El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-02
Of
GUN MEN IN
new YORK
"Dopey" Benny Aspires For
Shoes Of "Big Jack"
Zelig and Sirrocco.
SOME FAMOUS MEN
WHO LED GANGS

is being entertained by an en-
4 ergetic and persevering young
man, professionally known as-'Dopey''
Benny, who. today, happens to be out
on bail. As "Dopey'' would probably
express it, he got handed the cooler
for kicking a harness bun in the
puss." which, interpreted, means that
''Dopey" was locked up for losing con-
troll of himself so far as to kick
uniformed policeman In the face
"DOpey' is attracting much atten-
.tion. He soon, undoubtedly, will be-
come quite famous as a New YORK
gang leader. And "Dopey' has all the
opportunity in the world to become
noted. or notorious, for he has sue
ceeded TO the leadership of the gang
that until recently was presided over
by the late lamented Jack Zellg,
whose professional name was Big
Jack" Zelig- Big Jack figured IN
the Observation-Disclosures case The four
gunner who slew RoSenthal were re-
cruited from among the followers OF
Zelig.
Not Like Old Timers
But with Dopey at the head of this
element, old time policemen who dis
tinctly remember the really bad men
of the past. are forced to smile Still
"Dopey' hasn't had much of a chance
yet The professional gunman has
been somewhat restricted in its scope
since RosenthaI was shot to death by
Messrs. Whitley Lewis, .'Gyp the
Louie Shades of Monk" Eastman.
kid" Twist and "POggi the Lump"
Poor DOpey is as far from being in
their class as it is possible for anyone
to be-
degenerated completely. mostly because
of a perniciOus craving for hop
which Monk was unable to shake off
In h p 70
such as shifting coke" considered
bad form in a leader Of gunner The
followers may be hop or coke"
fiends if they like That is what
makes them followers. But the boss
is expected to stay off the stuff, so
that his head may be clear to pull the
proper political strings to get his
thugs out of trouble on the many oc-
casiOns on which they get in bad"
@BiE jack ZeIiE.
Big jack Zelig, who succeeded
Monk" Eastman, did not use drugs in
any form. He drank very little. He
had a clear mind. and a clever brain.
and was able to pull off" some very
brilliant 'frame-ups-" Big Jack" be-
came leader of the Monk" Eastman
gang to the head of which Monk
had been promoted following the sud
den and violent death OF kid" Twist
Jack found himself facing a very diff
ficult situation.
On the East Side Of New York there
have been two bands of thugs. One
Of these bands has always been com
posed OF young American born Jews.
and the other by young Italians
Jack" SirrOcco. who ran a dump in
Chinatown, until recently deposed by
the police, was the leader of the
Italians There was much rivalry be-
tween the two bands for the right of
protecting kast side resorts of evil
character particularly stuss games.
Buying Protection.
IT one happened to be proprietor Of
a stuss game, one would find it very
necessary to retain one gang or the
other from protection. If you didn't
retain Big Jack" Zelig'S followers,
why Big Jack" would be liable to
drop in on YOU some evening, put a
bullet through you and several other
bullets through your friends and then
shoot up the Joint" If you retained
Big jack you were sure that he
came across with the cash" and Mr.
Zelig would undertake to guarantee
you against assault or blackmail by
Mr. SirrOccO- And in like manner Mr.
against blackmail or assault by Mr..
Zelig-
Bitter War Between Gangs.
The situation which Big Jack came
face to face on his succession TO the
leadership OF the Monk Eastman'sa
was a particularly bitter war with
SirrOcco. big Jack" managed to win
some of SirrOccO's clients by the sim
gangsters call upon the said clients
and present a very convincing argu-
ment, aided and abetted by a black
jack and gun.
Word was conveyed to ZeIig one
day that SirrOccO had sent word to
the boys" that in the event Mr. Sir
rocco should encounter Mr.. Zelig the
later might as well make his peace /
with his maker. This enraEed Mr..
Zelig vastly. and sticking one gun or
"Gat" as a revolver is known in gang
dom. in his right hand trouser leg and
another in his right hand coat pocket. /
he ventured forth to pay his respects
to Mr. SirrOccO- Alone. Zelig went in /
to Chinatown, the bailiwick OF the I
SirrOccO element. and made his way to /
Sirrocco's saloon Making sure that /
SirroccO and his lieutenants were with I
in. Zelig. "gat' in each fist, strobe \
into the bar
Bluffs the Gang
up against the bar, yOuse guys 4
commanded Big Jack"
No guy present hesitated for a A
Jack" Sirrocco with the
others elevated their hands and stood I
ferociously at the invader. /
who stood with his back to the street /
seVas sor,a mo hare 1,o1-5~,s e. -, -,