Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-15
BLACK HANDS NEST
IS FOUND IN OHIO.
Cleveland Officials Arrest Ten
Alleged Leaders Who Are Said
To Have Planned Campaign
Throughout Country.

CLEVELAND, June TT believe that
we have the right men and that through
them we may be able to break up the So
called blackhand society which has been
preying upon the wealthy Italians in the
central states" States Attorney William
Day announced today at the conclusion
of a 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 believed by the
authorities to be leaders Of the Italian
blackmailers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Indiana and Illinois. The pros
ecutions viii be conducted by Attorney
Day. He said he is now firmly of the
opinion that there is an actual organiza-
ton of blackhanders and that the evil
dence in his hands would result in many
more arrests soon.
Today's conference was attended by
Postoffice inspectors ]. F. Oldfield, George
Bate, A. p. Owen. o. c. Hosford and 4.
F. Hutches, who have conducted the in
vestigations and made the arrests.
PROBE BEGAN IN MARCH.
The inspectors began work upon the
case March /, Immediately following the
attempt to extort $4,000 from John Ami
con, of Columbus
Inspector OldfieId, 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 surveillance for
several weeks before an arrest was made.
Mr.. Oldheld said that few Sundays
ago a meeting was held in Dennison be-
tween Lima and other Italians. including
Dennison fruit dealer. The next day
Oldfield said Lima sent 81, 900 to relatives
In Italy Oldf1eld said that letters found
in the possession of Lima led to the ether
arrests.
The men now In custody are Sam Ii
ma, Sam Rizzo and Sam Bataglia, CT
Marion: August Marfisi, Antonio Vicar
rio and Charles Viccarrio. of Dennison:
Joseph and Antonio Nuzzo. of Cleveland,
and Antonio Bicherio and Sam Yentola.
of Columbus. All have been arraisned.
pleaded not guilty and their bonds fixed.
Some gave bonds and others still are in
jail. Their hearings will be held next
week which doubtless will result in most
Of them being bound over to the federal
grand jury.
All who are indicted will be prosecuted
upon the charge of conspiracy and using
the mails TO defraud.
ARSENAL is FOUND.
Inspector Oldfield said that when ,Chas.
viccarrio. of Dennison, was arrested at
Bellefontaine. they found in his room
four shot guns, six revolvers, several
stillettoes and several docks filled with
ammunition, some of which was ''home-
made"
The inspectors turned over to District
Attorney Day scores of letters found in
possession of Sam Lima. These letters.
Mr. Day said, would lead to other ar
rests. s
These letters lead me to believe there
is an actual organization among the Ital-
ion blackmailers with it's headquarters at
Marion and that had its murderous ten
drills reaching as far as Rochester. n. Y.
with a nest of them In and about Buffa-
10, Niagara Falls, Pittsburg, Cincinnati.
Cleveland Toledo, Columbus, Indianapolis
and Chicago with minor agencies Ia the
smaller intervening cities" The United
States attorney said:
Il am not of the opinion" he continued.
that there is any actual connection
however. between the Ohio gang and the
gangs that operate in New York city and
the New England states or southern or
western states. The evidence now In
hand does not lead that far, although
there may be interesting developments"