Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-05-13
BLACK HAND In
WEST VIRGINIA
One Killed and Twelve Captured While
In the Let Of Committing Murder
and Robbery at Vivian, In
Mcdowell County.

force, was apprised of the fact that a
foul midnight murder and robbery were
about to be committed by thirteen men,
bers of that murderous band known
throughout the civilized world as the
Italian or Sicilisn Black Hand. This
information was furnished the police by
one Tony COpsiletti, an Italian, whom
the would-be murderers compelled on
pain Of death to join with them in their
unholy designs. After carefully going
over the plans of the band with the
young Italian informant and getting the
minutest details in connection with the
affair, Chief McWhite advised Copsilet-
tt to return to his home at the Peerless
Coal and Coke Company's works, at
Vivian, where the bloody tragedy was
TO be enacted, and to accompany the
members of the band on their murder
Gus mission, the chief promising to be
on hand that night with other officers to
intercept and arrest them before their
foul plans could be carried into execu-
ton. Copsilett did as told; and then
the chief got busy, preparing for an
ordeal that only men with nerves of
steel and heroic courage would dare
contemplate. He called to his assistance
Constable Charles S. Mcfarland and
Deputy Sheriff Joseph E. Parsons, and
as soon as the shades of night had fall
len the trio set out for the scene of the
contemplated murder. Upon arriving
at Vivian the officers went directly to
the home of Salvertore Azzalina, who
was to be the victim of the murderous
clan, and informed him of the intentions
of the band. Azzilina hurriedly took
his wife to the adjoining home of his
brother-in-lsw, then returned and took
up position with the waiting officers of
the law.
1t was now IL O'Clock, and the hour
set for the carrying out of the murder
GUS plot. Presently foot steps were
heard and subdued whisperings fell on
the ears of the waiting officers. Then
window was silently opened and the
figure of a man glided in. Then another
and another until three of the Black
Hand and Tony, the informer, had en-
tered. On entering the room, Belfrori
Singi, apparently the leader of the band,
snapped out the electric light; but as he
did so, Tony told him to turn it on again,
which he did, only to find himself gazing
into the muzzles of half dozen death
dealing Smith & Wessons, behind which
stood the grim and determined minions
of the law and Tony Copsiletti, the in
formant. Realizing that he and his
followers had been trapped, Singi de-
termined to sell his life-dearly, and with
a deadly stiletto in one hand and a
double-barreled derringer in the other,
he lurched viciously towards Chief Nc
White, but the officers guns belched
forth their leaden hail, and the leader
of the banditti dropped to the floor a
corpse, while one of his men, Salt Fran
cero, fell near him desperately wounded.
The shooting then became general, but
the officers having the advantage of
positions, escaped injury. Finding their
leader dead and another injured, the
remaining eleven of the band endeavor-
ed to make their escape, but the officers,
with Tony as a guide, soon rounded
them up, and long before the first gray
streaks of the mornings dawn had kiss
ed the hilltops, every living member of
the murderous band had been safely
lodged behind the bars of the Keystone
jail; while the body of the dead desper-
ado was consigned to a narrow grave
high upon the mountains side near
Peerless.
When searched total of fifteen ra-
zors, twelve pistols of different kinds,
one shot gun and six dirk knives were
found on the eleven Italians. The shot
gun was Of sixteen gusge, and is in
this respect similar to the gun used to
kill an Italian on the mountain near
Eureka and also one at the driftmouth
of the Keystone mines about two
months ago; and this leads the Mellow.
ell county authorities to the belief that
they will be able to connect the men
now under arrest with both the above
tragedies.
All the men arrested waived pre-
Iir1insry hearing before the Mayor of
keystone, and were sent to Jail at
Welch. The Mcdowell criminal court
being then in session Judge James F.
Strother ordered that a special grand
jury be empanelled to hear the charges
against the men, and in conformity
Herewith the jury met on Monday and
returned true bills against the entire
band on four different counts, namely,
attempted murder, attempted robbery,
conspiracy and attempted abduction,
it being shown that the men intended
carrying away into confinement the
wife Of their intended victim. The men
will be put on trial at once, and it's a
safe bet that every member of the