Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-29
Leonard PRO. Italian Bartender,
Shot Down Dead in
His Saloon.
MALTA OR THE BLACK HAND?
Police Working ON a Clue Picked IN.
At Helper, Utah. Where
Man Worked.

with the mystery OF the Malta and
the Black Hand societies. and with IN
sureness Of their vengeance. Ieonsri
PRO an Italian bartender employed at
the saloon Of James Tedesco Fourth
West and First South streets. was shot
ana instantly killed at 20 o'clock this
morning. The murder. coldblooded and
premeditated, occurred within the sa-
loon, was participated In by two men
ana witnessed 10y a negro, George Fa-
gan.
At noon today the police. after a half
days investigation and awaiting ad-
vices from Helper, Utah. were still
banled in the clue TO the murderers or
the motive OF the murder
tagon and PRO, the murdered
man. were the only occupants of
the saloon at the time Of the tragedy.
Pro was standing behind the bar
while Fagon was idly playing with
the balls upon pool table. Suddenly
the colorcd man heard short cry,
and as he turned saw one OF the
swinging doors of the entrance to
the barroom drawn back by mask
ed man while another man stepped
through The latter leveling
revolver at the bartender fired The
negro ran and gave the alarm TO the
police. Patrolmen Wickle and Grit
hths were the first TO reach the
the bloodpool on the floor telephoned
to Headquarters
The murderer. assisted by his ac-
complete In the opening of the door
had aimed accurately. the single bullet
fired striking PRO directly between
the eyes.
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.
The murder of PRO is shrouded in
mystery as yet Comparatively little
is known OF him in Salt Lake. He was
married at Helper in November of
last year and came TO salt Lake April
last, when he began working for Mr..
Tedesco Quiet and unassuming he. so
far as his employers and acquaintance
here know, had or made no enemies.
The police. after investigation today
held two theories, the first, and what
Is considered the more likely, that he
was the victim OF the Black Hand"
and the second based on a supposition
that the alleged threat OF a man had
been carried out.
To the police Mrs. PRO, the bride OF
| the murdered man said that but re-
| Gently one Joe Giamhrone -boarder
| at her mothers house in Helper had in
| a moment OF anger at being turned
away because OF his actions fired a
shot az the mother and had threatened
to come 70 salt Lake and kill Pro
and then steal the daughter. on this
statement the police are endeavoring
20 locate GiambrOne. II he proves an
alibi last night the theory that he
was implicated will be exploded
The main theory OF the police, how
ever. Is fastened to that OF the impli-
cation OF the Black Hand. An Italian,
whose name was not given, told cha
police this morning that the evidence
OF the shooting pointed to the fact of
revenge on the part OF the Black Hand
OF the old Malta
1T is certain that the Black Hand So
ciety had something 20 do with this"
the Italian said 1T is their work
The murder was committed in Just the
way they go about that thing. / would
think that at one time PRO belonged
10 the society and had left IT, HE
probably didn't do what they wanted
him TO, and they got him"
The police hold TO this view because
OF the manner OF the murder. Pro. =,
far as can be learned. had no enemy
nor was he involved In any trouble.
The men, both masked. had entered the
saloon. and one of the men holding
back the swinging door permitted tho
other to enter and fire the shot. That
Pro must have been under the fear
Of an attack was evidenced in the fact
that beside his body was found his
own revolver, but though blood spat-
tered unfired. The position OF the re-
volver indicated that he must have
drawn the gun upon the entry OF tho
murderers but was not quick enough
the saloon and the murderefs evidently
Ned Immediately after thI shot that
Pros I'fr body is lying at 'o.ponnelr.
mortuary awaiting the disposition %
the remains.