The Washington herald., 1908-08-14
BAND Or ASSASSINS
DRAG MAN TO DEATH
Lay in Ambush and Kill a
Rich Brooklyn Man.
GIRL IS TOO SCARED TO TELL
Priest, Informed of Crime ny Neigh
bOr, Rushes 20 Police station and
Iieved to Be One of Vengeance
by the Notorious Black Hand.

Brooklyn. y. Y. Aug. 1S.-Pietr0 Barilla,
a wen-to-do hotel man. Of woodhaven. L
7. was dragged from his bicycle at Lin
coin road and Nosrrand avenue. in Flat
bush. al a n to-day and stabbed and
shot 10 death by q band Of men who had
lain IN ambush for him IL olump Of
bushes al the side Of the road.
The police have arrested Antonio del
Mario, his cousin, a saloon keeper. in
whose company. at 525 Lincoln road. he
was
The victims body vas literally riddled
with stab and bullet wounds.
From letters found on him. it IS prac-
ticaIly certain Ba-iIla was the victim OF
the Black Hand. The police believe the
same band that hacked and hewed a man
10 pieces shortly after Christmas and
dumped his dismembered body. wrapped
in oiIcIoth. near the scene Of to-day's
crime. killed The hotel keeper
It was evident though, from a half
empried magazine revolver q the auto
matte type that was found tightly
cIutched In the victims hand that he
fought for his lie I'll iae bullets and
knives Of his assaiIants brought him
down
There were two witnesses 20 Bsrilla's
slaying-SIldred Busch, a ifteen-year-old
girl. OF go Lincoln road. and q man who
happened TO be passing II was ap-
parent. though. after they had been brief
y examined by the police OF the Flatbush
station. that whatever they may have seen
has been scared out of their heads by
horror Of the assassination-
Two saw the Attack.
All they could tell was that they saw
IN the bright moonlight that lighted the
road a gang Of men-seven or eight. at
least. they say-leap from a dark clUmp
Of bushes and fau on BariIIa ike a pack
OF wolves.
They heard BariIIa's terrified squeal
and then saw his revolver spit FIRE The
answer was a fusIlade from the band
Of assassius, and in the midst Of their
knives the hotel man sank into the road,
bleeding from a dozen wounds
The first intimat!on OF the murder that
reached the FIatbUsh police station came
from Rev. p y LuGecke. a Catholic
priest living IN Maple avenue He ran
breaJhIess into the station and told the
police that he had been informed OF the
crime by neIghbor.
Lieut. Kane. IN charge. sent the reserves
out 10 search the section, while the body
was brought into tie station house The
police went through the whole district
without turning up the slightest clew TO
the slayers. 50 weu had they covered
their tracks From the fact that no
trace Of blood was discovered il is ad-
duced that none Of the assassins was hit
by the bullets from BarlIla-s revolver.
though he evidently fred several times
Didn't Rob Victim
The murder was not for robbery. That
much is certain. for the dead mans
watch and a considerable sum Of money
were found on him The police believe
he was riding TO keep an appointment
with the sang that killed him when he
met his death
That Bsrina was prepared for trouble
IS evident from the fact that he carried
a revolver and was prepared 10 use II
with deadly effect
Several letters. written il Italian. and
some Of them addressed in the red ink
OF the Black Hand, were found in his
pockets. What connection these have
with his murder Is not Vet established.
but when they are translated II IS be
lieved they VIII prove TO be Black Hand
n1issives-