New-York tribune., 1912-04-15
ITALIAN GROCER SLAIN
AS LETTER THREATENED.
Called from Table by Self Styled
Friends. He Is Shot
Through Heart,
THREE ASSAILANTS ESCAPE
He Fires, but Misses, Dying IN
Wife's Arms as Police Enter
Brooklyn Detectives
Make No Arrests.

a victim Of the Black Hand, which he
had long openly dehed. Fihro Lemano.
a wealthy Italian grocer. living at No.
40 Harrison street Brooklyn, was shot
to death in his store last night by one
Of three masked men who had callel
him 70 the front door on the plea that
they were friends wishing TO speak 10
him Before Lemano fell dying, with
his wife at his side, he drew his own re
volver and fired at one Of his assassins,
hut his bullet apparently did no damage.
4 bullet ploughed through his chest and
killed him before he could shoot again.
The police have made no arrests.
Twelve years ago Filipo Lemano came
to this country from Italy. He was pen
niless then, but industrious, and after
several years of dogged labor managed
to scrape together sufficient money 10 set
himself up as grocer in a small store
in East New York.
Lcmano prospercd. sent to the old
country for his sweetheart and married
her, aud he was happy. As his wealth
grew he opened up other stores, until
recently he has been conducting half a
dozen groceries i'm Brooklyn. lie had
many friends i'm the Italian quarter, both
in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He was a
generous hearted host. and many were
the dinners and entertainments held at
his home.
The First Letter Received.
Then. month or six weeks later, Le-
inano entered his store 10 find a letter
lying just inside the doorstep. II was
addressed i'm scrawlug hand. which he
did rot recognize. lie tore IT open. 1t
demanded that nc leave $1,000 i'm a tin
box on his doorstep the following day
and the writer threatened TO blow up the
store unless the demand was fulfilled
The letter bore the signature "Bldck
Hand"
The grocer laughed and showed the
letter to his wife She was frightened,
and cautioned him to bc careful, lest the
writer of the letter should carry out his
threats. He told her not 10 worry and to
forget about the letter for the time be-
ing.
! NO NfthN ltAtI So Vll'l " 'lN'l
greeted Lcmano when he opened up his
store for the days business. This was
treated like the first. and then last week
third letter arrived telling Lemano
his doorstep last night he would oe
killed.
The blunt wording of the letter worried
him. and ne sought advice among his
friends They AN advised him to com
municate with the police. but this Lc-
mano was reluctant to DO. lie decided
to carry a loaded revolver instead. con.
fdent in his own ability to defend him
self.
He invited two friends of his to have
supper at his home, which is directly
over his Harrison street store. They
came-Nicola Signoccli and Giovanni
GricoIa-and, with Lcmano's comely
wife. made "a merry party in the little
fat
Friends" Call Him from Table.
t.cmano sat at thc table laughing,
talking and slipping wine He had for
ootten about the threats and his mind
was free from care. suddenly "a voice
..a. heard below stairs "Fiiipo," ii
called. friends are here. VIII YOU come
down We wish to speak TO you, amico
mic"
I.mauo arose. excused himself TO ms
friends and started for the head Of the
stairs His wife, still remembering TIE
threatening letters, ran after him.
When Lemano stepped into his store
and reercd about in the darkness to see
,,bo Il was who would speak with him
,lindine fash lighted the gloom and a
luIIct srcd past Filipo's head. Almost
,,,f,rc the sound of the report had dIcd
.,,a, I,cmauo had pulled his own re-
.yoIyer and fired point blank In the dlrcc-
ion vhercc the first shot had come
As ne stood. shielding his wife behind
hin, a. third shot rang ont and the grocer
,cu forward with groan His "Ife
screamed. and the two guests rushed ln'
but as they did 50 three men dashed OUT
ia the street and disappeared.
while Signoccli and GrIool" were sun
scar, hing about in the grocer I"I i"'I9
of th,. men who had sn"l IliP'' i".t"I-
man LLOYD Ol the Amlt\ s'i'tl N'@'lIN'
came running up. ii' Ia" "'"'" "'".',"' ~ Wv
shots and had seen three men Iu''"'i's'
lut could not Oycrtakc them.