New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
PLOT AGAINST BENNETT.
BELIEVED TO BE VICTIM OF DEs-
PERATE GANG.
WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATING
ELECTION LAWS.

An investigation of the shooting of Lester
Bennett in the Bowery at BIeecker-st. on Mon
day evening is expected to disclose a desperate
plan to put out Of the way one of the most
! efficient agents of John McCulagh, the State
| superintendent of Elections in the metropolitan
district. Abraham Kutner who shot Bennett.
was to be placed trial yesterday in the Court
OF General Sessions on charge of violating the
election laws at the latest registration Bennett
IL was said, had been active in getting evil
! oehce against Kutner and several members of
notorious gangs who perpetrated election frauds
| His life had been threatened.
hutner was arraigned before Magistrate Ohm
sted in the Jefferson Market court yesterday.
! ana was held for examination tomorrow. when
Bennett may he able TO leave St Vincents Hos
pital and appear in court. One of superintend-
ent McCullaghs deputies had talk with Ben
nett in the hospital, and later Mr. McCullagh
said he believed there had been a conspiracy to
put Bennett out of the way Apparently he
said, several men who had been caught in cleo
ton frauds by Bennett were in the conspiracy
They told Kutner in his saloon at No II
Bleecker-st.. that Bennett had put up a job"
to have a fight take place in the saloon on Mon
day, the fight which led to the arrest of Kutner
in the afternoon. They worked upon Kutner
until he became enraged and went to Hatch's
saloon. at No. 3i1 Bowery. of which Bennett
was the manager, TO charge Bennett with hav-
ing induced two men to attack him
At HatcA's place Kutner pulled a revolver
from his pocket, and made movement as il to
shoot Bennett but Hatch held the weapon
Bennett said he would go to Kutner's place and
prove that he had not had anything to do with
the fight there Hatch tried 10 persuade him
not TO go. but he started out with Kutner who
had put the revolver back in his pocket. Be
fore they left Hatch's place Kutner said to Ben
nett, with an oath:
IF I thought you put UP that fight. Ia kill
you"
Mr.. McCullagh said yesterday that he had
learned that about the time Bennett started
with Kutner TO go to No. II Bleecker-st. Paul
Mccarthy "Flatnose Denny" sullivan and
"Beansey" ROsenthaI, members of the Hoop
gang Of repeaters. left nearby hallway and
followed. A little later Bennett was shot by
kutner.
Mr.. McCuuagh declared that Bennett came Of
a good family, but went wrong when he a
boy, and drifted into the Bowery, where he was
connected with election frauds in 1896 and was
arrested. He pleaded guilty and was sent 10
prison for two years. When he returned 10 the
Bowery his former friends threw him down"
in the language Of that thorOughfare. and he
became agent for the capture Of repeaters
and other Illegal voters. He usually carried n
revolver and believed TO be handy with
a gun" the Superintendent said. but he had
been persuaded to put the weapon away. Ben
nett was IN Mr.. McCullagh's office on Monday
afternoon and Mr. McCullaeh said 10 him then.
You would better quit the Bowery. or they'll
kill you"
Some time later the same afternoon Bennett
called up Mr.. McCullagh the telephone. and
said: I've chopped II out" meaning that he
had decided 10 leave the Bowery.
The two men who had the fight with Kutner
on Monday afternoon were discharged in the
Centre-st. court yesterday.
Were these men disorderly?" asked the mag
igtrate Of the policeman who arraisned the pris-
Cners.
I was standing on the stoop"- said tho
policeman.
Were they disorderly?" interrupted the mag
istrate.
The policeman insisted upon telling the story
IN his own way so the prisoners were dis
charged.