The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-03-17
Italian Formerly of Kenosha
Heldin Black Hand Case in
Milwaukee is On Trial
STRANGE Letters REVEALED
Man is Alleged to Have Fled to Ke-
nosha for Refuge After Attacking
Fellow Countryman in Milwaukee a
Year Ago.

The old story of the existence Of a
"Black Hand" organization in Keno
sha has been given a new lease of life
by The arrest of Joseph Riggio who I'M
til u short time ago lived in Kenosha
He was arrested in Milwaukee on a
charge Of having assaulted Antonio
Pollinzi, a Milwaukee Italian with in
tent to murder. The Italian was TAX
en- to. the district court of Milwaukee
county this afternoon for a hearing
The assault occurred year ago and
and Riggio. returned to Milwaukee
from this city on February 18th and
was promptly arrested. 1t is claimed
that the friends of Riggio have at
tempted to terrify Pollinzi so that he
will not testify in the case. 1t is
claimed that at one time when the as
saulted man took the stand in the case
one of the Italians who thrOnged the
court waved a black gloved hand at
him and he refused to go on with his
evidence.
The most interesting evidence in the
case is a couple Of letters which are
alleged to have been written to the
victim of Riggio and it is ON these let
ters that the allegations of "Black
Hand" plot are based. These letters
were sent to Pollinzi before the as
sault and they reveal the fact that
Riggio was living in Kenosha or at
least was we'll known here. The first
of the letters follows:
Milwaukee, Wis, May 4, 19O9-Dear
Brigand: received yesterday letter
from you urging me to give you an
early reply. Here I am ready to
your order.
You explained in your letter that I
was paid with $50 to have your face
cut, while was to receive $50 to kill
you later. Tell be the reason, explain
the cause, inform why I do not care
bit for you and why you should be
william.
You tell that you have four wit
ncsses. Perhaps they are like your
self or like others You tell that you
want TO make me nice present.
At this point, the letter is broken
with signs. The court will make an
effort this afternoon to have light
thrown upon the code, which consists
of the line reading IA, A, A-4'' and
extending clear across the sheet upon
which it is written. Continuing the
letter reads:
On that laugh. To tell you the
truth, next Saturday evening I will
wait for you at the depot of the North
western at 8 p. NJ, and there we will
see who has the better right. Think
to pay as soon as possible, because Of
your talk I am not any more afraid
never mentioned you only the other
day with the lady that you maintained.
/ said three words and she came to
repeat them to you, adding 100 words
to each one word that [ really spoke.
Do not think that you can confuse
me with your tales. Your letter is
in good hands and safe and 1 beg
of you not to write to me any more.
Only think to pay what you owe me,
otherwise l do not care at ALL Do
you understand? Do you under
stand?
l tell you that [ go to Kenosha at
any hour or at any moment and your
brothers-in-law told me that YOU 90
there to collect the 5000 that you think
is. credit of yours. They wish that
you would have more and more coming
to you.
(Signed) Michael Or x.
P. 81 beg of you not to forget
the appointment.
When Riggio was brought into court
in Milwaukee on Friday afternoon
Judge Neleen refused to admit him to
bond and ordered that he be held in
jail pending complete examination
into the case. The letters sent to
Pollinzi are alleged to have been SINH
lar to those sent to men in Chicago
recently and at that time it was al
legged that some of the men connected
with the letters were from Kenosha.
The police were not able to locate anv
of the men sought by the Chicago po-
lice, but several of them were well
known in the local italian colony. 1t
is alleged that these same men were
friendly with Riggio while he found
a refuge in Kenosha.
Rp1Oit hos fO1lOrro5 LYo,onL.