Inspector Oldfield and the Black Hand Society

July 23, 2018
Drawing on a treasure trove of family records, Oldfield and coauthor Bruce (No Apparent Danger) use the remarkable life of the author’s great-grandfather, Frank Oldfield, to illuminate the little-known role of federal postal inspectors in federal law enforcement at the turn of the 20th century. Born to a wealthy family in Ellicott City, Md., Oldfield held a variety of jobs thanks to the influence of his father, the city’s local postmaster. Using his family’s connections and his own political prowess, Oldfield was elected to county sheriff by age 29 and in 1899 quickly rose to U.S. postal inspector, one of “the country’s most powerful federal law enforcers,” with the authority to “take over an investigation from any law enforcement agency in the country” if mail was “used in any fashion.” Oldfield’s knack for undercover work led him to uncover major corruption in the U.S. Post Office. He also served as lead investigator of the Black Hand case, during which time he oversaw the arrest of 16 major players in the underground criminal society. A captivating summary of the origins of the U.S. postal system adds intrigue to this lucid blend of true crime and history.

August 1, 2018

Before the FBI became a national law enforcement agency, the post office inspector had the power to enforce federal laws. In 1899, Frank Oldfield became post office inspector. Coauthors Oldfield (Frank's great-grandson) and Bruce (No Apparent Danger) tell the story of Frank Oldfield's greatest accomplishment--taking down the Black Hand in 1909. The Society of the Banana (aka the Black Hand) operated by demanding money from Italian immigrants in exchange for protection. Those who didn't pay faced violent consequences. When John Amicon, a fruit company co-owner, received a letter from the Black Hand, he refused to be extorted and went to Oldfield, who assembled a small team to bring the Black Hand to justice. While the Black Hand was dismantled in the Midwest, it continued operating in other parts of the country. Using voluminous and detailed records kept by Oldfield, the authors show how U.S. attorney William Day received the glory for the conviction and Oldfield resigned and took a security job with a private family, succumbing to cancer in 1916 at age 49. VERDICT This unputdownable book covers a topic that hasn't received much attention. Highly recommended.--Michael Sawyer, Daytona Beach, FL

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