Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07

he sold out and left Columbus, escorted
by Victor Churches, an liaiian sergeant
of nolice He went to New York, and
thence To Italy. He returned TO eoiuii-
h,,s in Nav. however. reporting that
while in Italy he had received a!io'iie.
Rlark Hand letter mailed to him at
Trahia Italy which is another OF the
Italian Black Hand headquarters. An
examination and comparison ShoWeu tidt
tie handwriting of this letter was the
same as was the paper, as the others
racniy-ed nv him. The investigation by
the Columbus police, say the inspectors,
was conducted in such manner as !"
destroy the chance of getting the euiits
party. and for time the letters ceased
coming. ~.
Ahout the middle of January of the
present year John Amicon, wealthy
fruit dealer. who. with MS olotne.
Charles under the name OF Jonn Ainieoi'
Bros & Co. does business OF more than
a million dollars year. found dyna-
mite bomb on his porch. with the follow
ing letter wrapped around 1t:
Mr. John and Charlie:
We wish $4,000 5000 from each.
Therefore search for friends to- bring
this sum to Pittsburg at once, II you
value your life. This which you found IS
a sample but if you go to the police you
are lost. Therefore consult with the
other members of the family befofe You
act for the law cannot watch you the
wear around Therefore do not contlde
i'm any che, but think of your wives and
children. THE EXTERMINATION.'
r. H. Holland. the American represent
atives of the Amicon Brothers, took pos
session of the bomb and placed 1t In the
magazine of the Sporting Goods Company
at Columbus for safekeeping. short
while ago the building caught on fire and
the bomb blew 1t to pieces.
Unlike Annarino. who was so badly
frightened that he closed out his ousl-
ness. sold his three houses and. with
about $4,000 which he had In BANK. ned
the country the Amicons tackled the sit
uation in more sensible manner. They
appealed to the Italian ambassador.
Threats and Demands.
Subsequent to the receipt of the bomb
John Amicon received more letters with
demands and threats, which were mailed
at Pittsburg and Cincinnati. The last
letter for Mr.. Amicon was captured at
Dennison. Ohio In the possession of An
tonic Vicario who Is charged with being
mailed at Marion. Ohio. June =. 1909, by
Salvatore. alias Sam, Lima. who is ac-
cused of being the head Of the Black
Hand gang in this country. 1t is claimed
that everything which does not originate
with him passes through his hands for
his approval before its use. This last let
ter was addressed to Agostino Marfis an
other of the men charged with the con-
spiracy. at Dennison, Ohio, with instruc-
tons to him to investigate and mail it to
John Amicon. Columbus. Ohio.
1t was learned by the inspectors that
after the receipt of each letter by Amicon
Salvador Ventola of Columbus and Sal
vatore and Antonio Lima of Marion
would appear at Amicon's place of bust
ness and remain In the vicinity for sew
had selected the two friends to take the
$4,000 demanded to Pittsburg.
The inspectors say that Black Hand
letters of similar character demanding
Gentle and Eincenzo Porpora. wholesale
commission merchants. at Dayton, Ohio,
and Tarvillo Giardino. at Indianapolis.
They now have twenty-five such letters
mailed to prominent Italians in Cleve-
land. Greenville and Columbus. all APP
parently in the same handwriting. but
demanding smaller sums. 1t seems it has
been the practice of the conspirators to
fix the amount of their demand accord
ing to the circumstances of the victim,
in sums ranging from $500 to $4,000.
In one instance when an Italian mer-
chant at Columbus received his second
letter demanding 5000 the two Lima
brothers. with Ventola. visited his store
Sunday and made inquiry for him. He
did not know them, but followed them
up and obtained their names and ad-
dresses.
Always Met at Night
The inspectors say their investigation
disclosed that Antonio Lima, Salvatore
cor Sam Lima and Sebastian Lima have
the reputation Of being members of the
Black Hand Society. and that they fire.
quently held meetings In Sam Lima S
store at Marion with Italians from Chi
cago. Buffalo, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and
other points. The meetings were always
held at night
As Il result of this information. by
clever detective work they ascertained
that Lima, with his friends, had or
SaEiZed a society known as the so
ciety of Bananas" with three branches
one at Pittsburg. with Orazio Runfola as
the boss. one at Cincinnati. with Sal
Nator Arrigo. the former resident OF
Washington and later Francesca Spe-
dara, as boss, and the other at Marion
Ohio. with Salvatore or Sam Lima as the
boss
Sufficient information was obtained to
warrant the belief that Marion is the
headquarters of the society, at least for
that part of the country. Other evidence
connecting the various parties with the
conspiracy was obtained which the Pos,
Office Department feels should not be
made public at this time. Threatening
letters have even been traced from the
very hands of the conspirators into the
hands of intended victims one of which
was accompanied from the sender to a
co-conspirator with the following terse
but dire directions: You, Marfisi, open
this letter and mail the enclosed under
penalty of DEATH
When Antonio Marfisi was arrested
and his home searched the most incrim-
mating evidence is alleged to have been
found.
Read This Gentle Missive.
The last letter for Amicon read as
follows:
Dear John Amicon: We have sent
you several letters: We have put dyna-
mite behind your door. and you are
death. Ugly wretch. you need not la
ment If when you do not expect it it
will cost you your life. Already our
band has you down in the register OF
the dead. We have arrived at the time
and already two OF us are under obli.
cation to kill you, even though you are
guarded by thousand police. Take the
street Edo the samel as your friend
Lieut.. Petrosino did. Ugly wretch that
you are. that YOU content yourself with
trying to avoid payment of the money
but by the blood of God We are back OF
YOU, we have learned your store, and
you will be accorded when YOU do no,
expect ii. The sight OF two good dag
ger thrusts. and thus you will sleer
forever.
"One thing l tell you. no one can be-
| long 10 our band who has not killed
ten persons. We have killed kings and