fail
to Produce Evidence Against
Prisoners in Cells.
EXPLOSIVES FOUND IN TRUNKS


ian, and his companion, a woman called
SANDING, which was made here in a
west side resort Saturday by Detective
John bennington, was made public by
Inspector Riemer today The man is al
legged by the chief of police of Roches-
ter, \. Y. and Police Chief Shippy of
Chicago to be IL murderer, leader of one
Of the infamous Malta gangs, white
slave dealer, manufacturer of bombs,
and to be guilty of attempting to murder
a woman whom he bought from Italy
and who knew his secrets, in Rochester.
Many Crimes Charged
Since the arrest here Inspector Riemer
has received kilograms telling of the
mans escapades, but when the Roches-
ter police were notified Of his capture,
they confessed to being unable to pro-
duce sufficient evidence to hold him for
any of these crimes. One of the tele-
grams, the latest one, concludes with
the statement that it is possible that the
United States authorities must be inter
ested i'll his capture, and may charge
him with trafticking in white slaves. -,
L did not disclose the arrest sooner,
said Inspector Riemer, because l did
not want stories printed which might not
be true. There is no doubt but that we
have Joseph Ruffino, a bad man and per
haps 4 criminal, but | doubt the stories
from Chicago to the effect that bombs
were found in his effects and that he IS
guilty of murder. The kilograms from
Rochester We're so mixed that it is i'm
possible to tell what they want him for.
The man gives a fair account Of him
self and admits that the woman is not
his wife. If we do not receive report
giving a specific charge and proof that
will give us good reason to hold him
longer, | shall feel half inclined to turn
him loose "
Chicago Police Fooled.
The police of many cities are said to
be interested in Ruftino, but thus far
none has produced a case against him.
The Chicago police just missed the couple
when they left Chicago, after receiving
word from Rochester that they were
wanted. From the description sent here
Detective John bennington located the
mans room at 81 Fourth street, and
waited for him two days, finally finding
him at 4:3O a. m. Saturday, just ready
to leave the city. lie was carrying two
grips and seemed in a hurry to get out.
The woman was found later in a resort
i'll River street. Both gave their names
as Marine until they were told that their
real names were known, when this was
admitted.
At the present time Rufino does not
know that the woman is under arrest in
the same. Jail with him. The story that
he told was to the effect that he came
here with the woman to live, hoping to
start a saloon or fruit business, but
found the conditions not favorable.
Murder Attempt Charged.
A brother of Joseph, Francisco Ruff
fino, is said TO have taken Enrichetta
EaccariUa. aged II years, to Rochester,
\. Y. ana to have attempted to murder
her there following the receipt of let
ter from Joseph to the effect that the
girl knew too many Of their secrets con-
corning the black hand
This woman is said to have been
white slave" brought here five months
ago from Italy after the Rufino brothers
are alleged to have committed a murder
at SanguSseppe, latOn, Sicily. The
young woman's throat was cut, it is said,
but she escaped and told the police all
she knew. The RuttinOs fled Rochester
and since that time have been i'll hiding.
The young woman is now with Ernest
Calabrese in Chicago.
Chicago detectives who found the
room III Chicago which the arrested cou-
pie occupied. say that they found many
evidences that Ruffino is a member of
the black hand" including bombs. in
gradients used in making them as well
as apparatus, guns, knives, pieces of
gas pipe. brass knuclles and dies and
stamps used in signing black hand"
letters This is doubted by Inspector
Riemer In addition, Detective Nor
mington, who captured the alleged Grim
inal, says he found nothing whatever in
Rutfinos effects here to bear out these
statements. The woman and the man
had postal cards and letters which
showed that they had been in Rochester
and Chicago as well as in New York
city.
Prisoner Is Man of Learning
Ruffino is college graduate, we'll ed
ucated and possessing some degree of
refinement. He is not a laborer. Di-
plomas are said to have been found by
detective Howe of Chicago which prove
that Ruffino is we'll versed in chemistry.
an art said to have been learned to aid
him in the making of explosives.
The telegram now in the hands of In
spector Riemer is dated July 26, and
says that a letter giving Ruffino's his
tory in detail will follow, but this has
not yet been received. Nor has word
been had from the United States au-
thorities, who are said by Chief J. C.
Hayden of Rochester to be DESTROYS of
OBTAINING Ruffino.