New-York tribune., 1909-06-10
BL1CK HAND ORG4NIZA-
TION FAR RE1CHING.
Ohio Trail May Lead to Slayers of
PetrOSinO-TueLUc ArreSts
to Date.


gang in Columbus. Marion Dennison and Belle
fontaine and other Ohio towns. was organized
along the same lines the old Malta. but witt
a better system for concealing their movements
It is now known that the Ohio Black Hand, or
the Society of the Banana, its members style
themselves had a branch in Pittsburg and one
in Chicago. and line that extended to South
Dakota. Regular meetings were held, and the
money obtained by extortion was distributed to
various divisions in this country and sent to
relatives in Italy for safe keeping.
we have found what l believe to be certain
proof that the Black Hand outrages at least i'll
the Middle West including Pittsburg, Cincin-
natl, Cleveland. Chicago. Columbus and other
Western cities, were committed by a well organ
ized society. with grips and passwords. and that
they are not simply sporadic cases'of individual
extortion,' said Chief Postoffce Inspector
Holmes day.
I'VE have no evidence so far that the Ameri-
can Black Hand in the West is connected with
the foreign organization that killed Lieutenant
Petrosino in Sicily. The money, thousands Of
dollars, sent by the Black Hand members to
Italy was simply their division of the spoils
made at regular meetings and sent abroad TO
their innocent relatives for sa afe keeping"
Twelve arrests have been made thus far in
Cleveland. Columbus. Marian Dennison and
BeIIefontaine and government officers I'm Chi
cago and Cincinnati looking for Antonio
Lima. brother of Salvatore Lima. who was ar
rested in Marion. Antonio Lima who eluded
the officers at Sandusky yesterday, is held to
be one Of the chief ringIeaders.
TRAII. TO PETROsINO MURDER
Postal Inspector Olddeld unlike Mr.. Holmes
is positive that CoiIogero Vicarrio. arrested to-
day at BeIIefontaiue. was connected with the
murder OF the New York detective, Petrosino
in Italy I base my belief" he said in Coiun-
bus to-day. "on the fact that this man Nicarrio
is known 70 have left ohio for italy about the
time Petrosino was assinateJ Niccario spent
some time in Italy and returned here. l believe
him to be one of the rinsleaders Of the Maha
Of the United States and consider his capture
IF first importance
Nlrarrio was captured at HcIlefontaine at )
o'clock this morning. He is brother of An
tonic Vicarrio. arrested yesterday At Marion
lie was found at the home OF Mrs Salvatore
era. which was surrounded by the officers Vi
carrie was heavily armed and had Sl,o;o on his
person. Women ana children IN the house are
said to have been armed also
Nicarrio would say nothing, and would only
curse when to!d that confederate at Marion
had confessed He went To Beuefoutaine from
Cleveland two years ago, ana is originally from
Messua. where 1t is said he lost his metheI
and brother in the earthquake
'"''''" j. q I'm,
i''i'''I ~ 20. %,
E'"' 'N' -! ,r ,r
was ''p"''.'' va 49,. -. 80 -,
year !'''' ''Ssl' 49,. - .,....
i'''"'' was
never ''i'''''
TWO ARRESTS IN CLEVELAND.
'It--i.. -. ,. -.,
I'l'"'S va
"l '''''''''"
trrS, written Ih I'"'"'" am" "''''-N
MARKS We're I'"i" 'i''''lk ''',
"ners h'd so" }" cas-" HI '''''' '','''3 "''''
Ir.,.,c+or o1de.rl and local p,Iire arrested
Salvatore Vlntola. at Columbus late tonight,
Vintola's home was searched on Tuesday night,
and several letters Of suspicious character
were. found
In addition 10 the arrest Of four Sicilians in
Marion ,,,ltip1b1is and Deun{sou ON Tuesday.
Toscch Eatagia and Salvatore Pizzo were taken
into custody in Marion last night. Those ar
-,e+a5 earlier i'm the dav were Sam Lima said
~ ba the r{ngleadcr of the gang In the United
s.,+.e. and Hoe Rizzo in Marion: Antonio
,-r,i,t e., T,a,nisou and Tony Richerio in
..,.,, Tho irspectors state they have avf-
1,,.a-ero,.iDe, that a room i'm the rear of little
e.,i. ,,ra in Marion conducted by the Rfzzos
. Tho baa1,uarters of the society in this
+r,. and tI,e,- found in a safe there letters
IT., +I,r,,. lrb+ ON many, slIc.essf11I at+ernnts
., ,xtor+ money. from wealthy Italians in Ohio
>-a,. y-,rl, PENNSYLVANIA and other states
T ina Salvatore Rizzo and BatagaIia were
.,,-, ., rroIado to-day Their hearing is SET
for Monday afternoon. but they probably will