Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-10
4
NEWPORT NEWS HAS NO.
BLACK HAND" SOCIETY
Letter 10 BaGhsr schnsIz Mas
He|ltsn by ysulh for "Pupe
cussednsss"
CHIEF REYNOLDS LOCATES WRITER
Paper Typewrlslns. Rcd Ink and Blue
Pencil Marks Furnished Clues by
Which Mystery Surrounding Threat
enIns OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Boy Is Lectured and Forgiven.

son that can be assigned for the send
ms Of tho BLACK Hand lottcr re-
& ceived by Banker George A. Schmclz
.spn November 80. The remarkable
missiye In question was the result
oil the genius OF youth employed rs
& clerk IN the Office of well
known business firm of this city, and
nov that the story is known the fact
that there was never any intention
Of bomb throwing or other violence Is
\ obvious.
There will be no prosecution. and
the name Of the cie"k with
such crude IDEAS on the subject of
1oklng VIII not be made public. for
Neither Mir. Schmelz nor tho police
authorities desire to he hard OH the
youth. Tho sending of the communal
cation was, in the eyes OF the law,
misdemennor only. and for this
reason the banker ami the officers
have the right to allow tho matter
'e drop Tho youngster hns learn
ed q lesson that he will not forget as
long as he lives, however, and II 9TH
er 'Rlack Hand dolngs develop in
the future he will not be concerned.
No Hslaok Hand" Society"
Snief OF Police John w Reynolds
3 - ssne man 10 whom is due the credit
dor exploding the theory that the let
Yer received by Mr.. Schmelz was sent
10y "Black Hand" society. and for
( tracing the communication to the very
z person of the writer. The story OF
how this waa done sounds like
4 Sherlock Holmes Incident, and should
ne calculated to cause knowing wrong
{ loers TO give a,wide beth to New
M s.v-.---g~sl--s- Z
When Mr. Schrielz received tho
letter. he lost no time IN placing the
matter In tho chiefs hands, The
banker said that he did not believe
the threat to XIII him was made So
ricusly. but. nevertheless he thought
1.-THE matter should be investigated
Tho chief, too. expressed tho opinion
that the communication hardly de-
served serious consideration. but no
went to work as though the matter
was one OF life and death. and II
WAS not long before his labor was
rewarded.
How start Was Made.
The letter was written with type
4 writer upon certain kind OF paper
s@fierh Is used In comparatively
small number of offices in the city.
Thus ali offices except the few In
which this paper might be found were
Z practically eliminated from con-
sideration. A skull md cross bones.
drawn with n blue pencil and traced
over with red ink, with the word
Death written In red ink. appeared
in one corner of the letter The
chief decided that blue pencils, red
ink md tysewr,ters We're to be found
only In vel equipped Offices.
Then tho letter was carefully en-
amined Shrcugh microscope. and
every characteristic and defect of the
typewriter studied. The next task
Was TO secure samples of typewriting,
samples from offices in which GER
ell particularly.
When large number of samples
hsd been examined, one was found In
which the typewriting presented the
inmistakahle characteristics of the
inachine with which tho "Blnck Hama
istter had been written. The rest of
he task w3s comparatively easy,
Having traced the thing to an Of
aco, the chief readily decided upon
the man who had done the Job The
I: young man, when confronted with his
offense. confessed and begged for
giyeness.
Upon being taken before Mr..
cisrels. 4hs yo;s..s man was most
pepentant He apologised and I'M
nlorsd mercy. The banker gave the
d 10y some sgool advice and promised
4 TO take no action against him.
Not Talking just Now.
Although II was intended that the
sstory should be given to the public
81, time. neither Mr.. Schmelz nor
Chief REYNOLDS had any intention OF
= having Al go into print just now,
However. for several days PARTS of
the story haye been leaking out, and
yesterday people were beginning to
iiiScuss It on the streets.
Neither Mr. SchD,elz nor Chief Rey-
noItis would discuss the affair when
hoy were approached by Daily
reHs reporter last night. although
s they could not deny the facts PRESENT
I'd to hem for confirmation In spite
III their reticence. IT was apparent
tita6 both were glad that the result
1T Tho chief wpyls swnuld dispel any
lees thepubtic might be entertaining
fnlsceFninc BLACK KandY societies
ana bomb ihrowers,
f<azfas' >'4sssr .Fis,--F---