New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-04
GANG LEADER SHOT DOWN
AS He LEAVES COURT
Earlier in the Day big Jack
ZeIig Figured in Chinatown
Gun Fight.
WON'T REVEAL ASSAILANT
Three Men Arrested After Fus,l
lade at Noon in Centre Street
Victim in Hospital
and May Die.


The gunner of another gang set an an
bush for big Jack Zelig, leader Of the
kid Twist" gang yesterday just at noon
when Big Jack was leaving the Crimina'
Courts Building. where he had given ban N
~ 900 for his part in a shooting afair ~
Chinatown early i'm the morning III
Jack" was shot behind the ear and may die.
Charles Tort. Victor Marine and LOUIS
Bull said TO be members OF the Jack SiI-
rocco gang. were arrested by detectives
who said that they saw Tort shot three
lines at Zelig
Wanda Murphy a nineteen-year old gil
and a resident of Chinatown, is said TO be
at the bottom of the feud. 1t is said that
Jack" Sirrocco himself had paid her con
siderable attention and that her affections
were finally won less than week ago t..
Chick Thicker" At any rate Wanda was
In Jack" Poggs saloon on Chatham
Square early yesterday morning when fol-
lowers OF Big Jack" Zeg. continuing
fight begun at Coney Island Sunday even
ing. opened fire on Poggi's saloon.
Jack" Poggi is a brother Of Louis the
Lump" who shot kid Twist at Coney
Island two or three years ago and VINO
during an interim while he was technically
paroled by Judge Grain on charge OF car
rying concealed weapons. but before MS
$4,000 bail had been discharged, disap-
peared and has since been fugitive.
The raiders came in an automobile ard
poured revolver shots through the rear door
OF Poggis saloon. which opens on Doycrs
street A fierce fight followed and when the
police arrived Harris Baker was nursing
bullcthole in his foot and big Jacks
scalp was laid open. Beside the two wound
cd men they arrested Jacob Seidel, Cha1lc'
Murphy, alias Chick Thicker" TO whose
success with the fair Wanda the whole
trouble is attributed. and James Martcllo
Five Held for Examination.
Chick" and Martelo were charged with
disorderly conduct and Magistrate Nc
Adoo in the Tombs court fixed their pan
81 $500. jacob Seidel Harris Baker ana
Big Jack" however were charged WIN It-
lonious assault and their bail was $1,000
After his bail was furnished Che had no
dif5culty in getting it, although he was
already under $4,000 to appear before
Judge Swami for carrying concealed
weapons). Big Jack" with his counsel
Louis Spiegel. started for the latters Of
flee. at No. 116 Centre street. AS they
we're crossing the street three shots came
i'm quick succession. The street was
crowded. The nearby shops had Just let
out their girls for the noon hour women
screamed. Men lodged. No one knew IN
what direction to run, for no one saw the
shooter. At the entrance TO Mr.. Spiegel $
office Big Jack" stumbled. one hand
clasped to the left side Of his neck lie
was helped upstairs and later sent TO the
Hudson Street Hospital.
Detectives Richard oliver and James
Nolan were standing on the steps of the
Criminal Courts Building. They alone
saw the shots fired. With difficulty they
made their way through the crowd which
had huddled together and was damned at
the door where Big Jack had disap-
peared. Three men were cOllared by the
detectiv es-Charles Torti. stocky. bull
let headed young fellow; Victor Marine and
Louis Bull Tort, the police said. had
done the shooting.
Won't Say Who Shot Him.
Big Jack" would not identify anybody.
You bulls make me sick" he said. II
don't know who il was. an I wouldn't tell
YOU if ! did. You tend to your business
now an get bus for me I guess got
mine this time
Tort. Marine and Bull were held with
out bail by Magistrate Butts in the Tombs
police court for further examination to-
morrow on Il short affidavit made by De-
tective oliver Oliver said that he was
told at the Hudson Street Hospital that
Zelig's wound might prove fatal The
charge against the three arrested is felo-
NOUS assault.
Big Jack" Zelig has been i'm the hands
of the police dozens Of times, but he has
never been convicted He was arrested
for the shooting of Julie Morrello in the
Stuyvesant Casino on December > Julie
died refusing to tell who shot him, and
Big Jack" was released ON January {
Sandel Mertz was shot and killed. Big
Jack" was arrested and discharged. Frank
Rlizzo was shot to death at No. - Third
avenue on February 90, and again Big
Jack was charged with the shooting, and
again he was discharged. Tort, who f.
charged with shooting Big Jack" was
arrested for shooting Frank Smith alias
Dewey. on March IS. 1871 but he, too, was
discharged.
The kid Twist gang is an ofIshoot of
the old Jack" Sirrocco gang. The latter
reached the height of it's power when
jack Sirrocco had his place on Park
Row. There came a fierce dispute. il is
said, as to the division of booty and many
Of the old Jack" Sirrocco gang seeded
under the leadership Of kid Twist" since
the death of kid Twist" at the hands Of
Louis Poggi Big Jack" Ielg has been at
the head Of the kid Twist gang