The evening world., 1909-03-13
Study of the Slain Detective
by Reporters Familiar
With His Work.
LONG EXPECTED DEATH
"They'll Get Ne Some Day."
He Said; but Threats Did
Not Deter Him.

DdthfferS nnre OGeH luWlHuT
uith his methods and their re.
suits.
Joe Petrosino was no brilliant Sher-
lock Holmes sort OF detective. He
was a "plugger." He was treless, He
was never fully satisfied. Once started
he never stopped unless he ran against
blank wall. then he would retrace his
steps, pick up the scent again and fol-
low It, but avoiding the wall,
He was a suspicious man and trusted
but few He frequently mistrusted men
In his own staff whom a fortnight be-
fore he had entrusted with delicate
work He resented familiarity on the
part OF his stan and did not take kindly
to suggestions. He knew the Italian
types OF cr,minals-knew their weak
spots and their haunts,
He knew by sight every italian and
Anarchist lawbreaker in the East and
lie knew, too, that sooner or later he
would meet his death-just as he has
in violence.
Long Foresaw tho End.
The writer was sitting with Petrosino
In the Cafe Romano on Mulberry street
one evening. The detective had finished
hearty meal and was reading an
Italian newspaper. He suddenly pointed
to paragraph which referred to the
assassination Of police official In a
Russian town His face looked very
sad as he said
They'll get me that way some day"
He smiled when pressed for some
thing more on the subject, and few
minutes later went out.
Petrosino had received dozens OF let
ters in which threats were made to as
sassinate him unless he ''let up" on
this or that criminal. He was more
than once jostled on the street by the
"footpad" who was not sufficiently
keyed up to do the job. He was warned
repeatedly by other detectives to take
care OF himself, and for time he was
in the habit OF having one OF his men
trail him about when he was on the
street at night This man kept re-
volver In his coat pocket, constantly
with his finger on the trigger.
He Warned Mckinley.
Petrosino felt the assassination Of
President Mckinley very keenly. He
said once III they had only watched
out better. I told them"
Some six months before the PresI-
dents assassination in Buffalo Petrosino
was detailed at the request Of Washing
ton authorities to investigate certain
rumors of plot to kill the President.
He regarded the commission as a great
honor. as indeed II was, and worked
much Of this time In Paterson, where
he was in disguise constantly, He
learned enough to convince, him that
President McKinley's life was in
imminent peril. He made out his report
which was very concise and clear. and
advised a close watch on the President.
and warned him against going into large
assemblies OF people, where assassina-
ton was easy.
His Secret Service Idea.
This advice was followed by the Secrs; (;
Service men for months. but the Presi-
dent himself never took the warning
seriously.
Warnings were also sent to King
Humbert OF Italy a few weeks before
his assassination. based on Petrosino's s
reports that the anarchists OF New York
were plotting a demonstration In Italy.
| Petroslno had the respect and conf
dence OF the well-to-do element among
the Italians all over the East.
| The Italian secret service here was his
idea. The city government wouldn't
pay for such body Of men, and Petro-
s!no put 1t up to the Italian merchants,
especially the Sicillans. who resented the
imputation that nearly all emigrants
from their island were thugs and cut
throats. Every murder In the Italian
doors OF the Sicllians.
! Jimmy" March, the italian political
leader, in whose house on Lafayette
street Petrosino lived. was especially
active in the organization OF such 3
| body, with Joe at It's head The neces-
sary money was raised and a petition
signed by hundreds Of wealthy Italians
was TO have been submitted to Gov.
Hughes within few days making Pet
rosIno the head Of q State Italian secret
service.
/ Here ls the tribute to brave man
made by the second reporter,
/ petroslnos death is a final answer to
all that was ever said OF him by his
sworn enemies. the men Of the Black
Hand crew, Csmorra and Malta tugi.
t!yes from Italy, practcins as Indi.
yiduals here the b.ackmaIl and terror.
ian they had learned In Sicily and
Southern Itaiy as organization men
The Black Hand men used to boast that
Pe,roslno was afraid OF the BLACK
Hand" Yet no one knew better thar
Toe Petrosino that there was no such
society as the Black Hand and that
/, was merely q name which 1tAliar
crlmlnals and men OF other nationaltiei
used like trademark for their oSr
He Knew no Fear.
No policeman. reporter or detectiy,
who ever worked with Joe Petrosint
ever doubted his courage or that h,
would some day meet his death jus
stood one night In the dark hall OF al
Apartment house In Charles stree