◆ SpookStack

organized by civic and political leaders. ‘ot only did the vigilante committee 4 | assist lu bringing the kidnapers to trial, but it also helped to calm the fear of the Mafia among the Italian pepulation, (100-42303-284) New Orleans, of course, was ouly one of many Americaa cities to fee) the baleful influence of the Mafia fa their Hatlan communities. Mafia- typo actlvilies were likewis? carried on Jn other large cittes with substantial - Italian populations, suchas, New York City, Chicago, Kansas City,” and San Frenacisca, ! Prom 4900 to 19290, the Mafia often monifested itself through so-call- |] Black Hand activittes which became widespread in many Sicillan- Italian comirunities. According to one source, the Black Hand was a name jnvented by a newspapermen covering an Italian bomb extortion case in which the threatening note contalned an inked bindprint as an identifying mark. 7 Black Hand activitles, which included intimidation, terror, extortion, kiduaplag, and murder, were conducted by *fatiosi and other Itallan criminals with relative success because of the temperament of the Sictlian-Italian victims and thelr inborn dread of these familiar methods. The Maflosi who comnitted Black Mand criines worked alone anit sometimes in pairs or in (35 , 36, 37, 38, 39) small groups. * Whenever Kansas City is mentioned in this monograph, it refers to \ Kansas City, Missouri. ~ 35-