Black Hand - Busy in North Olean

North Olean History - Black Hand, Busy in North Olean
BLACK HAND - BUSY IN NORTH OLEAN
During the first weeks in November of 1906, several members of the Black Hand, who were said to be spending some time in and about Olean, threatened Frank Bruness of 57 Elm Street, North Olean. They had demanded money from Bruness, and when he was not able to give them any, they then notified him that they would be back in a week for the money.

A week later, the Black Hand once again appeared at the home of Bruness. When he refused to allow them to enter they commenced to break down the doors. Officer Lawler, who was on patrol that night, hearing all the commotion hurried to the Elm Street home. The Black Hands spotted the officer and fled the scene.

Lawler proceeded to enter the house and found that the occupants had barricaded themselves in a room with boxes, bedding and everything on hand. He had to break in the door to the room since Bruness and the others were so frightened that they refused to come out.

Several days later an arrest was made in connection with the alleged Black Hand goings on in North Olean. Using the information a small black boy had given to the Olean Police, Officer Lawler arrested an Italian, who gave his name as Gerardo Foote, who was better known as “Joe” Foote. Foote was taken before Justice George Cook that afternoon and arraigned on the charge of breaking into Frank Bruness’ house. He pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary and was held for the grand jury. Foote lived with an Old Italian woman on North Fourth Street, who had harbored the Italians who had been charged with abducing Viola Kenny.

Foote denied that he was connected with the Black Hand and he also refused to tell who was with him when he forced his way into Bruness’ house. The little back lad, who lived in the rear part of Bruness’ house, was the one who called Officer Lawler the night of the attack. He saw Foote and remembered him so well that he was able to pick him out of a crowd of Italians in lower North Union Street.

Bruness now lived in constant fear of his life being taken by the other members of Foote’s party. Had not the little lad spoken, it was doubtful the Bruness would have told who his persecutors were. The police of Olean and the town now had other alleged members of the Black Hand under surveillance. A list had been furnished to them by Frank Guidino, who was now locked up at Smethport, Pa. having been convicted of his crime, the shooting of Italian, Guiseppi Tiberi.
Since Foote’s arrest Bruness was now more talkative and alleged that Foote was the Black Hand, who first made demands on him for money.

Gerald Foote, who was being held at Little Valley, was nearing the time for his trial. There was speculation that unless Officer Lawler could give enough evidence on what he saw at the home of Mike Bruness on the night when he was called there, there was doubt that Foote would be convicted. When the officials went to serve subpoenas to the witnesses, they could not find them. The Bruness family and the little black boy, as well as his parents, had gone to parts unknown.

In the neighborhood where they had lived it was told that on the day after Foote pleaded guilty to the indictment against him, the black family left for Coudersport. Shortly afterwards, the Bruness family also left, refusing to say were they were going. The Italians in the neighborhood said that Bruness, who had alleged that Foote made the Black Hand threats against him, would never appear as a witness at the trial.

When the County Court convened at Little Valley in January 1907, the first case to be tried by District Attorney Cole was that of Gerardo Foote. Deputy Sheriff Chapman found the witnesses, Mrs. Minnie Johnson, Mrs. Gayton and the lad named Gayton in Coudersport, and they returned for the trial. Geraldo Foote was acquitted of the charge of burglary and released, his lawyer being Dana L. Jewel.

(At this date and time, my great grandparents, Peter and Mary McCartan, lived on Spruce Street just around the corner from the Bruness’ home on Elm Street. And so do I, Now.)

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