New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-02
Weber Warned That GangSters
Had DeCreed His Death by
Knife for "SqueaIing"
on Four Gunmen.
PLANNED TRIP TO EUROPE
Underworld Told He Would Try
to Escape to China-Other
"Informers" to Meet Same
Fate as Rosenthal,
Is Report.

and his wife, who left for Cuba on
Friday. Although District Attorney
Whitman did not seem to place much
reliance in the reports as to the reasons
for Weber's hasty trip 10 Cuba, 1t was
openly stated among the haunts of the
ganGmen that Weber only left this
country when he received first hand
information that to remain here da"
longer would mean his sudden and vlo-
lent death.
When "Bridgie1 was approached by
newspaper men just before the Ward
liner Saratoga left her slip on Friday
he was palpably nervous. He kept
glancing about the ship every mo-
ment. as though fearing a hidden en-
cmv was about to attack him. lie I'M
plored the newspaper men to let him
alone. evidently fearing lest the men
who have sworn to "croak' him shoulo
be given the scent and do away with
him before the boat sailed.
Ganumen Not Becker's Friends.
Investigation last night brought 10
light that Weber has been trailed by
gunner constantly since he was
liberated from the Tombs. He at
tempted to keep his whereabouts while
i'm this city a secret. but friends OF
Lefty Louie" Rosenberg. Sam
Schcpps. Whitley Lewis and "Dago
Frank" Cironci, who were sentenced 10
death recently for their part in inc
Rosenthal murder as direct result OF
testimony by Weber and his friends
learned Of his address and kept close
watch on him.
In an East side saloon, the pro-
prietor of which has achieved notoriety
because Of his cscapades, u was
learned that the men who are after
Weber have sworn TO get him. even
if doing so neccssitates Worldwide
pursuit OIL their part. They nave let
il be known that the gun VIII not be
uscd in his taking off. Among eX-
pcricnced gangsters the use Of the re-
voIvcr in pumping OFF, an enemy has
fallen into disrepute since the Rosen-
thai case. II attracts too much at
tention. The knife will be made use
Of when the time comes TO put Weber
out of the way.
The proprietor OF the saloon IN ques
ton declared that the men who are at
cnmity with "Bridgie," according to
this man. are not those who have any
svmpathy with Lieutenant Becker. the
arch-conspirator in tho Rosenthal muir
der case. II is because of the manner
i'm which Weber "squealed" on the -four
eunmen that they have taken oath to
get square on the dapper little gambler
II is known that the District Attor-
| nov has been Informed OF the TACT tha'
Uobcr's life has been threatened. He
has had detectives guarding BRIDGE
since the latter got out of the Tombs.
And every day Weber's friends
among the gangmen-men VINO nave
ron,oined Iowa TO him in spite OF his
"souealing" have been tipping him OF
as 70 the movements of the aVenging
g,nmen. The knowledge that he was
a marked man did not appeal pleasant
,y IN "Rridgic." lie wore the look OF a
hunted man, and passed many sleep
loss nights. His wife, too. felt the
.,rain. and begged her husband to Keep
IN socusion. Then Weber decided that
Europe was the best place for him. lie
engaged passage for Mrs Weber and
himself Their sailing was scheduled
for three weeks from last Friday.
Having made preparations for his
departure from this city, "Bridgie' felt
relieved. He began to go about more
although always under the guard OF de-
,ectives Then, one night last week, a
meaaage came to him from his friends
an the East Side. Just what that mes
sage was is not known. Its import to
"Bridgie," however, was plain. He lost
his air OF jauntiness and went around
With fear showing plainly in his eyes.
Closely following. the receipt of this
warming from the underworld came a
telephone message to Weber's home,
! The gambler himself answered the
wire. and what he heard made him
tremble. The mans voice on the other
end OF the wire requested that
..Bridgie" 90 to a certain place on a
certain night last week to meet
friend"
Weber left the telephone trembling
He consulted ms wife, and the two
evolved a scheme 10 elude the fate
Weber plainly feared. on the appointed
night "Bridgie" kept close within the
four protecting walls Of his home. His
gamblers caution did not desert him
now. He craftily, II ungallantly' per-
suaded his wife 10 keep the appoint
ment with the unknown friend. Mrs
Weber went to the place designated
! Nothing happened.
Will Go to China.
IL was then that Weber changed his
plans and decided TO slip out of the