New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-21
GANG PRISONERS FINED.
Magistrate Brocn Says Concealed
Weapons Cause FeudS.

In the Essex Market court yesterday the three
prisoners arrested in Saturday nights raid the
Paul A. Kelly Association. al No. "a Stanton-st..
were arraigned before Magistrate Breen. charged
with disorder'y conduct and carrying concealed
weapons. Michael Gatta, seventeen years DID, Of
No. 2f2 Mulbcrry-st.. acted spokesman Tor him
self and the other prisoners Pasquae Cupo OF
No 10 MsCdouCal-st., and Leonard Eulo. OF No
ls5 East Firteenth-st. Gatta told the court that
the club benevolent association. End that the
meeting which raided held for the purpose
OF collecting funds for The aid Of a sick member.
rs il necessar.- FOR you to carry pistols 10
further fho benevolent purposes o. your assocs-
tion2" asked Magistrate Broen.
Gatta Genied that he had carried a revolver and
one OF tho policemen said that razor had been
found Gatta.
"Oh." said his honor. lis this man the barber OF
the association"
Gatta said the association had no barber. and
then DE suddenly remembered that the Kelly
CiGti0n had expected trouble from Monk East
man. and that the members were going armed on
thet account On disposing of the case Magistrate
Breen said.
The recent outbreaks of lavylessness in certain
Pais 81 ms CITY largely ne result IN my opinion.
8 stranger visiting our shores and reading the
cillHzed people he might be almost inclined to
ask 81 the Indian Is stH upon the Warpath on Man
haitian Island or b. We were so little removed from
the habits ot the barbarian as 10 be obliged TO
secretly carry weapons 10 defend ourselves against
each other Firm measures should be adopted to
suppress practice which is evidently growing and
winch Is not only OlSEraCerul TO the city, Dut a
rnenace TO every lava DIdlng citizen.
The practice is entirely unnecessary in COM
Uuully like ours. under well eSta hlished and eff
Client police power. and implies not only contempt
Tor The law which forbids II. Of the authority
from which the law issues. The law does not
interfere with the fundamental right Of the citizen
10 carry arms. hut only seeks TO prevent the abuse
OF II bE tho limitations 10 cOncea lment. Even
these limitations be overcome in OF need
permit The carrying OF concealed weapons with
out such permit affords IN Itself presumption
OF criminal intent on the part OF him who does
The practice Is not only dangerous. but essen
tally coWardly. Tor b. tends to provoke violence,
and in case ~ quarrel gives an undue and fire.
quentv fatal advantage TO one over the other.
Unless this tyi iS rneCtually crushed out. who
freely ana without uneasueSs go about in crowd
90 city. whore persons may be met at every turn
with conCen led weapons IN their possession which
any impulse of The moment may cali into use2
1ank u is much 60 be regretted that the legislature
and local authorities have not provided more severe
measure for Tho suppression or this perilous
ruisanoe. The present penalty OF fine not eE-
Crecirc $50 has proven 10 he totally inadequate.
For tho sake az tho preservation 81 law and order
IN th~ great community il Is 20 be hoped that the
attention 81 tho legislature may he drawn 10 this
subject 80 early cate.
ln thc present case I regret very much that
cannot send you Young men 70 prison for six
months. viii checrfrly, however. fine you So
aieCe for dsorderly conduct and SO each for car
rtinc concealed weapons.