The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-23
BEGGAR GANG BROKEN UP.
FIVE OF "EARL WILLIAWS' PRO-
PERSONALS ARRESTED.
Believed to he Forerunners Of Others
Who. Driven From CITY. We're About
to Return-Thought That Macfarlanc's
Murder Would IutiInidate the OflcerS.

Who, Driven From City. Wero About
to Return-Thought That farlanc's
Murder Would Intimidate the OnIcerS.
Five Of the leading members Of gang
of professional beggars which was driven
out of this city year ago by officers OF
the Charity Organization Society were
arrested in Brooklyn on Saturday night.
where they we're reaping rich harvest
by falling in mock fits on the sidewalks
and by exhibiting pretended infirmittes
to easily impressed men and women. The
men under arrest are said to be crooks,
and Agent James Forbes OF the Charity
Organization Society, who led the raid on
them, says they are the first OF the gang
to return to ply their trade. and that they
were encouraged to make the attempt
by the murder Of Supt. Macfarlane OF the
ANTHOLOGY Society, which they believed
had terrorized the officers Of all OF the
unofficial organizations.
The prisoners are Andrew r. Anderson,
alias Jersey Swede;" Edward O'Connor.
alias Lowell Eddie" Thomas Gallagher.
who is said to be a Western crook John
j. Kenny and Chauncey Homer Of Brooklyn.
These men, according to Agent Forbes,
are part Of a gang which was organized
here some years ago by Earl Webster
Kempton, better known as Earl William
The hang-out Of the gang was in saloon
on Park row. This saloon has been known
for years to the police and to Park row
and Bowery characters as THE Clearing
House
In all there were about fifty members
Of the gang. Those who were not crippled
had to qualify for membership by showing
ability at taking fits. paralysis or other
physical ills. For years the gang reaped
a harvest in this city and the subur BIS.
but crusade was finally started against
them by the Charity Organization Society.
and the last of them was driven to the
road year ago.
During their absence from the city, Agent
Forbes says, the beggars have joined gangs
OF -yeggs" that have been operating around
the country. Last Tuesday, the day after
the murder OF Macfarlane, a voice which
Forbes says he recognized as that OF Low
ell Eddie spoke to him over the telephone.
| and told him that Earl William" and some
and that II they were molested by Forbes
| or his mendicancy squad there would be
| trouble. The voice intimated that murder
would be done II they were not let alone
track Of Lowell Eddie" on Saturday after
noon. They followed him to South Brook
J Ign, where he was joined by the others
| The five then set out to work Columbia
street, where the mechanics, sailors and
| longshore characters of Brooklyn do their
only man in the party who has both legs
whole. The others have each lost part Of
| leg Homer is a "thrower out. That
means he can simulate paralysis perfectly.
| Forbes watched the men work for an
hour They were scattered along Column
at n CT
and were reaping rich harvest Then he
| went to the Hamilton avenue station and
asked Capt, Summers to give him some
help. A number OF policemen were placed
Not one OF the men put. up, fight. when
arrested, and meekest OF all was Lowell
| Eddie" This worthy was twisting around
| in the agonies Of fake fit when he was
arrested When Forbes poked him with a
| club to straighten him out there was good
| deal OF indignation on the part of gullible
citizens, but there was revulsion offeeling
when the true situation was Explained and the
people suddenly saw Lowell Eddie" emerge
from the throes Of epilepsy and walk along
The prisoners were taken to the Brook.
Ign Detective Bureau, where their pictures
| were taken and they were obliged, much
against their wills, to submit to the Ber
tillon measurements. On Sunday morn
ing they were arraigned in the Adams
street police court in Brooklyn and held
for examination on Thursday by Magis-
trate Dooley.
Agent Forbes says that all the men under
arrest, as we'll az the gang they associate
with, are -yeggs' or travelling thieves.
The -yeggs' are the men who blow up
country post offices and railroad stations,
and hundreds of them have been arrested
in recent years by Secret Service men,
post Office inspectors and Pinkerton detec-
lives Forbes says that Kempton the or
ganizer OF the gang, halls from Sohenec-
tady and had long lived in New York with
a noted woman crook, Mamie Largo, alias
Spanish Mamie" who is now in the Bod
ford Reformatory for Women. Kemp
ton he says, has recently been travelling
in northern New York.
Anderson, or Jersey Swede," is a noted
beggar, and the other three men under
arrest have long records. Forbes thinks
the prompt arrest OF these men will check
the invasion Of beggars. which he believes
Kempton had planned for the next few
weeks.