Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-25
BLACK HAND
Responsible For Closing
Of an Italian Bank.
New York Banker |ncurs En-
NIFTY and Run Is Started.
Posts Remarkable Notice, Promis.
Ing to Resume Soon.

New York. March 2i.-A maleVolent
riot worked out by members of the
Black Hand in defiance of the author
tiles pressing hard upon their trail the
police declare. ended dramatically to-
day in q run of depoSitors on and the
suspension of the Bank of PaSquale
Patti. an Italian banker on Elizabeth
street and his fight from the city in
fear Of death by the Black Hand be-
cause he recently shot and killed Fran
cisco Pelletro, one Of their alleged
members who had demanded money
under the pain of killing the banker
ard family.
Three thousand depositors clamored
loudly at the Patti Bank today for their
savings and in the excitement run
was started on the bank of F. Acritelli
e. Son across the street from the sus-
pended institution and caused it to
shut its doors. The two banks were
small private institutions. The run on
tie Patti bank the police charge, was
engineered by the Black Hand as a
revenge OH Patti. who was yesterday
acquitted by the coroner of having
killed Pelletro When the run was at
its height police reserves were rushed
to the district to quell the fast rising
disorder.
Plastered on the window of PATHS
bank the most remarkab BILE notice of a
suspension probably ever posted was
read by hundreds today, after the
bank closed its doors. 1t read:
Il will suspend payment for two weeks.
am compelled to leave town, as I have
received threatening letters and people
have agreed to take my life. There are
no fears of your losing your deposits.
Besides cash l own g. houses in New
York and have them insured for 100000
and can pay every body. l will resume in
two weeks.
tSiGnedD
PasGuale Patti and Son, Salvatore"
The closing of PATHS bank and his sud
den departure from the city is the Sc
quel to scheme, 50 say the police, Of
eNtortion and blsCkmail OF the Black
Hand that had its inception several
years ago. P.squale Pati was .aid to
be the richest banker in the densely pop
ulated Italian quarter on the East side,
where the banker believed lie had no enc
mics. Letters came demanding money.
How much money Patti parted with 10
stay the threats the police have been
unable to learn.
1t was PATHS custom to keep large piles
of American and Italian money in the
front window Of his bank. and six weeks
ago one blustery day dynamite bomb
exploded near the tempting window The
window was shattered and thousands of
dollars i'll paw money was scattered about
the street. Patti succeeded in recovering
all of it.
Three weeks ago Francisco Peletro en-
tered PATHS bank with drawn revolver
and demanded money after threatening
to kill the banker. his wife and their son
Salvatore. who were in the bank. Patti
and his son drew their revolyers and in
the fnsilade OF bullets Peletro fell diving
Inc Hood Of Black Hand letters did not
cease and yesterday three strange men
entered the bank and threatened not only
10 XIII Patti and mis- family but to burn
MS nome and destroy his business
Inc men dartcd out of the bank before
PAU could summon the police. Late last
night a servant at the Patti home in
Brooklyn discovered several men nrou1-
ing around the house and quantity If
on-soaked rags placed against the build
ing in several places A small run nm tho
fati bank was started yesterday wban
rumors began to circulate about Pat;
mere were 200 depositors in line vvban
."e oahh opened today .Snd within an
hour the line of depositors grew to 2OOo
reiatives quickly decided on sus-
peisioh ana the door was closed and the
'o''ce OF suspension posted. The where
anouts of Patti are not known.