The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-14
Gallant italian Member of New
York Police Force Done to
Death at Palermo by Malta
Members.
SENTENCED TO DEATH
BY NEW YORK SOCIETY
Orders Were Carried Out by
.SiciIian Members - Every
Effort Being Made to Trap
MurdererS.

Palermo, Sicily. March 13.-Lieu.
tenant Joseph PetrOsinO. one Of the
most famous members of the detect
ives OF New York City. was condemned
to death by tribunal of the Black
hand society OF that city and the SEN
tence was executed by another tri-
bunal of the Malta here. In the trag-
ic death of <Petrosino the final proof
has been given of the international af-
filiation of the dreaded secret socie-
ties. The assassination OF Petrosino
came with the suddenness Of a thun-
derbolt. The police of the city knew
Of his presence and detectives were
sent to guard him. The New York de-
tective. dressed in rough clothing.
went about bravely in the performance
of his duties and seemed to have no
fear of his life. despite the repeated
warnings he had received from time to
time that he would be killed.
Left His Protectors.
Forging ahead of the men trailing
him for his own protection. he entered
the crowded tramway station. AS no
hostile move had been made against
him. the police believed that he had
not again been recognized. As soon
as he entered the station he was sur
rounded by band of four or fve men,
At once he recognized that he was
caught in a deadly trap and made a
move to draw his rev0lfer and DEFEND
himself. Four shots were fired 50 rap
idly that they SOUNDED as one. Four
members of the bald had fred with
their pistols within a few inches of
Petrosino's body There was pause
and then fifth shot. 1t was from
Petrosino's re<olver. He had drawn
the weapon, but had been unable to
raise it and his shot was harmless.
Great Confusion.
Sounds of the shots had hardly died
away before all was confusion. Salts
fed that they had accomplished their
mission the assassins escaped with
the crowd which rushed in a panic
from the station. When the gendarmes
and the detectives who had been guard
ing Petrosino rushed into the station
they found it deserted except for the
dying man. He was leaning against
the wall. his face covered with blood,
and scarcely able to breathe. With.
out question being asked. Petrosino
tried to tell the story OF the crime
which was SO soon to end in his
death. Members of the Mafia,' he
gasped. Then he tried to pronounce
two names. but the blood gushed to
his mouth and he failed to make him
self understood. He braced himself
against the wall as though to make
another effort to produce the names,
but the words would not come to his
lips. He fell in crumpled heap and
was dead
His Death Ordered.
As soon as the news of the assassi-
nation of the New York detective,
known in the two countries as the
greatest enemy of the murderous
Black Hand. was noised about, the po-
lice received letter stating that the
execution of Petrosino had been de.
cided upon not twenty-four hours be-
fore by the Malta tribunal at Villa
Bato. On the strength OF the clues
given in this letter the police raided
the house of member of Malta,
known to be high in its councils. and
there seized important letters and
photographs of Petrosino. which had
been forwarded from New York The
letters announced the departure Of !.
Petrosino on 4 mission to Italy against
the Black Hand and the Malta and the
words OF the cour: order declared that
the Black Hand Of New York had con-
demned him to death. ad insisted that
the Parent chapter should carry this
sentence into execution
He Died cameiy.
To the last ounce he exerted his
strength to remain on his feet and
when finally his head dropped. the re
volver fell from his grasp and he fell
in crumbled heap. he WIS dead. The
assassins Of Petrosino are still at large
The fact that the detective recognised
at least two Of them convinced the po-
lice that these members OF the band
were either American members of the
Malta. who had followed Petrosino to
this country, or such well known MEM
| bers OF the band that Petrostno recog.
| nized them from description. This
fact is IL the chief hope Of the police
in their endeavor to capture the n1yT-
derers The city Is deeply stirred over
the daring crime and 1t il expected
the police will make genral Roundup
OF the best known members Of the No
fla of which the Black Hand - z
branch in New York and other cities
OF the United States. where there are
many Italianinkabifants. and there il