The Washington times., 1909-08-06
POSTOFFICE TRAILS
BLACK HAND ORDER
PetroSino'S Murderers Are
Caught III Ohio Raid,
Says Inspector.
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orders for 500 each and one for $50
This money and so more. according
10 the authorities had been obtained
shortly before from one OF their ter
rorized victims. IT was mailed to Ca
milla Nunzie Ogi A Lima. Ira bia, Italy,
Province OF Palermo"
The leader Of the Ohio Black Handlers
Is known 10 be Salvatore (Sam) Lima,
who kept a fruit store at Marion. Il
is believed that the money was sent
10 wife or sister Of Lima, since the
name is identical.
There we're two men who fed from the
Piazza Marin in Palermo after Lieu
tenant PetrOsino sank to the pavement
dying. The two Ohio Italians were in
Palermo, the authorities say. The con-
nectiOn. they believe, is obvious
The ramidCatiOnE Of the society which
the POStOmice inspectors have uncover
ed are marvellous. The members are
almost TO q man Sicilians and probably
were brigands before they left for
America.
Society Of the Banana.
According TO one Of the letters which
the authorities have in their possession
every member of the society. which Is
known as The Society Of the Banana"
every member must have kelled at least
ten men.
Another peculiar order to those who
have been chosen to kill some one who
has not complied with the sOcietys de-
mands, is that no marked man must be
even scratched above the shoulders. Not
q mark must be visible vnen the victim
for burial is laid out An infraCtiOn of
this rule means death for the man who
fails TO slay in the approved fashion.
The inspectors have gathered together
more than twenty-five letters from the
society to prominent Italians IN Cleve-
land, GreeHville, Dayton, Columbus.
Ohio, Indianapolis, and other middle
NJ eSteTn cities and know thai the opera
tons of this branch extend TO New
York. to Pittsburg and down into West
Virginia.
Use Unusual Cunning.
The heads of the organization seem TO
have unusual cunning. Instances are
known in which letters intended for
Ohio cities were sent as far west as
Portland. Ore; then sent back TO Pitts
burg and there mailed
In letters 10 one another no reference
is made to the Black Hand but there
prOba bly, may be found some aliuSiOn to
a bunch of bananas which is inter-
preted as meaning a warning letter.
The organization had become so com
piete and so open before the raid of
June, that il had partitioned out the
territory 10 various men. Arrigo, the
former WashingtOnian. had the Cincin-
natl territory. Evidently each man
made his own demands. and il he did
not obtain results, the society would aid
him. Probably there was a partition or
'rake-off' 10 those higher up.
Have Captured Fourteen.
In all, the department has captured
fourteen men. The Dor, however, has
not ended. for there is more work %
the same kind to be done. Interpreters
have gone through many dozens Of let
ters, but they stin must figure out
others Many OF the communications
contain strange devices intended viii
the writing alongside TO inspire extreme
fear. The writers of these eptstles used
10 sign such names as The Human
Butchers and others equally dispirit-
ing
cinnati merchant of wealth, Cali Am
icane. is remarkable Amicone and his
brother John came TO Washington las
February TO ask the protection of th'
Italian embassy here, after receiving
such letters. This Is one Of the letters
Amiccne received:
Dearest Friend, Cali Amicone: Las
week our band at Pittsburg Pa, sen
two Of Us TO Columbus, Ohio, and pa
dynamite behind your door. and one Le
hind the doorsof your brother, John, &C
cOmpanied bv TWO letters, In which yol
were notified by our band TO pay SIG 800
which for your firm is only a hair d
your head. If YOU refuse il is unde
the penalty Of death for you and You
children, and all the family Now ~
VIII show you the way,
IF you search for honorable persons
most honora bic, giving them the money
who viii leave Columbus for PittsburA
This person arrives in PittsbuTg, Pa.
and goes searching for persons, ant
while he is searching he will be fOun
by us. There must not be more thai
two persons, and this must betwee
the first and the tenth Of February
and II no one presents himself tn
eleventh he will return TO Columbus ali
pay attention 10 our orders. Then
case you favor US, you can Contiuu
your affairs. You viii be peaceful, 20
car get out night and day, and no on
VIII mOlest YOU for Dy Us you viii b
protected. IN case YOU refuse, we vi
give you taste of our dagers. and 9u
trusty c1rbines. which have neTe
fallel. and which cannot fail. "
will XII YOU like a hog.
We rave decided by lot. and the tw
chosen must Kill YOU even IN the mids
OF thousand police. We have kille
Kings, EmperoTs, and Presidents. Con
slider this was in the midst OF thou
sands and thousands Of police. Con
slider yourself worm of the earth tn
two who viii come are obliged 10 XII
even though they themselves must pa
the death penalty. Wot unto you
YOU turn 10 the police. We are brigand
escaped from Italy and the police loo
like flies 10 us Take account and dis
Cuss il in your family. because no on
under our hands can free himself Rea
the newspapers and see what We hav
done in New AOTk Chicago, New Or
leans. and Pittsburg.
We advise YOU that we have dynamite
q double load. that viii send your nous
up in The air, and kill all who are with
in. and we will do the same 10 you
brother. Understand that our band
in the whole world. and We hold al
under our feet especially the police