The Washington times., 1909-08-06
Petrosino's Murderers Are
Caught in Ohio Raid,
Says Inspector.
DEPARTMENT BUSY
GETTING EVIDENCE
One Leader Formerly Ran Fruit
Stand in Washington-Are
Mostly Sicilan Bandits.

With the startling information that
two Italian BLACK Handers,' rounded
UP in the big raid Of June last ia the
Buckeye tSate, and now in jail in Ohio
may be implicated directly or Indirect
ly in the assassination of Joseph PeJrO-
sino. lieutenant Of the New York po-
lice. Postoffice Inspector J. F. Old
field came into Washington today. Not
only do Inspector Oldheld and three
brother inspectors who have been on
the famous Ohio Black Hand case for
several weeks, believe that there is
some connection between two OF the
men in custody in Ohio now, and the
killing Of Petrosino. but they unearthed
a mass Of evidence of the most remark
able sort, showing the close connection
of the Black Hand Of the middle West
with that in Italy: exhibiting the work
ings of the order here and abroad. and
giving probably the most comprehen-
sive view OF the Vaccinations of the
Sicilian criminals that any sleuths have
ever obtained.
According 10 the estimates of the four
postOffce inspectors more than $4,000
has been demanded within the past two
years by the Ohio Black Handlers. whose
operations extended from Chicago to
Pittsburg, with incursions even as far
as New York. How much of that 500, =
600 the Black Handlers have collected
even the inspectors do not know, but the
system which prevailed meant almost
Invariably that a man who once
knuckled under ard paid on demand
would be MIXED from time to time for
more money.
Leader Lived In Washington.
One of the ring-leaders of the Ohio
gang lived at one time in Washington,
according TO Inspector OIdheld, q fact
that is first made public here. This man
Is Salvatore ArrfgO. He is sixty-seven
years old, with a remarkable face,
10oking In profile something Ere fhe
mol illusUdOus member of the House
OF Representatives. He lived in Wash
ington many years ago. and conducted
-es%stand for iour years. While in
the Capital he was arrested and con-
victed in the United States Court for
counterfeiting. After serving his term
in the Federal prison at Auburn, n. Y,
he moved 10 Cincinnati, which, the in
5pectOrs say, was his Territory as
signed him by the Black Hand when he
was arrested
Lieutenant petrosino was killed in
Palermo, Italy, on the evening OF March
j. last. lie was shot while walking in
the Piazza Marina, a dark but public
place. At that time PetrOsinO, probably
the best-knoWn Black Hand detective
in this country, was said 10 be engaged
In peTfecting an arrangement between
the New York police and the Italian
authorities whereby Black Handlers who
desired TO emigrate 10 America might
find their identities known, consequent
ly their field Of activity limited.
No one doubted at the time Of the
murder that PetrosinO was killed by the
Black Hand, which he had pursued so
mercilessly and successfully for several
yeQrs. out no one ever found out who
committed the deed.
Proof Of Connection.
According to the facts gathered by In
spector Oldheld and his associates. two
of the men now ia Ohio prisons were
in Italy almost certainly in Palermo at
the time The two men suspected are
CologerO. Charley VicariO and Antonio
Marfesi They were arrested in June
and the authorities declare they have
absolute proof Cf their connection with
the Black Hand operations.
Not only is this pair known to have
been ia Italy at the time Petrosino was
shot, but since that time they are
known 10 have sent back large sums of
money for the purpose theinspect0rs be-
lieVe of aiding i'm the defense OF anE
Italians arrested for alleged cCmgliCity
IN that crime. NJ all, they are known
to have forwarded s., 100 IN a few weeks.
The two men sent the money Boldly
through the postohice at Marion. O1iO.
In one day they sent uinteen money
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