The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-29

The first triumph OF the State over
the nefarious blackhand gang that
has existed in this vicinity for years.
according to evidence submitted. came
yesterday evening at AGO O'Clock in
the Criminal Court room. Tony Lupo.
Iclatmed to be the leader OF the Cam
mora in this section OF the country.
was found guilty of "conspiring as a
blackhand TO extort"
Twenty minutes was all the time
necessary for the jury to bring in the
verdict. and IL is understood that only
one ballot was taken by the Jurors.
they being unanimous in their opinion
OF the mans guilt. AS soon as the
verdict had been read and transferred
to the indictment. Attorney Porter
made a motion for a stay OF judgment
and grant a new trial. The motion
was set for argument Saturday.
Judge Robinson instructed Deputy
Sheriff Smith TO remove Lupo to jail (;
but before he was removed, Mrs Lena
Caldara, interpreter. explained the
verdict of the jury to the prisoner. He
Strengthened up. squared his shoulders
AID with an air as OF some one throw
ing away a discarded toy, said, Il can't
help it" He was taken to Jail to be
kept until this morning when he will
be brought into court and tried on
the charge OF attempting to MAIN,
disfgure, and kill. Jimmy Pauline
To Be Tried Again.
Four indictments were returned
against Lupo by the grand jury. Three
remain to be tried. The verdict of
yesterday carries with IL a penitentiary
sentence of from two to ten years
In closing the case yesterday, As
sistant Prosecuting Attorney Frank A.
O'Brien in his address to the fury
said. Tony Lupo is the slime of the
earth. Take the contents of a ditch,
that carries the dirtiest of slime. com
pare II with pure water and you have
as true a comparison. as Tony Lupo
- compared to an American citizen
He not only extorted money, but he
extorted that money 10 pay the fares
OF men to a place where they might
commit murder"
Attorney Porter in his close paid
his respects to the detectives hired
by the State. and still insisted that the
case against Lupo was a frame-up
In opening he said he had not had a
chance TO acquaint himself of the
facts, but IF 7 were convinced that
this man Is guilty. then / would ask
you to find him guilty"
Fears For Life.
In his summary. the prosecuting at
torney Mr.. Mckee, gave a review OF
the Investigations into the blackhand
cases Of the State. He told OF his Sc
curing the services of Max Ettinger
and the work that had been done in
tracing down this society and its
leader. This startling statement was
made:
Mike Florio asked me today for
permission to carry a gun as a protec-
ton against this gang. He Is a fore
man at mill, good citizen. and he
said that he was afraid they would
kill him for what he has helped up In
tracing down these criminals"
There remain about thirty indict-
ments against members OF this gang
TO be tried. Il was unofficially re-
ported yesterday that Frank Angott
who turned States evidence, will ap-
pear before the court. plead guilty to
the charge Of conspiracy. and ask for
iclemency. Angott during this trial
expressed his deadly fear of the gang
but said.
They have ruined my life and may
as well be dead tell this to help
somebody else"
His sensational testimony OF Mon
day is said to have convicted Tony
Lupo. Lupo was put on the stand
when court convened yesterday morn
ing. and spent the entire morning ses-
sion denying charges made against
him by Angott He claimed that An.
gott was the real blackhander. that
he had left Italy on that account. and
since his location here had been promi.
nently Identified In the councils OF tbs
Camorra.
Defendant Denies Guilt.
The defendant further denied max.
ing certain statements TO the state Of
hcials. attacked the credibiity OF wit
lnesses. and even the State attorneys
themselves in his fight for freedom.
In fact ne stopped short az nothing
| that might secure an acQuittal az the
I hands Of the jury. He denied that his
| eye had been shot out. and claimed
I that he lost 10 In a railroad accident
some years ago
lie denied that he had sent anyone
/ 20 XIII Frank Jigliotu az Wellsville.
| o. or that he superintended his shoot
| ing In Pittsburgh later An effort by
the State 20 introduce deportation
papers or his prison record i'm Italy
was unsuccessful One admission that
| DO is thought hurt his case came out
when be- admitted that he knew Jimmy
tOEtanzo. leader Of the famous gang
that operated here about FIVE years
ago
Lupo further denied that hc had col
lcctcd money from James Di Boasia.
Mauro polino. Mike Florc0 or Enrico
Mascara. BE denied. too. that Tonav
uedorn bad been KILLED by his uuposJ
orders. or that be- had brought Dedora
to kill Jimmie polino
Following Lupus testimony. Joe
Cambria was put on by the state in
rcbuttal Hc told of going To- the Jail
az Interpreter. and stated that the
things that the State had claimed az