New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-16
Lured to Hallway by Promise of
Quick Sale by Men Who
Feared He Would
Cut Prices.
BROTHER SHOT IN ARM
Panic in Tenement House as
Fusillade Rings Out in
Battle in Dark Entry
way and Slayers
Disappear.

One man is dead and his wounded
brother n prisoner because one gang
OF opium smugglcrs feared a rival
band would cut prices on q large
amount of the drug just smusgled in.
In fight to the death in the hallway
of No. i24 East 18th street late last
night, Edward Hobson. nineteen years
old, one of the smugelers, was killed;
his brother sixteen years old. was
taken 10 the Harlem Hospital with "A
bullet wound i'm his right arm. and
there was a panic in the crowded tonc-
ment house
The tenants. who are Italians, came
rushing to the street and tuinbled over
the two men IN the hallway. thinking
it was a Black Hand bomb that had
wrecked the building when they heard
captain James Savage. with detectives
and the reserves from the East 10ith
street police station. arrived soon after
word reached the station house that a
man had ben killed in East 116th
street. Leo Hobson. brother To the
slain youth. was taken from the hos
pital TO The East 10Th street station,
where he was made prisoner.
charged with a felony for having had
opium in his possession illegally.
Brother Tells Story.
1, n.l
steamship Curitabre, plying between
New York and cuba. and that Edward
had been seaman on the steamship
Anton, of the Panama Line. He said
that when he arrived in New York last
Friday he met his brother. who had
reached New York a few days before
him, and the two went to a furnished
room at No. 22J Tenth avenue.
Edward, he said. disclosed TO him
that he had u deal on 10 dispose Of
opium which he had srnugslcd In.
There were nine cans. he said, and he
asked Leo to help him carry some Of
them TO a place where he would meet
the men who were TO buy them.
Last night the two set OF for d tele-
phone TO learn where TO meet the pur-
chasers. Leo said he carried three cans
of opium. while his brother took six.
At Third avenue and Nth street they
went into a store and his brother called
some one on the telephone. Then they
boarded Third avenue train and got
,fr 4 aFrit inc
for them
Then the three went TO Second ave.
nue.. where two other men Joined them.
How many cans have you?' asked one
Of the three men. He was told they
had nine cans.
Shots Follow Curse.
Let us go into this hallway" said
the man who appeared 10 be the leader
Of the gang, and then turning to Leo
he told him TO watch outside while
they talked things over with his
brother.
Leo said he heard loud talking, and
one of the men said, with a curse
"Wcr. how much do YOU want for the
dope?" He overheard his brother an
swering and then the loud talking in
creased. Suddenly he was pulled IN
side Of the hall and struck on the back
Of the head. While he lay on the floor
he saw the flash of revolver and then
lapsed into unconsciousne3s.
The nine cans of opium We're found
near the body OF Edward Hobson and
contiscated. The police say they are
worth $1,000. In the dead mans
clothes. besides few cents III money,
was found loaded revolver and let
ter addressed TO the dead mans mother,
at No. 1O8 Evcrsley street London,
England.
II is the theory Of the police that the
dead man had been engaged in opium
smuggling but short time. and when
q rival learned of mis- venture he set out
Ia get HIM" The meeting of last
night. the police think, was ruse to
get the men in hallway and do away
with them. Although detectives
searched the neighborhood they were
unable TO find the men involved in the
killing. Leo Hobson described them as
Young, thick-set fellows, two being