The Black Hand was an extortion racket that originated in mid-1700s in Naples and came to the United States in the early 1900s. Whoever was behind the racket, and it is believed that there were many unconnected people involved, would send letters full of threats and demand payment.
J.P. Morgan Receives Black Hand Letter
New York, Feb. 1 — J.P. Morgan, Jr., hurriedly called on the police today. He had received a threatening letter. His house was robbed a few days ago, and he thought the letter was a hoax or “from a crazy man. But he wanted the police to find out.
In part the letter read: “I know of the manipulations of the Morgan Wall street house, and through it I have lost all the money I had, so I consider it up to the Morgan house to make restitution.
The letter demanded that $100,000 be left at a designated spot in Central park. A decoy package was deposited, and alert sleuths and courageous policemen watched the place for hours. The letter writer did not materialize.
Source: (1912, February 01). J.P. Morgan Receives Black Hand Letter. The Day Book.
