New-York tribune., 1909-03-14
DEFECTIVE PETROSINO
BLACK HAND VICTIM
SIAN IN SICILY WHILE
ON SECRET MISSION.
italian SIeuth's Work to Go on ecith
Freu Greater Figor-AU Cities
asked to Help Local Police.


ps-rosino head OF the italian squad of the New
vo-l. Police DEPARTMENT was shot to death at
Q o'clock last evening under the shadow of the
,-ees of Marina Square. in this city. Whether
he WAS lured there or not is unknown, but il is
believed that Petrosino. who during his stay in
Sicily had been indefatigable in searching up
the records of Scilian criminals. had gone TO
the square in the hope Of getting information
which he considered Of the utmost importance
The identity Of the assassins has-not been DIS
,losed. for they made their escape after having
,ss1.red themselves Of the death of the detective
Not the slightest trace of them has Yet been
discovered. but undoubtedly they were men VINO
had reason to dread Petrosinos presence in
Ttslv either because he was on their tracks or
m the tracks Of fellow members of some Of the
secret organizations in America Petrosino
had managed to collect while here much evi-
dence of the criminality OF a large number Of
Italians Who have taken refuge in the United
States which would have given the American
government the power to deport them. In
number Of cases Petrosino had traced murder
20 their hands. His work viii be largely de-
stroved by his death as he had not had the time
nor the opportunity 70 place much Of his data on
record.
His assassination was most cold hlooded
one He was attacked in the darkness at the
corner Of the deserted square by two men, who
-1ortaIly wounded. clung desperately to life and
showed at the very last moment extraordinary
courage and GOODNESS. Though the blood was
streaming from him and he could feel that
death was near. he clung with hand to the
grating Of q nearby window. He managed 10
draw his revolver and fire one shot and then
fell to the ground
His bullet missed its mark. but the noise Of
the explosion attracted several persons The
he
Calabria who as he ran up saw the detective
dragging himself 80 his feet and grasping the
iron bar with nerveless hand. but as the sailor
reached him Peucsino fell again TO the ground
covered with blood. which was flowing from
despcr2te wound in the face. His eyes were
stii staring in last effort 10 defend himself.
he turned revolver in hand. to where his as
sailsnts had been. He vas dead before the
sailor and Others who went to his assistance
could raise his head
4 magistrate. who vas Informed OF the as
sassination. went Immediately to the spot and
ordered tte body. searched for Identification
The identity. Of the murdered man was ar ones
disclosed. From pspers found or him it seems
that he had been gathering evidence with refer
ence 70 Italian criminals in the United States
Theirs we're also notes concerning the Palermo
members Of the Black Hand. Several postal
cards were found addressed TO his wife, "Ade-
Ina Petrosino. 30 223 Lafayette street. New
Tork" and a metal badge, No 265.
From other papers found the body IT seems
that Petrosino had made tour Of Sicily. and
had given special attention 70 Trapant- The
magistrate gave orders that the body be trans
ported 70 RotalH Cemetery. where 4 post-naor-
ten Tss held.
The frst Official news Of the assassination
received b. the police in this city came from
william H Bishop. the American Consul At
Palermo. The cable dispatch said.
Petrosfno shot Instantly killed in heart OF
citv this evening Assassin unknown. Dies
nnsrtyr. BISHOP Consul
Palermo, Italy.
That Joe" Petrosino had been shot and killed
q the FatherIand vas known early yesterday
morning il Little Italy Not in years has
there been as much excitement there Italians
discussed the murder corners and IN the
cafes and while some showed sorrow there were
others who gfoated over the death Of the Italian
detective In the little cafes where they eat
spaghetti and drink Chian1 nothing else was
talked OF last night, and as the red ink flowed
faster and faster the tongues Of some Of the
diners were loosened, but if one spoke TOO loudly
of Fetrosino and his foul killing he was hushed
I'D By his steader neighbor.
4 stranger in one Of the cafes last night was
unweiconne guest for as soon the news Of
Petrosino-s death reached here a swarm Of de-
Whole Italian district, delving into hooks and
corners for Some slip Of the tongue that might
tell v-ho got Joe Petrosino
Petrosino met his death only few weeks
after the killing Of Jack Goldhammer, q side
partner in the ferreting out Of crime In this
city. Yesterday the police were boiling over
s1th anger.
Central Once detectives late last night ar
rested three italians and lodged them in cells
ST Police Headquarters, all charged with carry
ing concealed weapons in violation Of one OF the
sections Of the Penal Code, which makes the
offence q felony.
The shooting Of Petrosino in the land of his
birth Viii not go Unavenged. The italian sleuth
had no chance in his native country, where he
vas surrounded by spies of the societies that
have worked their matchmaking schemes for
Years lie had no side partner to give re-
sounding rap of the nightsticB on the pavement
70 tell him there was trouble in the air He
died alone, with no one TO help him. in d coun-
try where MS gold shield meant nothing
FAvORITE AMONG POLICEMEN.
Jp at Police Headquarters the news Of the
murder Cf the chief Of the special secret dot-o-
uFe squad was received at first with scofTing,
lien amazement and then. anger. cIot only at
Headquarters, but among the policemen al oyer
ihe city. the same bitter anger and resentment
Tss show, for Petrosino was = great favorite
Anions has brothc-s
i,e'foeino's death wiil neGn u hercer Val fare
on the Italian societies in this city which prey
upoh Italians aEI eytort money from tilsal 10y
threatening letters Lieutenant Petrosln, met
MS end through his energy in bounding these
criminals, but there win be others to taSo up
me work where he left OF. Deputy Co.amis-