New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-06


ing car drove up in the rear OF Police
Headquarters and came to a stop. one
Of the men in the machine. known on
the East Side as Little Rock" mem
Der of the "Jack" Sirrocco gang. leaned
out and inquired anxiously as to the
details Of the shooting from the news
paper men about the entrance. When
they learned that Zelig had been killed
by Red Phir' they expressed their dis
appointment openly, and let 1t be
known that they were in the hunt to
make way with the leader Of the kid
Twist" gang.
Car Filled, Only One Witness.
Despite the fact that the car on which
the murder was committed was filed
with passengers, the police obtained
only one witness to the actual shooting.
This witness gave his name as Hyman
Civerth, Of No. 34S East 9th street The
police detained him as a material wit
ness.
II is not known just where Big
Jack" boarded the car which was TO
carry him TO his death. BY the time
the car reached the neighborhood OF
l4th street il was crowded with pas
sengers, many of whom were women.
Some persons were even hanging on to
the running board. Hundreds of per-
sons were on the sidewalks, in the reg
ular Saturday night outpouring of the
East Side.
Zelig was sitting In one of the rear
seats OF the car smoking a cigar and
apparently with mind free from
worry. Two women were on either
side Of the gang leader, although not
in his company AS the car neared
18TH street some Of the passengers no.
ticed man running along the side
walk, as though trying to keep up with
the car
When the car did rot stop at 18th
street the an left the sidewalk and
darted into the street. His coat was
open and Tapping as he ran, and he was
holding something close to his right
side. The evidently desperate resolve
of the man to catch the car attracted
the attention of many persons on the
street and several turned to watch
him.
AS the car reached the north side Of
18th street and came to a stop to let
off passengers the lights went out ow-
ing 10 the switch crossing at that point.
Just at this moment the man who had
been running so desperately in his eff
forts to overtake the car reached the
rear running board. With a flying
leap ne grabbed one Of the wooden up
rights in his left hand and whipped
his free hand up with a motion catlike
in its quickness.
Shoots Into Darkened Car.
1t appeared as though he had select
ed the moment when the car was
thrown into temporary darkness for
the shooting. He must have seen Big
Jack" before he boarded the car, as he
showed no hesitation in aiming at his
victim, but pulled the trigger almost
simultaneously with his leap to the
running board.
The sudden fash and report Of the
revolver shot stunned the passengers
nearest Zelig for a moment. They
thought there had been a blowout or
a short circuit. The next instant, how
ever. the lights twinksed again. and one
of the women sitting next to Zelig
screamed shrilly as he lurched forward
in his seat and then fell half over on
her lap.
splash Of red at the back Of Zelig's
head appeared as the blood began to
flow more freely. The woman on whom
the gangman had fallen tainted and
added to the excitement and confusion.
Other passengers glanced back and
saw the livid face Of the dying man.
saw the wound in his head and real
ICED that murd Ar had been done.
For the next few moments there was
wild panic. Women and men fought
with one another In their frantic ef-
forts to leave the car. The man who
had done the shooting took advantage
Of this confusion and babble Of tongues
and started running east as fast as he
could sprint He would probably have
made his escape had it not been for
Patrolman Schmidt, of the East 22d
street station who was escorting a
parade Of the Benjamin Schnitzer As
ISOLATION, Of No. 80 East 10th street,
down Second avenue. AS the parade
crossed 14th street Schmidt heard the
report Of the discharged cartridge and
saw the mad scramble Of figures on the
surface car. He left the parade and
ran after fast running man.
Schmidt gradually overhauled him
and caught him opposite No. 800 East
14th street The man offered no re-
sistance when arrested and accom-
panied Schmidt back to the scene Of
the shooting. According to the police
he murmured something about having
taken his just revenge on the man who
had robbed him.
Revenge Motive, Police Say.
After Zelig's body had been taken TO
the East ODD street station and