The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-23
.NLARN MURDER
GANG TAKEN TO
STATE PRISON
Men Sentenced Yesterday
Leave For MoundsvilIe
With the Guards.
GRECO @ TRIAL STARTED
HALF SCORE OF MEN ALLEGED
TO BE GUILTY OF
CONSPIRACY.

Samuel Palma. sentenced to life i'm
prtsonment; his pretty common law
( wife sentenced to one eyar, and hVc
companions, sentenced to nine and
ten years, were taken to the peniten-
tiafy at Moundsville this afternoon to
5expiate their share In the killing Of
two Italians at Kilarm last Christmas
Eve. Mason Wright, convicted OF gun
stoting, and George Wright, convicted
ofgstealing, were taken to Moundsville
with the prisoners from Kilarm SEN
fenced yesterday.
The trial Of half score OF men in
4dicted for conspiracy in connection
with their alleged membership in the
Famiglia Vagabonda was started this
sin Circuit court. The first man called
by Attorney Harry Shaw
4 conspiracy are Dominick Zagari, An
gelo Montgese, Antonio Balcastro and
Raphael Belcastro, his brother. These
men viii be represented. by Attorney
II 3E. +. Morgan. ALL are alleged to have
been present at Eilarm on the night
Of the murder. The jury selected this
forenoon for the trial OF Greece in
Scludes the following:
81 w. s. LYNCH, retired, Tairmont.
sa o. J.. MORROW, carpenter Fair
mont.
w. E. STEELE, Fatrmont.
MILLER KINCAID, farmer, Union
district.
FRANK ARNETT, farmer Paw
Paw district.
HENRY GUMP, farmer. Manning
ton district.
+. b. TENNANT, farmer, Barrack.
vile.
GEORGE NJ. NuzUM, farmer. Win
aeld.Ss
III sPINCKNEY ARNETT, farmer, Fair
mont district.
ss' i, W. E. HALL, farmer, Union district.
JAMES. H. BARRETT, real estate,
Fairtnont.
FRANK AMOS, Fairmont.
Judge Raymond asked the jurymen
IL they were prejudiced by the news
paper accounts OF the Kilarm murders
and trials resulting from them. The
Jurors all indicated they were not.
Judge Raymond then in a brief ad.
dress to the Jury explained that Sam
8ueI Greece the man cited for trial was
accused of conspiracy. a felony, in
that he is alleged to be member of
the Famiglia Vagabonds, secret VI
8ganization which is alleged to be con.
Quoted for. the purpose Of extorting
money and inflicting punishment and
even death upon persons who refuse
to pay or otherwise displease the So
X ciety.
When the jurors had taken their
5places:in the jury box Prosecuting At
torney Tusca Morris outlined the evil
dence which he declared would be
spresented for the purpose of proving
that Greece is guilty Of the offense
4 charged. Mr.. Morris read the indict-
nifnts which Is a very long typewrit-
ttkls document, including eight counts,
all to the effect that Greece conspired
to extort $9.16 from John Torcha, one
OF the men who escaped punishment
I for completely in the Kilarm murders
by turning states evidence.
& Mr.. Morris then read the so called
Red Mans law from the statute books
t0f West Virginia which makes it a
misdemeanor to belong to such a So
sctety. as the Famiglia Vagabounda
\ and provides fine Of from $50 to $500
or imprisonment of from one to
Z twelve months, for being a member
q Another section of the state law
read by MIR. Morris provides a peni-
tentiary sentence of from two to 10
years for being present and aiding or
8labethng any overt act which may be
\ committed by members of such a Sc.
= cret Organization.
In outlining the evidence which he
intends to present against Greece Mr..
Morris said:
The men who are members of the
Famigilia Vagabonda are Calabrian
and Sicilians from the South Of Italy,
The organization is known by various
names including Famiglia Vagabonda,
FamiIia Monabonda, The Bad Life,
the Black Hand society.
4 4 1T Is most secret organization. Il
is Theoretically sealed except when
some member can be prevailed upon
to violate his oath and reveal the
working or the organization.
The members are bound by the
most solemn oaths not to reveal the
secrets of the organization under
penalty of death. But John Torcha,
the principal witness for the state will
tell you of it's most profound secrets.
.Torcha has passed through two
degrees OF the order, one initiation
being in Harrison and the other in
Preston county. When he arrived in
Marion county, Samuel Palma, the
man convicted yesterday for murder
told him that his last initiation was
not in proper form and that he would
(. have to be initiated over again. Tor
cha was directed to report to Greece
Z for instructions.
Torcha did so and after an investi-
cation lasting two days, he was told
by. Greece that another initiation
would be necessary.
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