The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-15
Fear of Further Black
Hand Outrages Leads
t Tragedy.
JOE PETROLA THE Slayer
Victim is Frank sergi
Brother of Barrack-
vile Baker.

Enraged by numerous blackhahd
acts which have been worked on HIM
in the past and fearing additional
trouble, oe Petrola, a prominent Grant
Town Italian this morning shot and
instantly killed Frank sergi, Of Coz
lumbus, o., after the two men had
engaged in an argument in front 81
Petrola's store at Gram Town.
Petrola shot three times, one OF tho
bullets striking Sergi in the back, en-
tering the heart and resulting in i'm
mediate death. Following the shoot
ing Petrola called the sheriff s. Office
on the telephone in order to tellof the
shooting and TO give himself up. Uns
able to get anyone at Sheritf GleYers
office he then called Jailor Thomas
Buckley on the phone and reporteda
that a little trouble had taken place in
Grant Town and that h wanted some
officers to come and get him as he esdId
not like to come in by himself.
Deputy s*erirr Howard Adams went
with Howard Glover to the scene Of
the shooting and Petrola was arrested
and brought to the county jail in this
city. He did not deny the shooting,
but talked freely of recent wrong
which had been done to him.
A year or SO ago, Petrola received
letter asking that he turn over So
600 Immediately. He refused to hand
over the money and since that time
has been subject to many annoyances.
Only about four months ago his store
was dynamited at Grant Town by some
unknown parties.
About II o'clock last night after Pesg
trola and his family had gone to bed
some one came to the door and asked
that Petrola lend his truck to them to-
assist in pulling in broken down ati
tonobile. Petrola told them that his
truck was broken down and that he
could not lend it.
The party became angry and IL is
alleged uttered some threatening re-
marks Fearing that some one was
at the door who was trying to do him
harm, Petrola did not come to the
door, but went back to bed.
This morning about z. o'clock when
Joe Sergi's trdck pulled up in front OF
Petrolas store to deliver the Monda
morning bread made at Bergi's bakery
at BarrackviIle, a man by the name oi
Frank Sergi, brother to the man who
owns the bakery, stepped from the
truck. While the driver was putting
the bread in the store, Sergl and Pe
trola got into an argument
According to Petrola, Sergi said thai
he had come to get what one Of his
friends had not got some time ago,
Remembering the blackhand letter he
had received the commands which j
had refused to obey, as we'll as the at
tempt to get him from the house the
night previous, Petrola felt sure thai
Sergi was there to do him wrong. Be
fore the argument had gone very tar
Petrola stepped into his store, walked
behind the counter, drew his revolver
and shot The door Of the store Was
open and the bullet passed out the
door and struck Sergi who was stand
ing on the street, fairly in the back
Petrola declares that the driver Of
the truck ran to the dead man and
pulled something from his pocket
(supposed to be agun) and hurriedly
jumped into his struck and sped
away.
The dead man is brother Of Frank
Sergi, the BarTackville baker, whoisays
that his brother came to his sisters
home, Mrs. Antonio Cardomone, %
strest this city, last might
from Columbus, o. He says that his
brother has not been in this part of
the state for ten years; that he Is NOT
acquainted with Joe Petrola or anyone
in Grant Town and he could not figure
out any reason for the shooting
Frank Sergi also declares that his
brother came TO his house last might
and spent the night. This morning he
got up and asked to go along with the
driver Of the bakery wagon in makine
his first delivery, in order that be
might see the country. Sergi states
that he had not seen his brother for
ten years until he came in YESTERDAY
He knows that he has a wife living b
Columbus, O., but does not know 4 he
has any children.
Petrola is one OF the best Known
Italians in Grant Town and has always
been considered peaceful citizen. He
lisa brother Of Camille Petroia who
conducts store on Pike street n this
city, a@s