Originally published in The Seattle Daily Times, June 30, 1911
Deputy Starwich detached to run down Italian criminals who cause trouble in mining communities
Following the receipt of several Black Hand letters by officials and foremen of the Pacific Coast Coal Company at Black Diamond and Franklin, Sheriff Hodge has determined to clean up the community and to deport the foreigners who are supposed to have been the cause of the troubles.
In furtherance of this Matt Starwich, King County’s $1 a month deputy, who has more arrests to his credit than any other deputy in the state, yesterday was detailed to go to Black Diamond for a month to rid the place of undesirables.
While Starwich is at Black Diamond, Deputy Sheriff Scott Malone will patrol the Ravensdale district, Starwich’s regular territory.
The plan to clean up the community is the outcome of the attempt to assassinate Resident Superintendent Christianson and family on March 29, and of which a number of discharged Italian laborers were suspected. (more…)