New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-11
A M'CULLAGH MAN SHOT.
HIS ASsAILANT. AGAINST WHOM HE
WAS WITNESS. DRAWS RE
VOLvER BEFORE POLICEMAN.

Lester Bennett, known all over the Bowery
as Happy Jack Bennett, a special agent for
State Superintendent Of Elections McCuIlagh
and manager of the saloon at No 81 Bowery
was shot in the abdomen last night by Abraham
kutner. thrty-four years old, of No De-
lancey-st., manager of the Blocker Cafe a
Raines law hotel, at No. II Bowery Bennett
was taken to st. Vincent Hospital and Kutner
was locked up in Mercer-st
Policeman Binnings. Of the Mercer-st station.
was at Bleecker-st. and the Bowery, when Kut-
ner and Bennett walked up the Bowery and
stopped to talk to him. Binnings said Kutner
complained of being assaulted in the afternoon
in restaurant He made reference in tell
ing his story to Superintendent McCulIagh which
Bennett thought insulting, and he threatened to
punch" Kutner. according to Binnings The
policeman says that Kutner Immediately put his
hand to his hip pocket. but Binnings thought it
was to get his handkerchief. Instead Kutner
took out a new revolver and fired shot at Ben
nett the bullet striking him in the abdomen.
Bennett fell unconscious and Kutner ran across
the Bowery
Kutner had crossed the street before Blnnings
ran after him, but the latter caught him in half
blocks run. Kutner did not have the re-
Volver, which was not found. Binnings called
an ambulance, which took Bennett away, and
he then locked Kutner up.
AN"NAiSl uIS Il pace Irequented by a low
order of foreigners. He Michael Foley, com
positor, of No BleeclIer-st. and Thomas Dave.
laborer. of No. DDS East Ninety -ninth-st. had
night in kutner place at > p. m. yesterday,
continuing the quarrel into the street where
Policeman Hogan. detailed outside the Mott-st
entrance of Police Headquarters, arrested all
three. and took them gefore Sergeant Rehan,
of the Detective Bureau. He sent them to the
Mulberry-st. station, under arrest charge
Of disorderly conduct Kutner and Foley were
baied at o'clock-Kutner by Max Teitelbaum
Of No II Bleecker-st,, and Foley by Magner
Fox. Of No. 327 Boyery. Kutner went over to
the Bowery and shot Bennett.
Bennett was arrested some days ago in the
raid on Bowery resorts by Inspector Cross. He
was charged with viola ting the excise law and
maintaining q disorderly house. His vas
dismissed. He said last night that he a.
deputy superintendent under MCCullagh. but the
superintendent denied that. and said Bennett
was special agent. The Superintendent de-
clares the shooting came about through bad
feeling against Bennett. Kutner being charged
with aiding and abetting Illegal registration.
Superintendent MCCullagh at his home in
Goshen. y. Y. last night.
"kutner was indicted with a man named
Frank Loewy," he said "on a charge Of aiding
Assembly District. one of the last registration
days. Bennett important witness for
the people in the cases, and this caused the bad
feeling"
Bennett, said the Superintendent, was also one
Of the witnesses in the cases against eX-Alder-
man yelling and others in connection with aid
ing and abetting Illegal registrations in the spe
cial election in the With Congress District.
There comment last night the SINH
larity of the shooting 10 the McAulifte case.
McAuliffe was witness against Gennon IN the
trial which ended in his conviction and II is be-
leved by some persons that McAullne was muir
dered because OF his testimony.