The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-30

Alleged rules of the "BIacE Hand So
re:y CounterCd with rulings OF Judge
NIlu II. Robinson ittc Yesterday IN tht
trial III Dan DisScivcrto. an alleged
FaCkhander who WAS placed on trial ~
Cr'c3nIl Court yesterday charged with
tn. murder OF Jim augustus. another
iuH:an. IN East Wheeling more than a
year ago.
jury. in response TO persistent question
INK by Prosecuting Attorney u. n. NC
k",. tina, h" would be IN danger Of his
his life Il he answered question pro-
pounded To hI'n by Tho prosecutor p con
crIn.aE an alleged rule OF the Biac"
iHud SpCicty. SarltOrt was not conf
jeil"d to give the reply that the state
sought.
isn't It rule. Of the Black Hand .,
Society" SaratOri was asked by tn"
Prosecuting attorney. that when YOU at"
charged with Il crime y"u v;th"r Prov
tnac you were not present. or thhl you
do not know the person accused
Judge Robinson PERMITTED tn" qc.S-
zion TO stand. over the vigorous objcC-
t;ou OF Attorney SAM y. Boyce. VINO Is
defending p;SS"iv~rto and tho court d.
rrctrd the Witness 70 answer tAe lucs-
Il want 10 know" said tn" witness.
turning 20 the court. II am L Witness
in this trial. "r Il w!lN"SS against tn"
Black Hand" This I'D I" tho DECLARE
t;nn ny the witness THAI - would pItc,
his lie IN grave danger II hr answered
thu QIcSt;Uu concerning III" rule OF th'
Surir'y.
Slratori is the man who was dancing
with J:n Augustus IA the Kitchen ~
the iat;rrS home ON" hC'"H"r n'%ht III
l"l" whoa 4 sh"; was i.rrd It" U,%
lack OF augustus. causing III" dcllh o.
The wounded man later At The ONO VAL
ley General Hospital.
In his direct examination OF the WIZ
ness, after failing 70 secure from Sara
tori a satisfactory Identification OF the
man who shDs augustus. Prosecutor NC
k"H secured from SarItor' IN" adn'lS-
SluN that Ia served = term in prison
a. MUuulSV;Ilr for EtaCh Hand crime.
and this led 10 the question concernlnG
the alleged alihi which the Black Hand
provides for It's members charged with
crimes.
In his examination, Suratori declared
that he is not now member OF the So
cIety. and that since coming from the
s'ate prison. n" has given up his tor-
uler religious faith. rs we'll as society
membership. and that. rs he expressed
Il. Il now belong 70 the Christian Life.
Saratort was placed on the stand IN
Criminal Court late Monday afternoon
waving the scera 81 the Augustus as
sassination In Alley 10. the opening
statement OF counsel for the STATE ana
defense. and the taking of detailed ,"S>
,tnony Of county physicians and under
takers 10 establish the identity OF the
murdered italian.
room 10 the witness chair from which
ne himself made the admissions that
helped 70 send him TO the pcnitent!ary
IN 1915 for his part in Black Hand
outrage IN East Whe-:ing. Prosecuting
Attorney D. y Mckee conducted the OK
animation OF the witness.
What is your name" the prosecutor
asked. and the witness answered In
fairly good EnSl!sa:
Tony SoratorS"
where do YOU live"
"On Seventeenth street"
"Wrr" YOU "a N" room Mt Tn" hous"
IN Alley Us the night jim Augustus was
shot"
"Ycss." the witness answered.
Who were there in thc room at the
time OF the shooting"
II was there: there was Jim Angus
tuS. a soldier Oliver Coiourni and
MN didn't know.
Led on by the prosecutor, me witness
then went on 20 r"lare the happenings
Of the day Of the shooting. stating that
about 10 O'Clock on the Sunday that
Jim augustus was shot. Augustus went
street where ne lived and they had
some drlnks-wine. he said they drank
That evening. SaratorI said. about .
or o'clock he supposed It was. he
said that he went 10 Augustus house
vhCrc they had something TO eat and
some more to drink. Naming the men
whom he said were there Seratori said
that Augustus suggested dancing. and
that ne played the accordian.
Wanting q smoke. Saratori said. he
found that no one at the house had
store to purchase n supply. Returning
10 the house ne said. Augustus asked
another man in the party 20 play the &C
cordian. and that Augustus asked MIN
lSaratorp to dance with him
Saratori. using the prosecutor FOR
dancing partner explained the position
Of the dancers in the kitchen. and then
told OF the shot which caused Augustus
was Danny Disselverto there the
prosecuting attorney shot at the wit
Il don't know. no see him before"
Did you or did you no, see Dan Dis
selverto there
Il never see that man before"
Was this man there? questioned the
prosecutor. pointing TO the accused man
sitting by his lawyer.
II no know. He don't lock like the
man l don't know that night.
Saratori here declared that ne did not
recall ever having seen the prisoner
until he was taken 10 the jail TO see
mis- lis this Dan Dissclverto:" the wit
ness was asked.
Il no know.
is this the man who shot Jim Au-
KustuS?"
Tony" the prosecuting attorney ask
Cd did you admit here in your own
trial five or SIX years ago that YOU
wcr. a member OF the Black Hand So
Yes" the witness answered hesita-
isn't 4 a ruls OF the society that
your members either proves he was
some placs else. or doesn't know the
accused, when he is Chaged with a
IN, defense couscl registered Wig
oruuS objection. but Judge Robinson
ruled that the question might be an
Sarsiorl s!destarp"d a direct answer
m SEVERAL repeated attempts 10 secure
a direct veg or No reply.
Weren't you told this BY members OF
thr society
Tony are you afraid 10 answer that
II can no say" Saratori answered.
DO YOU believe that your life would
b. "a danger Il you answered
- trIl YOU my life no would b.
worth anything II I tell you that" re-
pied the witness.
in other wods you are afraid TO ans
Wrr the question:
Yes. I'm afraid. ~,
"pp you belong 10 tHc oiaCh nan"
Society now" .
NO. belong 20 tho Christian Life"
Cross Examination
Attorney : -. BoyCe. upon taking IN"
witness FOR croSs-eNamiaation ASKED
.lSo | understand that you never saw
ms prisoner until you saw him N Inc
county jail few weeks ago"
Us" the witness answered. ina /"
tn. first time -" him.
when did YOU first see Frank. the
In Mounasvile prnitcntiarv In 1915"
You mean h" was convict there
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