Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-09
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Of BLACK HAND UNCOVERED


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John Amicon, fruit dealer of Colun
bus. demanding $4,000. The hand
writing in the letters to Am'Con Is
identical with that in the letters re-
ceived by Antonio Rizzio, a fruit
dealer of Cincinnati who died suddenly
several weeks ago after refusing to
comply with the demand of Black
Hand letter TO give up $1,0)) or forfeit
his life He died soon afte- eating a
banana given him by stranger.
Headquarters of Gang.
The postollice inspectors claim they
have discovered evidence showing
that Marion is the headquarters of all
the Black Hand societies of the coun-
try and that Sam Lima is The head of
the organization. The con'apts of the
safe in the RiZzo store, which was
opened by the inspectors, they say,
showed that hundreds of business men
in all parts of the state have been pay
ing tribute 10 the gang. Arrests are
said to have been made also in Pitts
burg. Pa, and inspectors left for Belle
fontaine to make several more there.
Inspector Oldfield says whal the
whole story is known the coultsv Will
be astOunded.
Warning Was Suggestive.
1t was January l last that Amicon' 5
wife found at the door of their home
IL Columbus box containing dyna-
mite and fuses, and tackled on the out
side a Black Hand note demanding
$4,000 and threatening death if the
money was not Paid at the Black
Hand rendezvous in Pittsburg The
case was turned over to the govern.
mcnt secret service and later given to
the postollice inspectors. The Ami
cons received weekly demands fol
money. The Pittsburg police recently
raided the Black Hand headquarters
there and made II arrests.
Carried Out Threat.
The Black Hand gang recently or
dered Fred Cianciolo, a Cincinn at
fruit dealer, to give up $4,000 on pen
atty of death for himself and family
A few months later "a dynamite boml
was exploded in the doorway of hi.
home. No one was injured, but an ad
joining saloon was wrecked. JOSEPH
Annarino, a Cincinnati fruit dealer
was warned to give the Black Han.
$4,000 or his child would be kidnape
The postofiice inspectors insist tha
4 thp. hand of ho lot 10
Cincinnati men is the same as that il
the Amicon letters.
Plan tn Kill Detective.
! Chicago, June 9.-An alleged plot /.
assasSinate Detective Gabriel Long,
bardi, Of the Black Hand squad of TIA
Chicago police force was revealed her
today by Longobardi. The plot is sal
to have involved a Jail delivery. Som
months ago Longobardi arrested Gul
i'eppe Burtucci, who was charged wit
the murder of an other Italian, job
Umbrella. Later the same officer too
into custody VincenZo Geraci, charge
with attempting TO extort So 1000 frol
DR.. Peter Cutrera by Black Han
threats.
Informed of Plans.
| Two weeks ago LOngobardi receive
a letter from Geraci stating plot W.
under way to contrive the escape
Burtucci from Jail and that later b
was to carry out the sentence of deal
imposed on the detective by the seer,
Italian society. Burtucci has beS
closely watched since the first warnir
and has had no chance to escape.
| Stabbed in Wrist
Several weeks ago Longobardi W:
stabbed in the wrist by two men wi
had been lettering in an alley at IL
rear of the policeman's home. Long
bardi has been very vigorous and su
cessful in tracing crime among IL
Italians. The plot to get rid Of him
believed to have many ram;fications.