Evening star., 1909-03-14
CONSIDERED A MARTYR.
Had Received Numerous Threats
Against His Life.

adu HeCe1VeQ numerous AuIcdIS
Against His Life.
NEW YORK, March 13.--No crime In
years has SO stirred the people generally.
and the police in particular. as has the
assassination Of Lieut.. Joseph Petrosino
Of the New York police force in Palermo,
Sicily. BY many Petrosino is considered
a martyr. He had received numerous
threats that unless he ceased his efforts
against the Black Hand, the Camorra, the
Malta and other italian conspirators and
criminals. he would meet his end. Petro-
sino however, was not deferred in the
work he believed he was called on to do
for civilization and humanity, though he
often prophesied to his friends the fate
that befell him yesterday.
A relentless warfare has already COM
menced here and in many other American
cities against the class Of criminals who
brought about Petrosino's death. Instead
of stopping the investigation and prose-
cution. as they had perhaps believed. the
murder will cause only added activity
on the part Of the police all over the
country. and it is hoped that 1t will result
In closer cooperation between the Italian
government and our own barring these
criminals from the United States ports
and in deporting many that are now
here.
Joined Police Force in 1883.
Petrosino was forty-eight years old. and
became a member Of the police depart
ment in 1888. He was the find of In
spector Alexander Williams. Williams
was attracted by the active and bright
young Italian, and conceived the idea Of
using him in the Italian colonies. where
crime was frequent and hard to trace.
From the first Petrosino was successful.
His arrests have run into the thousands,
while his convictions have been proper
tionately large.
The Black Hand crimes had recently
received much of his attention and his trip
to Italy was in furtherance of his idea to
establish secret bureaus there that would
keep the police here informed when Grim
inals emigrated to this country so they
could be kept out. He was also arrang-
ing plans whereby known Italian crimi-
nails now here could be deported. espe-
cially men or women who had sentences
or charges hanging over their heads in
Italy.
In this work Petrosino had the hearty
cooperation of the immigration authOri-
ties, OF Police Commissioner Bingham and
of many Italian business men. 1t was, in
fact, the latter who furnished the funds
for Petrosino's trip to Italy and the work
he was doing. the board of aldermen and
the city officials here having neglected to
appropriate money for the purpose. Petro-
sino had been on his mission about two
months and was about to return when he
was asSassinated.
Regret From Roosevelt.
Ex-President Roosevelt was one of
those who knew Petrosino we'll and he was
greatly shocked at the news.
II can't say anything" he said. except
to express my deepest regret. Petrosino
was a great man and a good man.
knew him for years and he did not know
the name of fear. He was a man worth
while. ! regret most sincerely the death
of such a man as Joe Petrosino."
Police Lieutenant Antonio Vachris,
chief assistant of Petrosino in the Italian
criminal bureau Of the metropolitan police.
feels the death of his friend keenly and
wants to avenge his death.
l know the gang responsible for the death
OF Petrosino at Palermo. l know of moth
ing that would suit me better than to be
sent over there with a squad of secret
service men. That is what must be done
to avenge the death of our comrade, and
shall ask leave to go.
1T is safe to assume that PetroSino
was not working in Sicily alone. He con-
suited with the police officials everywhere
he went and always had detectives from
the local force to help him. He personally
told me that was his plan before he
sailed At the time 1 said to him: Joe,
you may be safe In northern Italy. but
be exceedingly careful of yourself when
you get down in the notch" You know
who's there Petr0SinO replied:
Victim Overconfident.
"'I'm no fool. Tony. I'll be ready for
anything that happens down there
Palermo is the worst hole In southern
Italy for the Malta. There are there at
least 100 criminals of the worst type, who
knew Petrosino, for many of them had
been deported from the United States as
result of his detective work here
Men who know the methods of the Ital-
ian criminal organizations are certain that
death was decreed in New
York city and accomplished with military
obedience by the:Matia. who are in league
with the Italian. criminals here. Inspector
head of tile New York detec-
tive bureau, besides sending kilograms
broadcast to stir up activity against Ital-
ian criminals throughout the country. set
every BILE man he had to work in the
Italian colonies In the city and Its vicin-
ity. He told the men of the death of
their brother officer and said he expected
from them speedy results.
Deputy Commissioner Wood late today
sent a cablegram to the American consul
at Palermo requesting him to take charge
Of the body of the murdered detective un-
til further arrangements are made for
bringing it to this country.
Black Hand Suspects in Pittsburg.
PITTSBURG, Pa, March 13-Within
thirty minutes after being informed by
the Associated Press that Chief of De-
tectives McCafferty of New York had re-
uuested the authorities in other cities to
roundup BLACK Hand" suspects in con-
necuon with the assassination in Palermo
Sicily of Lieut.. Petrosini Superintendent
Of Police and Detectives McQuaide today
- .@ls nfv,r.r~
carry out the Instructions All available
officers who have had considerable ex-
perience with the many alleged BLACK
Hand outrages in this vicinity were
given orders to locate all persons who
are believed to be affiliated with the no |
toriouS sQcietY large number OF the