Evening star., 1909-03-13
MESSAGE NOT READY BLACK HAND GETS FOE
Thronus of Callers Keep the Petrosini of New York Police
President Busy. Slain in Sicily.
PRESSURE FROM VISITORS THERE ON SPECIAL MISSION
One Shot Fired From His Revolver
at White House Died Game
OFFICE HUNTING NOT ACTIVE FEARED FELLOW ITALIANS
of
Possibly Tomorrow Credit Any
for Police on the Force
THERE ON SPECIAL MISSION
One Shot Fired From His Revolver
Shows He Died Game.
FEARED BY FELLOW ITALIANS
More Arrests of Criminals to His
Credit Than Any Other Five
Police on the Force.
Special Cablcgram TO The Star.

| Special Cablegram to The Star.
| ROME. March 13.-In a tramway sta
ton in Palermo four revolver shots threw
the crowd there into a panic last night
and sent it fleeing in all directions.
The police, attracted to the spot by the
shots, found lying there the body of a
man, identified by papers in the pockets
lice.
The papers show he had been in COM
munication with the Palermo police in
connection with the arrest of many men,
bers of the Sicilian Black Hand Hence
it is believed that this murder was the
work of members of that organization.
| One chamber of Petrosinis revolver
was empty. indicating that. notwithstand
ing the suddenness of the attack upon
him, he had tried to defend himself.
"Round Up" Is Directed.
! NEW YORK, March 13.-Relentless
warfare will be waged against the
BLACK Hand societies by the police of
this. and, it is hoped, other cities as
result Of the murder of Lieut.. Joseph
Petrosini. the noted detective in Palermo
For years Petrosini had been active in his
work to bring to justice members of his
own race who carried on blackmailins
operations in this country through thears
of murder made in the name of the
BLACK Hand
! 1t is believed here than his murder was
the result of plot that had it's incep.
ton in the United States and that the
persons indirectly responsible for his
death are still within the reach of the
American police. If so, every effort will
| be made to bring about their arrest and
conviction. and with this end in view In
spector McCafferty, head of the New
YORK detective bureau, sent kilograms to-
day to the authorities In the principal
cities Of the country asking that increased
activity be exerted against all black
hand suspects. The kilograms were first
sem to Chicago. Philadelphia, Boston,
ST. Louis. Immediate orders were given
to arrest at once all men in New York
city who are believed to have connection
with ''black hand operations.
Mission to Italy.
Lieut.. Petrosini went to Italy on a spe-
cial mission to investigate the so-called
'black hand" with a view to bringing
about better protection for peace-abiding
Italians in this country.
He went to Italy more than year ago
10 work on plan suggested by Police
Commissioner Bingham. the basis of
which was to be the adoption of means
to check the tide OF undesirable Italians
and Sicilians to this country, and particu-
arly to New York city. A native of Italy
and man of great experience on the
local police force Petrosini was the bes
tlt1- md
sion.
a private subscription was started and
$4,000 was raised. With this to defray
the expenses of the undertaking Petro-
SIM left for his native land
He proposed to establish bureau
through which it was hoped to keep such
complete records that the news of the
departure from Italy Sicily of any
criminals could be flashed to this country
almost Immediately, SO that the authori-
ties here could be on the alert and pre-
vent their landing. place them under
arrest.
Petrosini was accustomed to receiv-
ing threatening communications and OF
hearing threats against his life that he
paid little attention to them.
1t is said that he had been warned
gainst going to Palermo, where he is
reported to have been assassinated, but
that he ignored the threat and sconed
AT the idea of being killed.
hlllcu Oy o1dCh k1duO.
Prominent Italians in the city are OF
! the opinion that the detective met death
among his countrymen as a direct result
of his untirinS efforts to suppress the
Malta. the Camorra and the '.Hlack
Hand" They think his sudden death VIII
| only serve TO kindle anew the feeling
| against these criminals. which will bring
about even a more drastic crusade against
them than has heretofore been con-
Quoted.
Petrosinis young wife seen AT her
| home, 9,3 Lafayette street. She had
heard nothing from her husband since
she received letter Thursday last
There was a shade of anxiety in her
voice as she stood in the doorway. hold
ing her little daughter in her arms
But, she said. Il am sure that he Is
all right or | should know"
Consul Cables News.
Deputy Commissioner Woods was Off
cially advised of Petrosinis death
through d cablesram from American
Consul Bishop at Palermo. which read:
"Petrosini shot: instantly killed heart
of city this evening. Assassin unknown
! Died d martyr. BISHOP, Consul.
Deputy Commissioner Woods. upon re-
| ceiVins the notice of Petrosini's death,
| issued d statement in which he announc-
cd that the work in which Petrosini was
| engaged will not stop because OF his
| death.
| 1t would be hard TO oyerstate the value
| of Lieut.. Petrosins work. added Mr..
| Woods. Besides being d skillful de-
| tective. he was an honest, reliable man
and had the full respect of every one.
| Devotion to duty and utter disregard OF
personal consequences have always been
! characteristic of him.
! 1t is hoped that tie assassination OF
this faithful servant of New York city
| may bring home to the people some idea
| OF the seriousness of the Black Hand
| situation. Although the number of Black
| Hand crimes has been decreased about
| 30 per cent in the last few months, it is
| impossible to make any radical move
against these outlaws unless the police
department can have the use Of the secret
| service fund provided by the city and un-
| less Congress will pass immigration laws
| which will keep criminals out and make
! IL possible to put out any that may slip
| in.
immigration Laws Need Mending.
The immigration laws today, as far as
| they affect the entrance of criminals into
| this country. go such short way that
| they almost entirely fail in accomplishing
| the object intended. If we are going TO