Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-03-16
BLACK HAND WAR ON
Lieut.. Petrosini Assassinated
at Palermo, Sicily.
DRAGNET SPREAD AFTER DEED
Every American City Is Asked to Ar
rest All Suspected Members of Or.
der-Gotham Detective Dies Mar
tyr to Long Fiaht.

New York, Mar. 15-Relentless
warfare will be waged against the
BLACK Hand" societies by the police
OF this, and 1t is hoped, other cities as
result of the murder of Lieut..
Joseph Petrosini. the noted detective,
In Palermo. Sicily. For years Pet.
rosini had been active in his work to
bring to Justice members of his own
race who carried on Matchmaking op-
erations in this country through
threats of murder made in the name
OF the BLACK Hand" 1t is believed
mere that his murder was the result
of plot that had its inception in the
United States.
1t is said that the persons indirect.
ly responsible for his death are still
within the reach of the American pc.
lice. II so, every effort will be made
TO bring about their arrest and convic-
ton, and with this end in view, In
spector McCafferty, head of the New
York detective bureau, sent kilograms
today to the authorities in the prin-
cipal cities of the country asking that
increased activity be exerted against
all Black Hand suspects. The tele-
grams were first sent to Chicago,
Philadelphia. Boston, San Francisco,
Pittsburg. Baltimore and st. Louis.
Immediate orders were given to arrest
at once all men in New York city who
are believed to have connection with
"Rlaok HSndp oporot{opo
Died Martyr, Says Bishop.
Deputy Commissioner Woods was
officially advised OF Petrosini's death
through cablegram from American
Consul Bishop at Palermo, which
read:
"Petrosini shot, instantly killed,
heart Of city, Saturday evening. AS
sassin unknown Died a martyr.
"(SigneD q Bishop Consul"
Deputy Commissioner Woods, upon
receipt Of notice of Petrosini's death,
Issued a statement In which he an,
nounced that the work in which Pet
rosini was engaged will not stop be-
cause Of his death. 1T would be hard
to overstate the value of Lieut.. Pet
rosini's work." added Mr.. Woods. BE
sides being q skillful detective he was
an honest reliable man and had the
respect of every one.
Devoted to Duties.
Devotion to duty and utter disre-
gard OF personal consequences have
always been characteristic of him.
1T Is hoped that the assassination
of this faithful servant Of New York
city may bring home to the people
some idea OF the seriousness of the
Black Hand situation. Although the
number of Black Hand crimes has
been decreased about SO per cent. in
the last few months 1t Is impossible
to make any radical move against
these outlaws unless the police de
partment can have the use of the Sc
cret service fund provided by the city
and unless congress will pass immi
grafton laws which will keep crimi
nails out and make 1t possible to put
out any that may slip in"
Grlscom to Investigate.
Washington, Mar. 15-Official con
nrmatton Of the killing at Palermo
Italy. of Lieut. Joseph Petrosini, g
member Of the New York police force
was received at the state department
Sunday but no details were given ir
the dispatch.
II Petrosino went abroad on a Sc
cret mission for the government thai
, fact was not disclosed
t Ambassador Griscom at Rome state.
that he will investigate the circum
stances of the murder at once and will
communicate further with the state
department.
Pittsburg Starts Campaign.
Pittsburg. Mar. 16.-Within 30 min
utes after being Informed that Chic
/ of Detectives McCafferty of New Yorl
had requested the authorities in othe
cities to round-up BLACK Hand" sus
poets in connection with the assassi
nation in Palermo. Italy of Lieut. Pet
rosino, Superintendent of Police ant
Detectives McQuGide Sunday begal
the preliminary arrangements to car
~ out the instructions. All available
officers who have had considerable
experience with the many ALLEGED
BLACK Hand" outrages in this vicin
> ity were given orders to locate all pei
sons who are believed to be affiliated
with the notorious society. A larg
y number of the Italians in this city ar
8 natives of Palermo and that portion
of italy.
Says Detroit 10 Cleaned.
: Detroit, Mich, Mar. 15.-When not
q fed that Chief of Detectives Mecca
r ferty of New York had requested
3 general round up" of BLACK Hand
: men all over the country, Police Con
Q missioner Smith said: There are n
o Black Hand men, so-called, in Detroi
< except the ones that are now in jai
p Two months ago we started crusad
I against them, and there have been n
u disturbances here since. When tn
q campaign started many Italians lei
d the city hurriedly and the better ell
ment is now living in peace. We wi
l be glad to do all in our power to al
t the New York officials, but there Is Ii
d tie chance of making arrests here"
v Murdered ard Robbed.
t Valparaiso, Neb., Mar. 15.-C.
II Brown, aged 70 years, wealthy r.
cluse. living three miles from tn
place. was murdered. Robbers RAJ