The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-15
SW|FT JUSTICE
To BLACKHAND
DOOMS ORDER
Power of CamOrra Broken
BY Conviction of Shotgun"
Slayer and Trial of Others
"DAPPER DICK" DENIES GOD
West Virginia Court to Sen
tenCe Two Men Monday
and win Try Seven others
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON
International News Service.

International News Service.
CLARKSBURG, w. Va, April
14.-The Wanted Beyond the
Law" murder organization of the
American "Blackhand" Society,
which blazed a path of bloodshed
and wreckage across three States,
was crumbling in ruins tonight,
following pronouncement of the
death sentence on one Of its con-
victed members.
SWIFT JUSTICE.
The long arm of West Virginia
law. dealing mountain justice"
with the swiftness of lightning, in
dicted, tried and convicted a trio of
"Blanhhand" terrorists on murder
charges in five days.
Nick Salamante, shotgun slayer,
was the first to hear the judgment
Of the law. He Will be hanged Fri.
day, June %, at the State Peniten-
tiary IN expiation Of his crimes.
With Salanante already decreed
to die at the end of the hangman's
moose. two more terrorists-Philip
Conniezaro and Richard C'Dapper
Dick'a Ferri-face death sentences
Monday.
Seven other alleged members of
the band are yet to be tried. But
the death sentence pronounced, this
afternoon, on Salamante destroyed
the boosted invincibility of the
'Blankhand" organization.
WITHOUT MERCY"
A jammed court heard Sala-
nantes fate decreed. The youth
was pale and nervous. Curiously,
the Words without mercy"-which
the Camorrists used toward their
own victims, were flung at him by
Judge John Southern in pronounc.
ing sentence.
You were found guilty of murder
I'm the first degree without rec
ommendation of mercy" the judge
said. "I pronounce the Judgment Of
the law that on Friday, June %,
between the hours Of sunrise and
sunset, you shall be hanged bysthe
neck until you are dead"
The court can say what it
pleases, I'm die innocent" snarlcd
Salmante in reply.
With the three convicted Black
handlers" held here, county and
state authorities threw extra guards
around the Jail to prevent break
Cor liberty.
STATE is PREPARED.
I'VE are amply prepared for any
attack by members of the Black
Hand society" District Attorney
William e. Norris announced to-
night. I'VE have a supply Of ma
chine guns and the boys who are
assigned to use them became ex-
perienced in the fields of France.
We are taking no chances.
THE organization in which they
worked hired out killers to any
body who wanted a man killed.
They also shot and slashed and
dynamited whenever their blackmail
demands were refused.
I'VE have traced fifteen murdrs
to this gang in this valley alone.
They were responsible for other
slayings in Pennsylvania and Mary
land"
Some of their crimes stun the
imagination On one occasion
this band killed a man for $35 and
burned his body in a deserted
mine. On another, they demanded
5000 from an Italian merchant on
the threat to steal his child and
cut off It's ears. Subsequently they
dynamited his home.
GIRLS SOLD LIKE Cattle.
They sold girls like cattle into
human slavery of the lowest type.
They were without mercy even be-
tween themselves.
And at last the law has reached
them. They will not escape now"
"Dapper Dick" Ferri, so-called
master murderer" of the Canon.
rists, today renounced religion as
a result of his conviction. Ferri is
accredited with seventeen murders.
and Is said to have won the high
est blood degree given by the
Camorra to it's members.
ITO hell with God" Ferri told
jailers. I'm done with religion.
I've been framed. If they can con-
vict an innocent man there is no
God"
Ferri and his companion. Conni-
zarro. will be sentenced Monday.
A-S-LA H. DS-l