New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-26
Garment Striker Asserts He
Carried Out Their Bidding
in Numbering Alert
Union Official.
THREE ARRESTSTHE SEQUEL
Factory Operators Daughter
One of Prisoners-Goaded
by Fear of Jail Before
He Killed Steinberg,
Declares Wagner.

I W
Harry Wagner, striking buttophole
maker. confessed 10 Luciar s. Breckin-
rridgc, an Assistant District Attorney
yesterday. that me killed Abraham
Stcinbers, secretary Of his union. bu,
asserted that he was forced into the
murder by a group of manufacturing
contractors. for ono OF whom In
! had formerly worked. Two mon aud !;
| woman were arrested late yosicrda,
afternoon ss result Of Waencr's story
and further arrests are expected.
! Abraham Fialkopf. who lives AT No
at No. ~ East Sth street, was ono of
those arrested. The charge is homicide
F'ialkopfs daughter Anna was also ar
rested on charge of being an acccs.
sory after the fact. The third prisoner is
| Louis Welnstein of No. HI East Nov
| York avenue. Brooklyn. He is accused
OF homicide.
Steinberg was shot January AT the
union headquarters, at No. TO- Uni
versity Place. Hc died last Saturday.
, Wagner was arrested with "A revolver
, in his hand Immediately after the
shooting. lie told the detectives hc
shot Stcinberg because the union Of
fetal had ins,iltcd his wife.
| Yesterday Wagner was examined by
Mr.. Brcckinridgc. OF tho District AZ
ltorncy's homicide bureau. for three
hours. He talked willingly and showed
a remarkable memory for details. The
murder, he said. was a direct result Of
the garment workers strike.
Had Crippled Contractors.
Steinberg. he said, had been lighting
the contractors. Stcinbcrg wanted to
compel the manufacturers 10 deal d.
rectly with tho unions instead OF
throusii the contractors. Hc had me,
with considerable success. and az 4
result of she strike several contractors
we're driven ont OF business
! Wagner went on strike with tho rest
OF the garment workers. Steinbcrs
| found him work. but Wagner said he
was paid less .han his old wages and
found II disicult 10 support himself snd
his young wife. Pc went 10 Steinberg
who told him that if he didn't wan, &c
stick 10 the union he could go out and
pick pockets.
Then Wagner went 10 former en-
ployer. a contractor
| Why don't YOU put this follow Stein
berg out OF the way-croak him." he
says was the suggestion made TO him
by the employer.
Wagner went home and thought ii
over. The, he said he received a mes
sage from anothe. contractor. and went
TO see him. slungshot was handed [,
him and he was ordered. he said, "a
.'go out and do up Steinberg." If nc
did cripple the secretary for life &c
| jury in New York would convict him
when he told the story Of his hardships
he was told. he said. He took the
,lungshot. but lacked the courage 10
usc ii.
Threat Of Prison.
! Then Wagner received another mes
sage. he said and went TO see another
contractor, who, he said. gave him the
money to buy revolver lie went to
Jersey City and got the weapon, but
after further thought took IL back 10
the man who gave him the money. say
| ing he could not nerve himself to do the
Job. Then he was told, he said, that il
he did not do ii he would find himself
in prison. as the contractors were In
possession of two checks which he had
forged. Wagner said he had forged
the checks. Driven by the fear of
prison he went TO the union headquar-
ters and shot Steinberg, he declared.
His wife, Wagner said. could furnish
corroboration of much OF his story.
Mr.. Breckenridge has had detectives
looking for her for several days. but
they have not been able TO fl, her.
| According to Wagner Anna Fialkopf
carried messages TO him regarding the
blot. Some Of these messages. he said
were delivered to him in the Jefferson
Market prison, where he was locked up
charged with assault until the death OF
Steinberg. on Saturday. The messages
directed him to maintain silence. he
said. Yesterday Wagner was re-
manded to the Tombs by Coroner Fem
berg.
/ Mr.. Breckenridge has investigated
several Of the statements made by
wagner and has been able to substan-
| tiate him in several points. Further
Investigations will be made to-day.
FIRST AS SIXTH OFFENDER