New-York tribune., 1911-12-03
BAD MAN FATALLY SHOT
At AN EAST SIDE BALL
"juIie" MoreIIi, Long Known to
Police, Leads His Gang
to Defeat.
TRIES TO "SM0KE UP" DANCE
Sends Word of His Approach,
Shots Are Fired and He Is
Found in Street - His
Assailants Escape,

Julie Morelll, Of No 432 East 18th
street VINO, according 10 the police. is
one Of the worst gun fighters" in the
city, and who has been responsible tOi
many bloody feuds In dance hall and
street. was himself so desperately
wounded early yesterday morning in
fight in dance hall on the lower East
Side that he is dying in Bellevue Hos
III al No arrests were made.
From the smoke laden atmosphere of
dance hall in Second avenue at Sth
street early yesterday morning strains
Of lively music sifted through the partly
lowered windows. The lower East Side
was holding one Of its frequent ENTER
tainments and balls" at which all Sec
ond avenue society was enjoying the
twisting evolutions Of the Turkey
Trot," the Frisco Whirl" and other
variations Of the waltz and wo-step
OF q sudden the squalid orchestra
ceased it's infectious music. Half
dozen young men in flannel shirts and
with garish silk handkerchiefs tied care
lessly about their throats gathered in
tense group in one end Of the hall and
spoke together earnestly.
The girl dancers stood alone, uneasi-
ness showing in their faces as they
glanced toward the young men. Soon
rumors began 10 fy about the dance hall
that q noted gun fighter had sent word
he was coming up with some Of his
chosen members 10 smoke up the
party.
Make Ready for tho Visitor
"Jllis" Morelll was the name that was
passed from mouth 10 mouth. Men and
women there grasped the significance of
Il. Julie" was known TO them all, IL
not personally then by reputation. The
bare announcement that Morelli was
a bout to visit the hall was sufficient.
Women began 10 put on their wraps and
70 leave by the narrow stairway that
leads to the street Their escorts, in
some instances. departed WITH them.
The more hardy and reckless of the
others remained. They set their modish
hats more carefully on their sleekly
parted hair, frightened their belts and
felt slyly in their hip pockets, where sus
picious bulges showed.
Now all was i'm readiness for the ar
rival of the visitor, and the leader Of the
group Of young men sgnalled to the or
chestra leader to revive the strains Of
his Instruments. Soon those women who
were left in the hall began TO dance
again with the men, and all was as be
fore
ln the middle Of two-step low
whistle WAS heard from the foot Of the
dark hallway. then a scurrying of feet.
and lookout stole into The hall and
whispered A word 10 the leader of the
reception committee Norell and his
men were coming M
Morell was allowed 10 climb the steep
stairs without moleststion. At his side
walked two young Italian braves" All
carried revolvers. which they bore non
chalantly in their hands They were al
lowed 10 get just beyond the threshold Of
the anteroom, when they were met by
flying wedge of men and were instantly
surrounded. The weapons in their hands
We're wrested from them by sheer
strength of numbers and the muzzles
turned against them. Half dozen
shots rang ont and Moreli staggered 10
The head Of the stairs BEFORE he could
help himself ne was lifted bodily and
hurled the length Of the steps TO the
Sidewalk And Bedlam was within.
Found Rolling on the Sidewalk.
Pstrolman Smith. of the 9th street
station. heard the sound Of the shots
and guessed their source. He ran
10 the head Of the stairs and was told
that the trouble was in the street below.
although the smell Of burned gunpowder
was still heavy in the dance hall. Smith
ran 20 the street and at 9th street found
Moreli rolling on the sidewalk, while
Patrolman Farrell was trying TO lift the
wounded man 10 his feet Morelh was
weak from loss of blood. and said he had
been shot from behind as ne was walk
ing up the avenue. lie was hurried 10
Bellevue Hospital, where surgeons found
that the bullets. two Of them, were dan
Eerouslv near the heart and would end
Morellfs career.
The man was told he would certainly
die, but he refused to say who laid him
low. He described himself as julius
Moreli, carpenter. Of No. Sol East 9th
street \ few minutes later Detective
RamSherg identified the man as Julie"
MoreH' and said ne had notorous rec
ord ~ bad man on September 26
last Moreli was shot in the arm in "A dis
pute in Second avenue. According to
the police. the small, frail looking man
has been responsible for more blOOdshed
in this city than any other half dozen
men D. Now York
il has long been Morellfs custom to
smoke mp dances and such entertain
ments. His courage was of the savage
kind. and knives. revolyers or fists were
ready weapons in his hands.
nj lIAAOIRiN TDIICT NlTI nlhO