The Washington times., 1909-03-13
One of Bingham's Shrewd-
est SleuthS Shot Down
in Italy.
ASSASSINS AFTER
VALUABLE PAPERS
Plan of Commissioner TO Break Up
Organization Is Blocked
by Murder.

ROME, March 13.-JoSeph fct-
rosino, chief of the Italian detectives
of New YoFk city, was shot and kill
ed in Marina square, Palermo, by
agents of the Black Hand Society,
according to messages just received
from Palermo.
Petrosino, the dispatch says, had
been sent to Italy by the New York
police department TO gather evidence
against the leaders of the Black
Hand, who are believed TO have
their headquarters in Italy and to
conduct thier operations throughout
yfe world from a central Office.
Returns Their Fire.
Petrosino was attacked by the Black
Handlers as he was walking on the
street. They opened fire on him, but be-
fore he fell he drew his own revolver
and engaged in q duel with his assail-
ants, 1t is believed that he shot one
revolver were empty.
The police at Palermo say there is no
doubt that Petrosino was murdered for
certain papers that he had in his pos
session. correspondence between the
Black Hands headquarters and its
agents in New York.
In this, however. the murderers were
defeated, as a crowd gathered so quick
ly after the shooting that there was no
time to search Petrosinos pockets,
which were filed with the documents.
Petrosino WAS well known IN Palermo
snd all over Italy, and his murder has
aroused a storm of bitter feling. The
entire police department Of Palermo IS
at work on the case, and a drasnet will
bs spread all over Italy in an effort TO
apprehend the muruerers.
Sensations Expected.
The most sensational developments
are expected as a result OF the murder.
From the papers found on the body it is
believed that Petrosino had secured the
most valuable Information regarding the
inside working OF the Black Hand and
other criminal organizations One docu-
ment gives complete list with full par
ticulars, OF well-known Sicilian ex-con-
tsricts now IivIr IN Palermo.
PstE,ostnYS b;fiOs disclosed So by police pIio
tric car near his stopping place last
night, when several shots rang out.
They were fired from a distance and
Just a S he fell the car came along. This
probably prevented the nurderers from
searching the body for the incriminat-
ing papers and they fed.
The police have so far made no ar
rests. and seen 10 be wholly IN the
dark TO the identity of the naur-
dsrers.
knowledge of Criminals.
Petrosino probably knew more about
the operations or criminal Italians in
this country than any other man. A
report that he made on the activities OF
anarchists, in America, with especial
reference to Italians following the as
sassination of King Humbert, OF Italy,
is now one OF the valued volumes In the
Secret Service department at Washing
ton. Had his recommendations been
followed, he claims, the assa sSination
OF President Mckinley would have been
prevented
lie was born in Italy. but came to
New York, when a boy. He was an
inspector on a city dump, when In
spector Byrnes. at that time supreme
IN police affairs, induced him TO ioin
the force This was twenty years ago
and from that time Petrosino was
known as the brains OF the italian squad
ar police headquarters
lie had more convictions for murder
10 his credit than any Of the five other
headquarters detectives. Petrosino knew
every Italian dialect and could usually
tell from what part OF Italy any of her
erligrants came. BlaCknailers, bomb
thTOwers. stilettO Wielders and their
tlk, stood In dread OF PetrOsino.