New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-07
GANGS USE TRUCE TO
PLAN A BATTLE ROYAL
Despite Days Cessation OF Gun
Play, Threat Of Fight Near
Tammany Hall Is in Air.
POSSIBLY IN ZELIG HAUNTS
Excise Laws Employed to Wipe
Out Dens-Whitman Takes
Hand to Check Pulls-Ju-
dicial Leniency Criticised.

Lswiessness by New York Apaches has
not yet reached it's zenith. according 10
police belief and the threats Of gang lead
ers, BE that as it may. another day passed
without any gun fights I'm the war over
gambling graft between the forces at
Jack Zelig and Jack" Sirocco. Whether
this was due 10 an enforced truce. brought
about by fifty detectives, who have haunted
the gusrillss' dens since "Wednesday night,
with orders TO shoot to kill il necessary,
or 20 the short shrift two of their number
received yesterday I'm the courts, can only
he surmised
In Confederation OF police opinion that
the war is not yet over one of Siroccos
lieutenants declared:
There will be plenty more Of II. While
I'm out of II myself and haven't been
mixed I'D with Srocco or any Of the
crowd in six months. hear the next fight
will he either in the neighborhood or Tam
many Hall or right in the very head
quarters of the Zelig gang, near Broome
and Allen streets
This means that the Sirocco aggregation
intends to be the aggressor from now on
and retaliate for the invasion of one of
their "hangouts' in Chinatown, Jack
Posgi's saloon, in Doyers street by Zelig
and his followers early Monday morning.
To Clean Out Haunts.
With the aid Of the State Board OF
Excise and in conjunction with the Fire
and Health departments. the police plan
10 wipe out the various gang resorts a
bartender in Poggis saloon, at No. IL
Chatham Square, was arrested yesterday
for violating the excise law. officials or
the Excise Department and men from the
Fire Department and Department OF
Health are also looking for violations In
the Chinatown and East Side haunts of
the gun men.
District Attorney whitman took hand
yesterday, when he learned that political
friends of Charles Tort, who shot Zelig
Monday morning were trying to get him
out on bail. The District Attorney quickly
caused an indictment TO be found against
Torti for attempted murder. The penalty
for this crime is twenty-five years. The
District Attorney intends to rush the case
TO trial.
Another surprise 10 the Sirocco gang was
IN the treatment of Antonio Balatino, on
whom Judge Rosalsky in 1909 suspended
sentence for burglary. The judge rescinded
the sentence and gave Balatino not less
than two years and not more than three
years and five months. A few minutes
later he was sentenced TO seven years and
seven months by Judge OSullivan for a
burglary committed in May. The second
sentence Is to begin after the first expires.
1t was charged at Police Headquarters
that the leniency Of the local judiciary had
been responsible for the boldness of the
gangs. which were reported TO have the
backing Of powerful Tammany politicians
Get Away with Murder.
What's the use of arresting these fell
lows anyway asked high police official
These fellows actually commit murder
\ and get aNsyawith It. Zelig has killed two
u of the Sirocco crowd in the last three
weeks Look at Louie the Lump! We
,trailed him FOR six weeks before we got
him. and now he's free Zelgs forty or 50
of first class criminals were arrested after
hard work by the police. What became Of
them
Records at headquarters show that Zelig
has been arrested twelve times in this city
and has been convicted only four times.
Since 1909 Zeg. who is also known as
Harry Smith and William Alberts. has
managed to get out Of every scrape.
Johnny-on-the- Spot as John Tomaso.
one of the Srocconisns. is known. has
been arrested twelve times, but only once
has lie been sent 70 prison
Louis Cupero. better known as Sou
POLO" has served two terms for shooting,
but was discharged on two occasions.
Sirocco's chief lieutenant. Louie the
-
Kid Twist. the SUCCESSOR OF Monk Eastman
as chief of the gang now led by Zelg. He
has been twice arrested since. He was
discharged on the first charge. On the
second, indicted as a second offender, he
was released In the custody OF his counsel,
Bob Moore, by Judge Grain, nd>imme-
dately made his escape.
Charles Miller another OF the gangsters,
who has been arrested eleven times in this
and other cities. including LONDON, has
been convicted only once. This was in
Charlottesville, Va. when he was sentenced
TO four years. ON another occasion he beat
q turnkey In New York Police Headquar-
tiers and escaped. along with Harry Allen.
One OF the gang John Herlihy, alias
Red" has PLAYED in hard luck. He has
been arrested six times and escaped only
once Five times he has been sentenced TO
prison for terms aggregsting more than
thirteen years But In New York he has
had the same luck the rest have had Once
he was sentenced 20 thirty DAYS. and an
other time he vas discharged.
"Chiek's" Luck Fails Him.
Frank Triccs. known as "Chick' Trigger,
rad good luck until arrested "Wednesday
while carrying a revolver under his shirt.
when srraigned before Magistrate Appleton
Yesterday Tricca was accused merely Of
rnisdeneanor. The magistrate noticed the
tighter offence charged and Indignantly
ordered the charge changed 70 felony.
Inspector Hughes last night said his de
fectiYes told him the error was not theirs.
The Chick" was released in 81 900 bail.
furnished by Peter Hughes. one Of the right
hand men Of ex-Sherif Tom Foley. the
Tammsny leader.
Louis Spiegel counsel for Jock Aelig
and one OF The Foley henchmen. was clos
eted with Police Commissioner Waldo an!
Deputy Dougherty for some time yesterday
evening Neither official would discuss the