This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
White Hand society vows to crush Black Hand threat
A Cleveland crime era tale describes a four year siege by alleged Black Hand figures terrorizing Italians on Orange Avenue and Mayfield Road. Inmates of the “house of death” reportedly fear bombs yet become emboldened after murders in Laporte and near the Gunness farm. Local Italian merchants form a “white Hand society” to avenge killings and end the Black Hand intimidation. Frank De French Brocer, targeted by extortion letters, was attacked amid ongoing threats.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Orange Avenue
House of Death
House of ‘Death
Laporte
Ind
Gunness
Black Hand
Mayfield Road
Little
Italy
White Hand Society
Cleveland
Frank de French
Coltman Road
de French
Toj
Manders
Colt