New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-10
70 ASK EX-POLICEMAN
ABOUT HL|G KILLING
Was a Bitter Enemy of big
lack and Knew Davidson,
the Slayer, 1t Is Said.
ONCE WORKED IN DIVES
wable Clings to Theory That
navidson Was Hired to Do
the Job Coroner
Holds RED Phil.

,.-,er member of the New York
police Department who was known as
,,,,.r enemy of big Jack" zelig and
,rsw Red Phil" Davidson, according
!. rbe Tribune's informant, will be In
..-,ogated by Robert Minton. Assistant
nistrict Attorney. in an effort to de-
.,,,. u he knows anything about the
killing of Zelig.
This man. concerning whom Informal
,ior was given to Mr.. Minton last night
.mn,oyed in Tenderloin dive pre-
,.,Ous TO his joining the force One
on who knew this ex-policeman
hon he worked in a Tenderloin place
It'll last night that II was not at All
,,r,,keIy that he was acquainted with
~, s,aver OF Zelig, who also worked
- dives among them Jack" Sirocco's'
Perhaps these two men met IN one
~ these resorts" said this man, and
a e not at all improbable that the TWO
h.cams good friends. And from what
~. heard. this ex-policeman had an
,xcellent reason for hating Zelig. And
81, hatred was Of the sort that often
ends In murder"
The ex-policeman's luminosity toward
y.,ig was we'll known among the gang
man friends Of the slain gang leader.
and his name was one that was coupled
with that OF the slayer in the gang
mans gossip Immediately after Zelig
was killed.
"a Hired Slayer, Says WahIe.
No one, excepting the police. who say
they are convinced In the belief, credit
for a moment the story told by David
son that he was alone in the crime and
shot Zelig because Of personal grudge.
None holds more tenaciOusly TO the
theory that Davidson was hired as
sassin than former Magistrate Wahle,
who was counsel to Zelig in his fight
against the alleged attempt to railroad
him to prison by two members ofLieu-
tenant Becker's strong arm" squad,
Detectives Steinert and White.
Judge Wahle pointed out several
circumstances that indicated that
Davidson was but the tool Of others.
The first was that Davidson had picked
the fight with Zelig deliberately.
1t is considered strange by all who
knew Davidson, who had never shown
any degree Of bravado before, that ne
should have gone up to Zelig after be-
ing twice ordered away and again de-
mand his SIS from him, and on being
refused shout out:
You're a - of a sport to refuse
10 give me money that belongs to me.
when I'm dead broke and your pockets
are lined with money"
II was this that so enraged Zelig Us
he sat playing cards in Siegers cafe
No. rs Second avenue, that he struck
Davidson in the eye, backing 1t and
knocking him down.
Says Davidson Sought Trouble.
But what Judge wahle regards as
the best proof that Davidson intended
TO force a fight with Zelig such as would
serve as basis for case Of Justifable
homicide was the visit made to Sic
gals at $3.50 Saturday night. three hours
after Zelig had beaten him. Davidson
walked up TO Zelig's table and patron
isingly said to the gang leader, Lets
shake hands and be friends. I've moth
ing against you"
zelig. without hooking up at David
son, said, Sure" and extended his
hand. Davidson extended his left hand,
his right hand being plunged into his
right hand coat pocket. Davidson. II
Is believed by Judge Wahle, would have
shot zelig at that moment had the gang
leader again assaulted him.
Davidson will be indicted. in all like
lIhood, to-day, charged with murder in
the first degree. After he was held by
The coroner's jury yesterday Detective
Schmidt and John Brady. the con-
dnctor OF the car on which he sho,
zelig, and Coroner's Physician Leblanc
told their story TO the grand jury
A story was in circulation yesterday
that Davidson is a fugitive from jas
lice from the Boston authorities. who
are said TO want him for larceny.