Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-11-29
BANDITS TRAGIC END
NOT VERY BOLD OR BLOODY;
JUST TWO LITTLE BOYS.
Sad Fate Of "Rattlesnake Jack" and
"BIll the Bitter" When Their ROB
bers' Roost" Caved In and
Smothered Them.

New York.-Two OF the bandits are
dead. They were caught in their own
cave by the fall of the cave roof and
were crushed to death
But these were not very bold or
bloody bandits: no posses rode the
plains after them; no warrant, sworn
to by Bell and Book, was out against
them. Just two little boys. Johnnie
Pecorella and Billy Blum, and their
robbers cave. where they met their
death some time the other night, was
in vacant lot at 1853 Hopkins avenue.
East New York
1t was two other bandits who made
the discovery of the tragedy In The
cave early the next morning. and that
Is what made 1t all tho more terrible
for all the bold bandit who infest
the mountain Businesses about Hop
kins avenue and Hull street. They
took shovels. these scared bandits.
and they dug frantically until they
came on shoe and little patch OF
stocking. and then-they grew sick
with fear, and just had to cry.
Now. the bandits numbered fifteen
or twenty youngsters. varying In age
from 8 to II years. Before ever they
dug their cave In the vacant lot on
Hopkins avenue they took fearsome
names to themselves. Johnny Peco-
rella, IL years old, who lived at 1874
Rockaway avenue. was "Rattlesnake
Jack" Billy Blum. g. was "Bill tho
Bitter" when he was not tucked In hts
own bed at SO Hull street; little
Johnny Good was Rob Roy and
George Good was Red Eye Mike"
All the bandits were bound together
by terrible oaths and "Rattlesnake
Jack" had all their names. signed IN
blood. In an old oil can safe down In
the cave.
The cave was a perfect robbers
stronghold. 1t was eight feet wide.
the same number Of feet long and
about six feet deep. Over the top
boards were laid; then tin and on top
OF all that dirt was spread. so that
every bit Of light was kept out Of the
cave. To get into the cave q robber
had to drop on his knees and crawl
through tunnel ten feet long with a
fine twist in it, where deputy sheriff
could be murdered at one blow with
the dirk The cave was fitted up In
side with strips of carpet and a pack
ing case seat for the chief OF the ban
dts who was old "Rattlesnake" John
ny Pecorella himself. Candies.
"swiped" from home, gave. light.
For several days the bandits had
feared "Deadwood Dick" the trusty
deputy sheriff, was on their trail and
that he would loot their cave OF evil
dence in their absence on some foray
So when word came that Deadwood
was already coming down the noun
tainside from City Line with his trust.
ed posse. the chief Of the bandits and
"Bill the Bitter" otherwise Billy Blum.
decided they would have to spend the
night In their cave to guard it.
Early the other morning Rattle
snake Jacks" father noticed his son
was not at the breakfast table, also
that his bed had not been slept IN
during the night. Pecorella, senior,
inquired of his son, Tony, as to
Johnny's whereabouts. Tony, who fs
also bandit. admitted guiltily, that
Johnny had spent the night guarding
the cave. He was despatched instant
ly to bring the truant home.
Tony picked up Johnny Good and
Montrose Buder and George Woods
on the way to the cave. All OF the
bandits felt little nervous thrills OF
anxiety; they knew that their trusted
chief and Bill the Bitter" had spent
the night in the cave. When they ar
rived at the vacant lot they saw
where the cave should be sagging
hole, with the splintered ends OF
beams and old strips Of tin protrud-
ing.
Johnny Good ran and brought help
and the bodies of the two boys were
unearthed.
Then the bandits forgot all about
being bandits. They are Just little
boys again, very sad and very fright
ened.