"Organized crime was born in the back of a fruit store in Marion. Before America saw headlines about the Capone Mob, the Purple Gang and Murder Inc., the specter of the Black Hand terrorized nearly every major city. Fears that the Mafia had reached our shores and infiltrated every Italian immigrant community kept police alert and citizens on edge. It was only a matter of time before these professed Robin Hoods formed a band. And when they did, the eyes of the world turned to Ohio, particularly when the local Black Hand outfit known as the Society of the Banana went on trial. Authors David Meyers and Elise Meyers Walker unfold this first and nearly forgotten chapter on crime syndicate history"--Back cover.

A graduate of Miami and Ohio State Universities, DAVID MEYERS has written a number of local histories and various works for the stage. Among the former are Columbus: The Musical Crossroads and Ohio Jazz, while the latter include The Last Christmas Carol, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Condominium Association and The Last Oz Story. He has a background in adult and juvenile corrections.

ELISE MEYERS WALKER is a graduate of Hofstra University and served on the boards of the Columbus Historical Society and the Ted Lewis Museum in Circleville. She and her father have previously collaborated on Central Ohio's Historic Prisons, Historic Columbus Crimes, Look to Lazarus, Columbus State Community College, Inside the Ohio Penitentiary, Kahiki Supper Club, Wicked Columbus and Carrying Coal to Columbus.