New-York tribune., 1909-03-16
BINGHAM PUSHES WORK
: BUSY. ON MURDER CASE
disks Palermo Police for Details Of
Petrosino Assassination.

n
with the arrival yesterday a. Police Headquarters
Of Commissioner Bingham who has been On a
weeks vacation. the work &C running down 1he
assassns Of Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino vas lakeh
mn with renewed vigor While the indications are
.he+ Petrosino was murdered ny members OF the
Naaa who had been commissioned 20 XII him
nevertheless the authorities here are trying TO make
certain thar the crime not committed by local
7-sliaps who followed the detective 10 Sicily where
the,y knew that their chances of Staying him and
getting away we're much betts~ than in this
country.
The first thing that Commissioner Bingham did
when he reached his once 10 hold a confer
ence with Inspector McCsTerty, after which he
had long talk with the members Of the detective
y bureau The Commissioner told rhe that they
must make every effort 10 stamp out the Black
Hand in this country.
he said he had received letter from the Italian
2 Ambassador in Washington expressing regret at
the death II Pe;rosino and asking that he make
known 20 the widow the sorrow he felt When
asked Petroslno had gone 10 italy to make prep
srations for safeguarding ex-President Roosevelt.
Commissioner Bingham said that the lieutenant had
been working for the police alone.
Inspector McCanertv was asked If the number
''6S24" which found IN Petrosinos pocket was
in any way connected with the man whose picture
jn the RoEues- Gallery bore that number. He said
there was no connection. There that
? among the men Petrosino searching for in
Italy one Chop Suey Joe" accused OF mur-
oering John Flynn January 3 1907. and that this
might have been connected with the murder
but there confirms ton OF this report
Rumors Of all kinds have been floating around
Police Headquarters the motive of the shoot
ing and the guilty persons.
DR. Raphael Asselta, the family physician for the
Petrosinos was seen yesterday. and he expressed
pronounced views the Black Hand situation
There are IN this country alone sir or seven
thousand Italians who combined in their black
mailing operations said Dr. Asselta
Lieutenant Petrosino went 10 Italy with the
names Of three hundred Italian criminals who
are in this county, 10 which they fed when they
were on parole IN Italy the conditions of parole
are very strict: IL a criminal violates those re-
Quirements he is not 10 house Of correction
for thirty days. but is thrown into prison for a
period Of from two and half 10 seven years The
criminal thus fleeing his parole cannot sail directly
70 this country; bur il he does he takes sailing
vessel and enters the United States in disguise and
generally at some port sucl Charleston, s Z.
'Alfsno. the leader of this band in America. ran
away from his parole in Italy and shipped from
Tuns. He entered this country in disguise part OF
his raiment being corduroy trousers. bandanna
handkerchief and a big hat.
There is no capital punishment in Italy. such
rs hanging or beheading convicted OF some
terrible crime is thrown into cell. across the floor
Rnic1l is flushed foul smelling water half inca
deeR al half hour intervals The water Will run
in one direction thirty minutes. viii be stopped
for an equal period. and then for the next half
hour il viii be flushed in the other direction.
The only time the prisoner sleep or lie down
is during the hsif houT the water is turned of
IF he survives this treatment he is sent out 10
break stones. and Is then put into dark cell, the
floor OF which is Uttered with the bodies OF dead
rodents, which have started to decompose.
When Lieutenant Petrosino went 10 Italy It was
probably known by OF the three hundred
criminals whose he had that his mission
had something do with their deportation
He had all these under surveillance and
hand ErCF1
OF his "Trip would naturally have been sent 10
Italy. by the suspected or their friends with
he result that the lieutenant was shot down His
purpose present the list TO the proper Ita1
ian authorities, with View 10 deciding the most
available method Of seizing these fellows FOR the
violation their paroles and returning them TO
sheir own country II is TO be presumed that the
names were delivered the Italian authorities be
rore Lieutenant Petrosino assassinated."
There Is, in my opinion" said one Of the men
attached to the Central ONCE yesterday. "a Black
Hand IN existence in this city They are active
as the police For instance. they find out through
the newspapers and the friends they may have on
the force the workings Of the Police Department
II is quite easy for of the unknown criminals
imported from Italy 20 come 10 America by way
Of Philadelphia Boston and finally get 10 New
York City To throw eff tie city police he viii
become 4 good citizen for year or 50, and then
he viii report TO the police that he has received
Black Hand letter and Of course Tie police Will
ronhde in him. he, the criminal, viii learn all
the workings Of the Police Department at the same
time getting Z good look the head Of the Italian
bureau Of detectives. lie viii be taken into the
Rogues- Gallery and perhaps shown his own pict-
ure-and can't you guess the rcsi?
Al a late honr yesterday afternoon Commissioner
Bingham sent the following cable message to the
chief o. Police OF Palermo:
please send wha; facts You have in regard TO
the aea1h OF Police Lieutenant Petrosino- Kindly
once
Il was learned that Commissioners Bingham mad
received q communication from the president Of
the Polse Ideu;enants' Benevolent Association ad-
,fsinr him that the ef $500. taken from the
contingent fund Of that organization. had beer ap-
.,fsE1riated and token Of respect 20 Mrs
Petrosino. said yesterday that the main
reason for Petrcsino-s trip q Italy was TO make
ARRANGEMENTS there for secret service 20 CO.
oxera-e rvith she officials here in keeping track OF
The Italian criminals -ho flock to this country
WsIl1 secret service there TO keep the New York
authorities Informed as to the movements of the
criminals the matter Of keeping them out OF the
country woul6 be comparatively simple one, II
said