Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1909-06-09
lECRIMINATlNG EVIDENCE
TRUNK FULL OF BLOOD cURDL.
ING LETTERS AND LITERAT- q
URE FOUND
AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE
SLAYER OF JOSEPH PETRosiNl
BELIEVED TO BE AMONG
THOSE ARRESTED

Cincinnati, o., Iune s.-What is be
lieved to be the opening wedge in the
prosecution of a monster Black Hand
organization with ramifcations ex
tending to all parts Of the United
States, began today with the arrest
of half dozen Italians headed by
Sam Lima, of Marion. Ohio on the
charge of extortion. The theory of
the New York police is that it is no
local society but a powerful criminal
organization with members every
where exacting tribute from thou
sands OF fear stricken Italians.
Tho federal officials say they have
evidence that the fruit store of Joe
Rizzo at Marion. was the headquar-
ters of the society in this country
Rizzo is under arrest. Antonio Mar
sisi and Tony Bicherio have been ar
rested in Colmnbtis The letters con-
fiscated will fill two mail pouches.
The officers say they have evidence
of system of books kept, showing
the amounts extracted from the vic
tins and how divided among the
members of the gang. The authori-
ties say the society in this country is
directly allied with similar one in
italy and Sicily. The conspirators
are said to have sent $4,000 monthly
to italy.
A Big Catch
Marion. Ohio, june 9.-United
states Secret Service Agent J. f. Old
field. who arrested Sam Lima, an
Italian fruit merchant OF this city
yesterday, as the leader Of the Itali-
an Black Fand society in the United
States. today took his prisoner, to-
gether with a trunk full of incrimin-
ating letters found in Lima's store. to
Columbus. All but two of the seven
men arrested with Lima, have been
released These two also have letters
signed with skulls and bleeding
hearts. Secret agents are still search
ing for other members of the gang
in this vicinity brother of Lima
has disappeared and another brother
has been traced to Italy. The letters
found in Lima's store are all threat
ening and signed with skulls and
cross bones. Lima was not told the
cause of his arrest until this morn
ing when given paper telling Of his
arrest as the leader of the Black
Hand. Lima was suspected shortly
after John Amicon had received a
letter threatening his life When
Lima saw the paper he said:
@Amicon is jealous, that's all. sell
more bananas than he"
Lima is known to have sent $500
to Italy a short time ago and his
business is not large enough to war
rant this.
Alleged Assassin in Custody
Columbus, o.. June 9-Postal In
spector Oldfield is positive that Col
logero Viccarrio, arrested as Black
Hand suspect today at Bellefontaine,
Ohio, was connected with the murder
of Joseph Petrosiui, the New York
detective. who was assassinated re-
Gently in Palermo, Italy.
4 base my belief said he, "on the
fact that this man left New York
shortly before Petrosini was killed.
/ believe him to be one of the ring
leaders Of the Malta in the United
States and consider his capture one of
first Importance"
q. F. Diamio, Italian secret service
agent who ranks with Petrosini. as
( sisted In the capture of viccarrio.
The Black Hand letter sent John
Amicon is sample Of all those found