The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-13
RIGHT MEN ARE HELD IN JAIL This Is Opinion of Black
 Hand. ATTORNEY DAY IS SATISFIED Holds a Conference With the
 Inspectors. Operations May Have Been of Local Character But omcers are cer-
 tain Men win Re
 Convicted.

that we have the right men and that through them we may be able to break up the so-called Black Hand Society which, has been preying upon the wealthy Italians in the central States" Attorney William Day announced to- day at the conclusion of conference with postal inspectors.
 The conference was the result of the ten arrests that have been made in various parts of the State this week. The men taken into custody are be- lieved by the authorities to be leaders of the Italian blackmailers in Ohio. Pennsylvania West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois.
 The prosecutions will be conducted by Attorney Day. He said he is now firmly of the opinion that there is an actual organization of Slack flanders. and that the evidence in his hands would result in many more arrests soon.
 Today's conference was attended by Postoffice Inspectors !. F. Oldfeid. George Bate. A. P. Owen, O. c. Hos-' ford and E. F. Hutches, who have conducted the Investigations and made the arrests The inspectofs began work upon the case March 1, immediately following the attempt to extort s10,000 from John Amicon of Columbus.
 Inspector Olofield, who has been in charge of the investigation would give no details as to the course taken. but stated that his search soon led to Sam Lima of Marion, who was under sur- veillance for several weeks before the arrest was made.
 Mir Oid1eld said that few Sun days ago meeting was held in Dem nison between Lima and other Italians. including Dennisop fruit dealer. The next day Oldfield said Lima sent $2,00e to relatives in Italy. Oldfeld said that Ietters found in the possession. of Lima led to the other arrests.
 The men now in custody are Sam Lima. Sam Rizzo and Sam BatagIia of Marion; August Marfisi Antonio yic- varrio and Charles viccarrio of Den- nisou: Jos and Antonio Nuzzo of CleysIand and Antonio Richerio and sam veHtola Of CcinmbnA All have been arranged. pleaded not guilty ana their bonds fixed. Some gave bonds and others stiil are in tail. Their hear. ings win be held next week. which doubtIess will result in most of them being bound over to the Federal grand jury.
 All who are Indicted will be prose- cuted upon the charge of conspiracy and using the mails to defraud.
 Inspector oidneld said that when Charles Viccarrio of Dennison was ar- rested at Bellefontaine they found in his room four shot guns, six srevolvers. several stilettos and several docks filled with ammunition, some of which was "home made"
 The inspectors turned over to Dis trict Attorney Day scores of letters found in possession of Sam Lima. These letters. MT. Day said, would lead to other arrests.
 ..These letters lead to the belief that there is an actual organization of the Italian blackmailers with it's head quarters at Marion and that its mur- derous tendriis reaching as far East As Rochester, N. Y., with nest OF them in and about Buffalo. Niagara Falls, Pittsbur, Cincinnati. Cleveland. Toledo Columbus, Indianapolis and Chicago, with minor agencies in the smaller intervening cities" the United States Attorney said,
 'T am not of the opinion." he con- tinued. Nthat there is any actual con- nection. however, between the Ohio gang and the gangs that operate in New York City and New England States or Southern or Western States. The evidence now in hand does not lead that far, although there may be- interesting developments.
 Eight Italians Arrested.
 Johnstown. Pa. June 12.--Following an investigation of three months by an Italian detective. eight alleged leaders of a so-called Black Hand society we're arrested late last night at Barnesboro, near here. charged with conspiring to commit murder. Today the men were taken to jail at Edensburg.
 According to the evidence alleged to be-in possession of the police. the eight men recently held a meeting at which three prominent Italian merchants were selected for the paying of a large tribute tax if they wished to es- cape death.
 Phillip Cherrico, one of the princi- pal leader, was only recently dis charged from the penitentiary. where he served a term on being convicted of kidnapping a Barnesboro boy to extort money.
 With the exception of Cherrico, the names of the other seven men are be- ing withheld.
 Reports are to the effect that the arrests are to be made in the effort to rid Western Pennsylvania of this class of criminals.
 It is known that officers are inves- tiKatinx conditions in small towns within fifty miles of this town.
 The alleged extortionists are said to have held sort of convention in