The St. Mary banner., 1920-03-06
PETER cUcCiA'S FAMILY SLEEPS
THOUGH INTERNAL MACHINE
WRECKS STORE STEPS.
BOMB MADE OF HEAVY PIPE
DoorWays and Walls Show Effect Of
Exploslon-Heavy Timber Torn
From House and Thrown
Across Street.

New Orleans. - Black Hand opera.
| tors idle for the past several years, re-
sumed their activities when a bomb
supposedly placed under the steps
| leading to the living quarters Of Pc
ter Cuccia, grocer, Magnolia and
| Philip streets, exploded, endangering
the lives of the Italian grocer, his
wife and two children as they slept.
The Cuccia family stated they slept
through the night and had no intima-
| tion the bomb exploded under their
doorstep until Peter Cuccia opened
his place of business at o'clock in
the morning
Police were told by Peter Cuccia
that he was In receipt Of two letters
| sent by "blackmailers" demanding
money and warning that failure to
comply with their request the store
would be blown up. Little attention
was paid the letters Cuccia said,
thinking they were the work of prac-
tical joker, as he has been in business
at that corner but year He did not
show the letters to the police until
after the explosion. They were sign
ed "Societe Vendetta"
The deafening detonation was heard
by Cuccia's neighbors The corner is
used as the grocery and bar and ad-
joining this on Phillip street is the liv-
ing quarters Of the Italian family. No
report Of the explosion was made to
the police at the time.
Mrs. Cucia, her two children, An
thony, IL years, and Lena, years re-
tired with the husband and father af-
ter he had closed the store. They
went to sleep and were not disturbed
during the night. According to re-
ports Of residents in the vicinity Of
the grocery, the explosion took place
between II o'clock and midnight
The improvised bomb used by the
alleged agents Of the Black Hand was
made from a heavy piece Of pipe.
about two feet long and two inches in
width. The ends were sealed with a
material said to be concrete. Attach
ed to the bomb was long fuse, part
ly burned, and piece of what looked
to be child's dress of gaudy colors.
One end Of the pipe was blown open
and ripped about eighteen inches. Dy-
Mantle is thought to have been used
in the manufacture Of the bomb
The doorways and walls of the Cue
cia building show marks of flying de-
bris. Even across the street are
marks of the explosion A piece Of
timber torn from the house by the ex-
plosion was thrown across the street
and partly tore through the side Of
the wooden wall of a residence Deb
ris was scattered on the sidewalk and
in the street fronting the Cuccia gro
Gerry and residence.
Agents Of the Black Hand demanded
money first from Peter Cuccia last
June. The letter stated he was to
come across" with 1000 and was
signed by the Vendetta" Cuccia had
fear at first and then laughed at the
blackmailers' demands. The penalty
threatened for failure to give up the
money was death, the police say
Hammond.-The Hammond branch
Of the American Red Cross is organiz-
ing a class In home hygiene for wom-
en- and girls. Meetings will be con-
Quoted in the Presbyterian Manse by
Mrs. J. Dalrymple.
Conaldsonville.-The Jury Com
y,1ic cSin nf ch of hn
court house. Grand and petit juries
we're drawn for the criminal session
Of court, which opens here February
%. A petit jury was drawn for only
one week, as the criminal docket is
light.
Natchitoches.-Samuel Levy, for
many years cashier Of the Peoples
Bank, has been elected president of
that institution to fill the vacancy
caused by the death Of the late 9. H. ,
Hill. r. o. Hicks, bookkeeper, has
been promoted to the position of
cashier.
Baton Rouge. - The local post Of
the American Legion has indicated |
next week as membership campaign
week. They will try to &c. every for
mer soldier in the parish OF East
Baton Rouge interested and to be-
come members.
Baton Rouge.-The fraternities Of /
Louisiana State University submitted |
q petition to the board Of supervisors
Of the university through President
Boyd to repeal the order forbidding
dances IN the University pavilion.