The evening world., 1910-12-13
CANISTER COVERS
ON W|TNESSSTAND
IN FEAR Of RIVAL
all Get Mine if That Guy
IS Sent Away" Says
digger" Siegel.
CHANGES HIS EVIDENCE.
Declares He VIII BE Killed if
Hyman Benjamin Is Con-
victed of Murder.
HIS EVIDENCE.

Barred out OF the courtroom where
lfyman BENJAMIN is on trial for the
killing OF thirteen-year-old Rachel
Rooten with a bullet Intended for
''Jiggcr' Seiecl. groups of east side
eangsters assembled to-day near Judge
O'sullivan's part OF the Court of Gem
esi Sessions discussing what they
would do TO the witnesses for the people
their pal should be sent away.
Tough. with beetle brows and their
hair plastered low over their foreheads.
their fingers nicotine-stained and their
faces drawn when not bloated. their
iips set thin and hard. these young men
were n sociological study. They typlned
the worst consequences OF congestion
and the mlngling OF the inferior ele-
mcnts OF two nationaiities. Tho net re-
suit Is terrifying. and this terror reflects
itself In tho hearts OF these ganRsters.
for there is not one OF them who does
not live with the expectation OF get
ting his some day unless he can shoot
first.
But He 10 Different.
The prisoner. Lyman Benjamin. Is
strangely different In appearance from
the gansters outside In the corridor
and those who are corrslled In the
witness-room. He IL a dapper young
fellow who looks ms though he mign;
he Q haberda sherry salesman. lie 10
Iapper In his get-up. and his features
so commonplace that he would pass In
a crowd unnoticed. Only his eyes at
tract attention. His eyebrows blink
continually, and his gaze shifts In every
direction. no one woul suspect him
OF physical courage as he sits huddled
inside the rail. listening to the testi-
mony that Is being extorted from
denizens OF the underworld dragged re-
luctantly into court by Assistant Dis
trlct-Attorney Moss.
The little girl who was the innocent
victim of a bullet intende for "Jigger''
Seigel was playing In the street on Sum
day night-May % IN a dancehall In
Forsyth street, near Grand. Seigel was
spelling. His nickname Is an M WI
cdgment Of his prowess.
Now SeIgel is the head OF a gang HI
claims that he Ii a stenographer. out
he has done time. Benjamin is the lead.
or OF another gang. and Johnny Spanisr
leads a gang OF ~plekpockets and cut
Threats who are named for him. The
Johnny spanish gang and Benjamin's
cohorts are on friendly terms. and they
terrorize the respectable residents oil
I the neighborhood In perfect amlty, bu
there has been bad blood between Sci
gels gang and the others for some time
Invited Him Out.
Benjamin, Johnny Spanish and abou'
=. twenty others went around to the dane,
z hall and invited '~Jigger" to come GU
and get licAed." lie went. peellng of
his coat. But when he got outside. n
saw that the odds were against him
He was prepared to fight. even ,hre
OF the crowd a. once. but agalns
twenty Inc was helpless. lie started t
run 4 shot was fired. then anothe
and another. and the little girl fell
II "Jigger" had been shot the polio
would never nave known who did 1t.
sang ethics are opposed to that. III
y AZ 1t was poor little Rachel HooteI
BENJAMIN Is on trial.
Selgel was on the stand yesterday an
again to-day. He looks the typici
SeeA tss oA ~ fNeH'H sAA'AN M
squat, his face hard. his forehead 10,
with broad shoulders and a crushin
fist, he was In a state of terror az !
testified. Benjamin glared OF him. AZ
sought to get his eye. But Jigger
gaze roved all over the COURTROOM
every direction except toward the d
fendant.
III dat guy Is sent away. I'll q
mime he said, In quavering tone
"Dcy'l Kill me. II he beats dis cas-
III be all right"
The witness has been on the stand {
two days. In his direct exaIninat!
by Assistant District attorney Moss
testified that he was invited by Benz
min and Johnny Spanish 10 come olt
a dance hall on Forsyth street a
take a licking Seigol accepted I
Invitation and said he heard Benjanl
say: NOW. JOHNNY. get your gu
ready"
Relieving that he was about to
killed. he tool to his heels,
Changed His Testimony.
Selgel had told this story at the G,
oner's inquest and before the Ora
Jury which indicted BENJAMIN.
Under a gruelling examination
Abraham Levy. who is defending y,
jamin. Seigel was forced to admit n
he did not hear Benjamin make a
such remark. on the contrary he h
seen Spanish d !aw a gun and Benian
wrest IL away from him II was Il
he ran.
why did you change your tie,
monyY'' Mr.. Levy asked.
because | am afraid" was Selg'
reluctant admission.
Don't you think that the Distri
Attorney OF this county can give
the necessary protectionT' the pr!son'
lawyer asked.
mo. You don't know those blohes
way ] do" was Seigel's answer.
"Why didn't you tell the truth Def
, the Coroner
"Well. maybe ] did and maybe / did
was scared and excited"
FAR you afraid now?" was Mr.. Lev
next question.
"yes. ] nm afraid was the witn'
surprising answer. III that guy (poi
ing to BenJamin) gets sent away, III
mine. They Will kin mt. But II he be
this trial I'll be all rigkt."
6sigei was compeiisd TO admit 4