New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-07

lost II in saloon owned by Edward
Clarity. at seth street and Fifth ave-
nuc, brooklyn. year and half ago.
Maher said he reported the loss 10
the bartender and that the revolver
had never been returned to him. Ihis
was contradicted by the bartender,
whose name the police refused to give
out. He said he found Makers revolt
yer and sent 1t around to his nome
Maher was examined by Dougherty
when this became known. and the po-
liceman explained that the bartender
was right, but that the revolver that
had been sent to him was still another
one. and that the one used to Kill Zelig
was lost shortly after. Just where 1t
was lost did not appear.
Judge Wahle spent all of yesterday
afternoon at his Office. in the ST. Paul
Building, interroeating members OF
big Jack" zelig's gang, hoping to
be able 10 throw some light on the
murder.
"Zelig was never slain for a few
dollars" said Judge Wahle. There
was some weightisr motive that may
appear before long.
Il do not think that his death was
connected in any way with the indict-
ment Of Detectives Steinert and White
two of Becker's old strong arm squad
men, who were accused Of put
ting revolver in Zelig's pocket TO
frame up case against him. The
story that Zelig mad blackjacked
Davidson is nonsense. Zelig hasn't
carried any sort Of a weapon. not even
q walking stick, since all this trouble
started
How It All Started.
The story told by Zelig's friends, who
were playing a friendly game Of casino
in Siegars little coffee house, at No.
6 Second avenue, when Davidson
walked up to the gangster and de-
manded his SIS, differs entirely from
the account rendered by the prisoner.
Their story is that on Friday night,
when the ball Of the Forsythe Club was
in progress at the Stuyvesant Casino,
No. 40 Second avenue, Davidson spied
Zelig and walked over to him.
Davidson pretended to be drunk
hough friends of Zelig declare he was
perfectly sober. Davidson took out
small roll Of bills, SIS. and handed 1t
70 Zelig, saying, Keep this for me-"
nd
wandered off, still playing the part OF
an intoxicated man. No more was
seen of him until Saturday afternoon
when he went to Siegars and asked
Zelig for the money. zelig jokingly
told him that he had no money and to
so away.
Davidson departed, but returned
again at o'clock. Zelig was then
playing cards with Little Billie" and
a couple Of his friends. Again David
son asked for his money, and when
Zelig played with him again Davidson
said:
Well give me So, as 1 want to go
to Philadelphia"
Zelig had five 800 bills and s.
bin in his pockets. He handed the lat
ter to rLittle Billie" To change and
then he gave Davidson So.
Davidson went away, hut again re-
turned. this time about 8 o'clock.
Walking up to Zeligs table, he said
Lets be friends. l have nothing
against you" ,-a '....
Sure, said Zelig. that's all right"
Think He Was Armed.
But now Zelig's friends recall hav-
ing noticed Davidson's right hand in
his coat pocket all the while he talked
with Zelig, showing, as they suspect,
that he was debating at that time
whether he ought 10 kill zelig then.
Davidson left the coffee house after
getting the S3-a sam of money found
in his pockets by the police when he
was arrested-and Zelig went on with
the card game
A few minutes later Zelig, who, like
most Of the gangsters. was proud OF
his hands, held his fingers up for in
spection and said:
Il think need manicuring. I'm 60
ing up 10 the manicure at 18th street"
Zelig quit the cafe and his friends
saw him Jump on the car. They also
saw Davidson, who had been standing
outside the coffee house, run after the
car for ALMOST two blocks before he
jumped on It, They thought nothing
Of this. for, as one Of them put It, no
one thought that Davidson had the
pluck to hit rat.
What. became OF the $500 Zelig had
in his pocket when he boarded the car,
and which his friends saw, no one can