New-York tribune., 1908-07-16
NOT BLACK HAND BOMB
Watts Court Eaplosion Due to
4nery SzCede, Police Ih'nE.

Instead of the overworked Black Hand being
responsible for the explosion which SHOOK up
WATTS Court, the apartment house at NO. loI u
16s West 140th street, early yesterday iioi me-
causing much noise and a little damage, the ponce
believe that the angry sweetheart OF a e"euisn
maid did 1t for revenge on the tenant VINO ~
both him and the servant girl thrown out INTO .iie
street about fortnight age. The man. DIG
Swedish iron worker, after his election went away
with the girl both threatening revenge AS the
Black Hand has always been careful to cohnhe ts
operations strictly Italian or Slcilian osric's'
where the victims are reluctant Tor one reason or
another to tell their troubles to patroiman' the
police from the start did not beleve the eApiosio
to be of their tricks.
Lieutenant Petrosini himself visited the house
yesterday afternoon but found nothing TO connect
the explosion with the Italian blackmailers. al
though Italian family occupied apartments on
the sixth floor
The apartment house is divided into three sec
tions by courts running back from the street. The
explosive. probably stick of dynamite; was ek-
poded in the right hand court tearing up the
cement walk, breaking windows and glass right anu
left and sending the 1fty-three night robed fami-
lies scurrying out of bed. The explosion was felt
for blocks around and alarmed the whole neigh
borhood.
The family of Joseph Monelis has apartments on
the first floor which overlook the right hand cor
ner. 1t is believed the dynamite was lntended LOT
Mr.. Monelis At present he is In the country OUT
he is expected back to-day. Until about fort
night ago he employed Swedish servant GIRL
whose only fault her admirers. Among them
was an ironworker who was in the habit or stay
ing until unconventional hours. Three weeks ago
he ordered from the house by Mr.. Monelis A
week later he stayed late that both he and the.
girl ordered out of the house. The man
threatened Mr.. Mones at the time.
If the dynamite meant for Mr. Moneils,
whoever threw it made mistake in his haste
and tossed it into the wrong court. 1t exploded
OCCupied A.
L. Selig So great the force of the explosion
that Mrs. Selig and her husband were thrown out
of bed. Mrs SeHg had to be attended by DR.. and
Mrs. Rolf, who live the second floor. and both
of whom were cut by flying glass
II Is considered wonder that one was hurt
seriously Following the shock of the explosion
the house filed with acrid fumes. and there
small panic for few minutes. Peter
Beecher. superintendent of the building. who lives
the fourth floor managed to restore order after
several minutes hard work At the time of the
explosion there was a patroman three blocks away,
who contented himself with rapping for his brother
patrolmen before going to the building
Watts Court is a story building what is
known as the old Watts farm. 1t is owned by the
Lenox Realty Company, of No. 115 Broadway.
Diasonay across the street is the old Watts Manor
House now occupied by Miss Mary H. Pinkney,
who is ninety years old. She out saw what
the trouble was and then went back to bed.
Pfnzola Bonoventura. who the police say they
caught trying to blow up the fathouses owned by
Francesca Spnella, at No. 3fi East 11th street on
Tuesday night was examined at Police Headquar-
ters yesterday. but he would say nothing. Mag
istrate Breen held him in $4,000 bail for examina
ton tomorrow. The magistrate did not like the
careless way in which Petrosini held the dynamite
in court.
'I notice" he said, that when you officers have
a loaded bombshell a revolver to show to the
co,rt II is always pointed at the judges head.
don't like it. Take 1t away
The three alleged Black Hand men who were
caught picking up paper stuffed can displayed as
bait by Bernard Porgis, of No 81 St Marks Place,
were all held yesterday for further examination by
Magistrate Barlow in the Yorkville court If
those Black Handlers think they have me fright
ened they are sadly mistaken" said Magistrate
BARLOW IF one of them me and de-
mands anything I'll cut off their heads with a
cleaver. They'll surely be dead ones If they come
around to my shop.