The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-18

street corners, evidently waiting for the
word to assemble. At no time were
there more than five or six of them
together.
The AFFAIR under way, I was informed,
was regarded as Of considerable impor-
lance. involving as II did a split in the
political affiliations of a group Of cleo
ton districts. 1t was said by the Green
witch villagers that a gang further to
the north, the Marginals. had CuloniZcd
repcatcrs in the village and had sworn
to protect them at the coming election.
For this Reason the Marginals were Ia
he inundated and shot up. The Use
of gangmen has become more and more
Of a recognized feature in certain cleo
ton districts of New York. to intimi-
date watchers and inspectors. protect
organized bands Of repcaters and per-
form a multitude of like services.
Although the Hudson Busters were
somewhat disorganizcd at this pdrticu-
lar time. owing Ia the detection or alb
scncc of their leading spirit. instruc-
ti"ns were undeniahly issued to the
members that night, for the entire
movement had been prcarranged and
was followed out on the lines Of a de-
tailed campaign.
Red Farrell. whom I mentioned he
fore and who for long time had been
at the head of the gang. had reformed
at his period Of history by going to
work for IA living. and influenced by
relatives had dissociated himself from
the busters. Bill Redmond was under
going an enforced absence, so at the
moment there was titular leader
whom | will call Curley Cattell.
Considerable delay was experienced
before a sufficient number Of the gang
men could hc assembled for beginning
| the forward movement. Curlcy 1t was
| who Counscllcd the delay "until all the
| lads could get their suppcrs." Many If
| the boys We're draNmcn and warehouse
| employees, who We're not able tn
| knock off work until late. Indeed. aside
| from the professional criminals who
make up the gang. it includes "A fair
| number of young workm"n. who enter
into the spirit of gang lf" for the
profits and the plcasurabe cXcitements
| II affords them.
Curlcy himself ! was told was not n
nightly crony Of the rangmen. nut
mixed with the low politicians Of the
district and was regarded 10y them as
responsible for the management and
delivery Of the Hudson Busters when
ever the need for them was felt.
1t was growing late in the course oi
| the night before general advance was
under way in the direction Of the haun,
Of the Marginals above Fourteenth
street. AS the various smaller groups
came together news was circulated con.
corning Scotch Joes exploit. The
thief and his stall man had managed
to lure the Mexican, whom they hat
picked up from n Morgan line steam
ship, into the reccsscs Of Pig alley
known to local history as Charles lane
which runs from Washington To Wes
street. between Perry and Charles. I
was to have been n straight "stick NJ
game" hut violence was found unncc
essary. The Mexican, who was a min,
owner. fell there in II drunken heap an,
was said tn have been robbed of $500.
On approaching Fourteenth. stree
Curlcy led portion Of his crowd u,
Ninth avenue. while the others filtcre,
into Eighth avenue, where most ~
them effaced themselves In the dark
ness of doors and areaways opposite I,
and In the vicinity Of the moving pic
ture show, above which were the head
quarters Of the Marginals. l shoul,
Judge that from thirty-Hve to fort!
Hudson Busters engaged In this attack
either as reserves or active PARTED
pants.
! There ensued an interval OF inactiv
hy IN Eighth avenue. that most typica
OF thoroughfares. One could see through