Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-02-28
PETER CUCClA's FAMILY SLEEPS
THOUGH INTERNAL MACHINE
WRECKS STORE STEPS.
DONB MADE OF HEAVY PIPE
Doorways and Walls Show Effect OF
Explosion-HeaVy Timber Torn
From House and Thrown
Across Street

y
supDosedlv placed under the steps
leading to the living quarters OF re
ter Cuccia. grocer, Magnolia ana
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 intlma-
tioY the bomb exploded under their
doorstep until Peter Cuccia opened
his place of business at 6 o'clock In
the morning.
Police we're told by Peter Cuccia
that he was in receipt Of two letters
sent by "backmailers" demanding
money aud 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 dld not
show the letters to the police until
after the explosion. They were sign
ed "Societe Vendetta.
The deafening defamation was heard
bv 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 ar
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 IL o'clock and midnight.
The fmprovised bomb used by the
alleged agents of the Black Hand was
made from a heavy piece or pipe
about two feet long and two inches III
width. The ends were sealed with
material said to be concrete. Attach
ed to the bomb was long fuse, part
" burned, and a piece of what looked
= to be child's dress of gaudy colors
One end of the pipe was blown oper
and ripped about eighteen inches. by
Mantle is thought to have been useC
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 ar,
- -mstss~ttr me expression. < piece
= timber torn from the house by the e
: :, plosion was thrown across the stree
>, and partly tore through the side
=, the wooden wall of a residence. De
> ris was scattered on the sidewalk ar
in the street fronting the Cuccia or
o. Gerry ana residence.
is Agents of the Black Hand demand'
lie money first from Peter Cuccia la
OF June. The letter stated he was
as come across" with $1,000 and W
ry signed by the Vendetta" Cuccia h
m fear at first and then laughed at d
ed blackmailers' demands. The penal
W. threatened for failure to give up {
in money was death, the police sa!
er -
to Hammond Hammond bran
af- OF the American Red Cross is organ
ST. ing a class in home hygiene for wo
S. en- and girls. Meetings will be CT
in Quoted in the Presbyterian Manse
lily Mrs. J. Dalrymple.
Donaldsonvillet-The Jury Co
- mission of this parish met at
court house. Grand and petit jur
were drawn for the criminal sessi
Us of court. which opens here Februi
y" %. A petit jury was drawn for oil
GU one week, as the criminal docket
NJ light.
to chitoches.-Samuel Levy,
many years cashier of the Poop
ssi. Bank. has been elected president
I'M that institution to fill the vacar
nee caused by the death of the late 9.
YOU Hill. r. o. Hicks, bookkeeper,
and been promoted to the position
ect cashier.
oie Baton Rouge. The local post
the American Legion has indica
next week as membership campo
week. They will try to get every
tas mer soldier in the parish of Z
ORG Baton Rouge interested and, to
9AO come members.
III Baton Rouge.-The fraternities
ing Iouieiaua state University submit,
ing a petition to the board of supervis
ne of the university through Presid
aue Boyd to repeal the order Forbid
dances in the University pavilion
Hammond.-The Deblieux and NJ
ave Company, Incorporated, of New
in leans, are making contracts with
hr,. farmers in this section to plant sv
rso potatoes for fall canning.
Monroe. - A loss of approxima
one thousand dollars was suffered
Charlie Brantley, when his house
man its contents were destroyed by
nun with no insurance.
p of
>. +. Baton Rouge.-Fire at $3.50 a.
1lon. Sunday almost destroyed the
Stick negro restaurant.
,. veport-Gililand & Fol
,. - completed their Shaw No. in NJ
80 east quarter of southeast qua,
a - 30-21-7, Claiborn field. flowing 81
~ barrels from 200 feet
anu Estherwood-C. c. Nordike of