The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-29
FORCED TO FLEE
FROM BLACK HAND
italian Merchant Refuses De-
mands of Countrymen and
Leaves the Country.
THREATENED WITH DEATH
CAUSE OF JOHN BERLlNI'S DE-
PARTURE is MADE KNOWN.

Hounded by members of the Black
Hand. who knew him in Italy before
coming 10 this country, and who had
decreed that part of the comfortable
fortune Which he had amassed in this
country by dint of hard labor, extend
ing through many years, should be
theirs, John Berlini, an Italian-Ameri-
can, conducting a fruit, confectionery
and grocery stand at the valley house
corner of South Temple and West Tenn
lie streets, with his family, fled TO
Italy to escape their threats of dire
vengeance should he fail to comply
with their demands.
Berlini, his wife and a boy ahout
four years Of age, left for Italy about
two weeks ago, but the story of why
he left so suddenly, after selling a pay
ing business at a sacrifice, has just
leaked out NJ. Pasini, also an Italian
who has known Berlini for the past
four years, recently purchased the bust
ness at the Valley house corner.
From the story told by Pasini yes
terday, Berlini has known the men who
made the demands for money for some
time. One day two men came into the
little stand in the historic old Valley
house and approached Berlini who was
standing behind the cigar stand. In
stead OF following the usual Black
Hand method of writing letter warn
Ing the person whom they had selected
as a victim, they chose the far more
dangerous course of making the de-
manu- III hOiSou
Made Personal Demand.
In low, tense voice, that was evil
IDENTIFY meant for BerlinIs ears only,
one of the men said in Italian: "Berlini.
pay us $1,000 If you would escape the
Black Hand" Turning ashen pale. Ber-
lini said that he did not have that much
money to give TO anybody. The strange
visitors said that they knew better and
that only a few days would be given
them
the threat that il he divulged a word Of
the interview death would be the PEN
atty, and saying that one Of their num-
Der would be detailed to watch his
movements, they left, only to return
several DAYS later
In the meantime Berlini had made
arrangements to dispose Of his bust
ness. He approached PaSini, with whom
house business in South Temple street,
near the Oregon Short Line depot,
about four years ago, and told him
that he wanted to go back to Italy on
a visit, and that his stand was for sale.
The price was so alluring that the deal
was soon made, and it was not until
all details had been closed that Berlini
told the story.
Flees TO Italy.
On the occasion of the second visit
OF the Black Hand men to the Berlini
stand they were in an angry mood and
coming on the next day that the place
would be blown up and that Berlini
would be killed. Berlini had already
made the sale and he did not wait for
any next day. About o'clock IL the
morning he left the place. never to
return. The first eastbOund Union Pa
cific train after that time carried Ber-
lini and his family on their forced trip
to Italy.
When Beriini made the sale he prom
Used that he would remain long enough
to acQuaint the new proprietor with
the ms and outs of the business, but
the Black Hand became so threatening
that he was compelled to leave. To
keep his contract the best he could,
however he left his sister-in-law, a
girl about II years of age, who had
lived with them for about four months
past, to see that everything was placed
in working order. This girl. Mary Bon
setti. is still with the Pasinis, but daily
expects word ordering her TO leave for
Italy.