Volume 14 , Issue 6

100 Years Ago Today February 6, 1912

Back a few years ago when I was researching the Old Opera House Murder of November 1910, Alva, Woods, Oklahoma, there were mention of "Black Hand" letter threats to Mabel Oakes, the alleged murder victim.

Well! I am not saying these February 1912 "Black Hand" letters have anything to do with those of 1910, but I find it quite interesting. I never realized that I would once again run into other "Black Hand" letters.

In the November 1910 case against Justice N. L. Miller the community thought that perhaps Mabel Oakes and/or N. L. Miller made the letters up themselves. That is something we will probably never know for sure. Have you, through your history research found any other "Black Hand" letters?

One hundred years ago today it was a Tuesday, 6 February 1912, as the Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Mt. Democratic Banner front page headlines showed: "Ice Breaks Up Three Drowned;" "Dead Man Turns Up;" "Royal Decree For A Republic;" "Crude Oil For food Is The Very Latest;" "Sandles To Operate Traveling Wool Exhibit;" "Warmer Weather Due Balance of Week;" "Held As Blackmailer;" "Ends Life With Poison;" and "3 Children Cremated."

As to the headlines, "Held As Blackmailer," headlines that originated out of Alliance, Ohio, Feb. 5 -- "Secret service men arrested three more alleged members of the Black Hand society here. The officials said the arrests, with the six made previously, completed the roundup of ringleaders of a Camorra band that had terrorized Italians throughout Ohio and neighboring states for more then a year.

"Among those under arrest is G. Atiancio, a priest in the Independent Catholic church. The arrests were a direct result of the dynamiting two weeks ago of the home of James Carreta, after he had refused an alleged Black Hand demand for $5,000."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---