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Newspaper
New Castle News
Location
New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Sep 17, 1908
Page
1
Police report alleges Rocco Racco confessed to killing an officer and hiding the body during a wine drinking episode. Fred Serace recounts a graphic account of admissions. The courtroom scene recalls a fortuitous firing and the body being dragged to the river and weighed down with stones.
Fred Leracy testified in the Rocco Rocco case that on March 1 1906 in a Hillsville cottage the two brothers in law shot a tall man identified as Seeley Hook after luring him from timbered ground. The body was weighted and dumped in the river.
Serace, serving ten years in the Western penitentiary for Black Hand activity, testified as the principal prosecution witness. He recounted how Rocco confessed the crime after promising protection and revealed the scheme involving Dominick Tutino of South Jefferson Street.
In a Western penitentiary Sam Kennedy learns of a shared secret with Seracé about Rocco. Kennedy, serving a Black Hand sentence, dies later in custody. Seracé remains calm on the witness stand and recounts his intimate relation to Rocco as the case unfolds.
The murder trial jury is under guard by Tipstaves Cox and Shoaff. Jurors eat and sleep at the Ex Cel sior hotel and remain isolated from outside contact. Judge Porter bans discussion while awaiting evidence with verdict likely Saturday morning as Mahoning river falls and Youngstown faces weather concerns.
Mrs. Serace and two children traveled from Buffalo New York to meet Fred Serace in the courtroom. She has suffered since his Black Hand arrest last fall, losing a $5,000 property to a mortgage and living in a stable while awaiting his penitentiary term reduction for good behavior.
Fred Serace testified in a Lawrence county murder trial detailing a Black Hand like organization known as the Black Stand. He described Hillsville figure Rocco Rocco as president and money flowing from Italian members to leaders, with typical payments of five to ten dollars and occasional larger sums.
Fred Serace sent a coded note to Sam Kenedy in the Western penitentiary seeking news on his wife and interrogation details. After Kennedy destroyed the missive, Pinkerton detective F P Dimaio confronted Serace, who then confessed details about the Seeley Houk murder. State interest is through Game Commissioner Joseph Kaibfus.
Fred Serace testified in the Seeley Houk murder case that he could not read or write before prison and can now do both poorly. He credited Judge Porter and District Attorney Young for sending him to school. Inquiry shows all uneducated Black Hand men from Lawrence County in the Western penitentiary are being taught literacy, with strong interest seen as it may aid them in time served and after release.
Jackson Mississippi September 17 completed returns show J W Collier of Warren won the primary to succeed John Sharp Williams. Collier defeated Patrick Henry by an invalidity of 576 votes.
Washington dispatch reports Orville Wright plans a speed flight this evening if winds ease. The morning wind was about ten miles per hour and blowing from a direction not favorable for slaunching aircraft.
A court case in Lawrence County involves Charles A. Hill of Avonmore bank accusing William B. Davies of New Castle of signing a $3,500 note fraudulently. Davies says he was employed at West Penn Foundry and Machine and refused to sign without his brother’s assurance, with the matter continuing on page seven.
In Pittsburg a dispute between District Attorney Goehring and Federal Prosecutor Dunkle ended with William Montgomery deemed a prisoner of the United States. His commonwealth trial was postponed until the government surrenders him. Dunkle said Montgomery would be tried likely next month.
Rev James M. Ferguson pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church in New Castle was named by the First Synod of the West meeting in Cleveland to serve as the new superintendent of missions. If he accepts the post, his term would begin July 1, transferring his duties from New Castle to the synod.
The Catholic Review of New York, official at St. Joseph's Dunwoodie, is suspended after editorials by Edward A. Hanna. The pope condemns the articles, bans library copies worldwide, and signals Rome’s crackdown on modernism with new editor warnings.
Obituary notices list three deaths: Mrs Jane Reynolds 69 of Neshan Nock township Harmon Mielke 78 of Big Beaver township and Mrs Margaret Schaffer 89 of Harmony.
Edison predicts airships will carry passengers across oceans in 18 hours within five years at 200 miles per hour. He says a 40-hour trip to the north pole is possible and a heliocopter would circle the globe in a week. He doubts Wright aircraft and dirigible balloons will ever be practical or commercially useful.
Washington September 17 Major General Frederick D Grant leads a 40 officer column from the east department at daybreak for a 90 mile horseback ride to a Potomac camp the route runs through Virginia hills and requires 30 miles a day for three days with officers in peak physical condition at the end.
A terse note hints that an unexplained circumstance may stem from a romantic relationship. No additional facts are provided in the fragment.
Police pursue theory Esther Hilbert eloped with Philip Bradly a former Springfield classmate. Bradly’s Yakima fruit business links explored while Philadelphia Lansdowne sightings add to growing mystery. Father and family weigh woods distress foul play or accidental death as searches widen.
Philadelphia dispatch reports Governor Stuart respited Francisca Schultz from a September 21 hanging to November 5 after he killed his own daughter. Schultz attempted suicide after the murder.
A front porch campaign appears in Cincinnati 13 coverage with a focus on local involvement and campaign dynamics. The report highlights grassroots efforts and the candidates engaging voters from informal settings.
Taft pushes for rapid progress after securing the Republican ticket with Indiana and Illinois support. Bryan may meet Taft in Lincoln amid continued party tensions as Carrie Nation resurfaces in public attention.
Taft abandons front porch style campaign as Ohio district gatherings fall through due to rail rate refusals. Senator Dixon says Taft is eager for action while campaign leaders say resources are focused for the final month. Taft plans Lincoln appearance October 1. Bryan may meet him if schedules align.
William J. Bryan, hoarse and tired from nonstop campaigning, plans to extend his speaking tour across the East and possibly to the Pacific coast. He will address crowds in Harrington, Wilmington, New Haven, Providence, Boston, Esopus, and Albany with stops including Carnegie Hall and Buffalo, as National Chairman Mack reviews future dates.
Rocco Rocco plans to testify in his own defense and deny murder. He will dispute statements by Fred Serace and Joe Cutrone about Seeley Houker’s demise and implicates Jim Murdocco. Witnesses from Hillsville charge pro payment disputes while defendant’s backers may fund them.
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