The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-06-09
BLACK HAND

not think 1t.
I'VE know That you are rich and
you must give up some blood. II
you wish to avert your death, yoI
will search for an honorable person
to come to Pittsburg and while he
is searching for us, he will be found.
We advise you that IL you go to the
police, you can count yourself dead
that is, you die first.
Wretch! Do your duty without
the police and 1t will be well. Eth
er money or your life! In short
time you will see that we know how
to do it. Soon you will bear the
cross"
At the bottom of the letter is tho
signature of the black hand under
big, ugly dagger, on either side OF
which are the warnings: die wretch
and Your place!" The writing is
on both sides OF one sheet.
Practically all OF the secrets of the
operations from Lima are in the
hands of the inspectors. One of the
members of the Black Hand, when
arrested made a complete confession
to Detective Dimaio, revealing all
that he knew. This furnished the
basis for much of the work that pre-.
ceded the arrests of yesterday and
gave the government agents all the
secrets and information.
Alter the Monday conference in
the Office of Postmaster Krumm, the
inspectors scattered to several cities
where members of the organization
are located. The list of arrests is far
from complete. Before the work stops
probably score or more will be
brought to trial In the federal courts
Chief Inspector Holmes of Cincin-
natl discussing the case Tuesday
said:
"1ne proof we have found against
the Marion gang convinces us that
they have worked their games sue
cessfully on many Italians, princl-
pally well-to-do Sicilians. We have
not found where they went after
a single American They meant
business when they made demands
for money II their demands were
ignored they resorted to the bomb
to either bring their victim to time
or TO avenge persistent refusal
to submit to blackmail."
They tackled the wrong fish
when they got after me, declared
John Amicon Tuesday at his homa
o.J East kich street. I'm not afraid
OF any man in the United States. b
wouldn't give them a cent IL II cost
my life. They left some dynamite and
l turned 1t over to the postmaster.
My wife found 1t with letter de-
manding $4,000. They never got
anything out OF me.
I'VE got good many letters, but
turned them over to the postoffice
people as they came in. | understand
people In Springfield and Columbus
have paid. l couldn't remember the
names. Some gave $500, some 81 900
Some fixed 1t among themselves.
They wanted $4,000, but | never
paid any attention. They could kin
me first"
i Rather doclle prisoner Is Sam
Lima, alleged leader, who is under
larrest at the city prison. Lima puffs
J away at big black cigar which parts
, a heavy mustache and answer ques
tions readily. He Is perfectly com
lposed except when BLACK Hand" OF
"Mano Nera" as 1t Is expressed IL
Italian, Is mentioned
/ Asked whether or not he had an,
| connection with the Black Hand O.
other organization similar In nature
5 Lima jumped to his feet, gesticulat
! ing wildly and proclaimed his limo
cence.
See, my hands are white. The,
s are not black. | am hard work
ing business man. | work every day
, every night and every Sunday. Th
I Amicons are jealous of me. sci
: more bananas than they do. Tha
: Is why they say l sent the lettet
e They lie. Bah! No Black Hand. No
9 No!
Continuing in e more composed
: manner after he got that out of hi
{ system, Lima said that he had bee
Q here three years. He Is thirty year
b old ano has a wife and two children
I His father and two brothers, a
3 sought by the postal authorities, hav
y not been apprehended. Lima say
that he and his brothers and fathe
are innocent and no crime can b
, fastened upon them.
The men confined at tne count,
I jail refuse TO be interviewed an
have made no statement either de
u nying or admitting the charges. |
d Is this silence. SO common anon
: Italians when arrested. that makes
, hard TO convict them.
n i.obert Storaci, probably one @
e the most highly respected OF tn
o Italians in the city expressed n
Il surprise when he learned OF tn
y events OF the past two dsys. II
/ knew little OF the particulars an
QxnrpRQad tho nnfnirn 4hat klo -.