New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-23
The Vues Called Gangers Why They're Picking Zach other
Real Motive Behind Killing of
kid Twist" and How That
Affair Led to Recent
Outbreaks.

bookmaker. and il was while thus engaged
that Second Deputy Commissioner Dough-
erty. then I'm charge of the racetrack squad
OF the Pinkertons, became acquainted with
the gangster
What would have made an excellent study
for Lombroso Is the head and face OF John
Tomasso. called Johnny on-the-spot" one
of the Sirocco gang. Thick lips that curl
cruelty at the end. short, wide spreading
nose. with nostrils dlated thick, low hang
ing ears dark eyes that look like long Sits;
the usual sloping forehead, and head,
always thrust forward comprise the top
piece that adorns a thick-set frame. His
sobriquet was earned because OF hts readi-
ness for a fight Though mixed mp in many
frays. his only arrests have been for pick
ing pockets, one of the gentler pursuits OF
most gangsters.
Another Of the STocco gang whose crmi-
nal vocation is that Of plckpocket is Jo-
seph Ferro. who usually succeeds in beat
Ing" the case to put IT I'm the iargon OF
thieves. when he is arrested. Ferro Is one
Of the few criminals who car boast Of
we'll moulded chin. and handsome mus
tache hides his cruel lips. He, too, has
pronounced sloping forehead.
The marvellous good fortune that follows
these gangsters in the courts IS perhaps
best exempIfed in the case Of Charles
Miller. one Of the hangers-on in the China
, town resorts. lie has been arrested twelve
! times. but has been convicted only once.
! But there seems TO have been a change
! !or the better during the last two weeks.
! Charles Hall, a member OF the Gopher
/ gang OF the West SIDE was sentenced 10
| five years for carrying revolver. A mem
| Der Of the Srocco gang, who escaped with
a suspended sentence when convicted be-
| fore Judge Rosalsky two years ago on a
/ burglary charge was resentenced on the
! I'D charge by Judge Rosalsky. who gave
| him five years The same day he was SEN
/ fenced on fresh charge by Judge o'sul-
/ Ivan. who imposed a sentence Of seven
years and seven months.
These modern gangsters differ from their
! forerunners IN their cOwardly methods as
| compared with the fearlessness and cour-
age Of tho oldtime gangsters like the
Whvos. who fought in the open and gen.
/ orally contonted themselves with USING
clubs
But they are akin I'm many other respects.
notably I'm tho political protection afforded
/ them. The politicians always come TO the
front" whenever they are called upon. Al
the least they can always provide the
. necessary money to engage lawyers, ana
often they send their lieutenants TO COM
pIainants and witnesses, who are usually
persuaded into having bad case OF I
don't remember" when they take the Wit
ness stand.
The radical difference. however, between
the present-day ganRsters and those whose
places they have taken IS the use or the
automobile In this connection Deputy COM
! missioner Dougherty. to whom the credit
for the present roundup Of gangsters Is
! largely due, said:
THE Police Department would be greatly
! aided In wiping these fellows out Of eX-
istence II an ordinance now before the
/ Board Of Aldermen should he adopted. This
ordinance would compel public garage own
crs to keep n book containing the names
! Of owners and chauGeurs of all public
taxicabs. as we'll as the time Of their leav-
| ing the garage and the time of their re-
! turn"