The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11

through Piazza. The Italian failed them,
insisting that he had been mistaken. Cor.
doi, was then turned loose.
But Iiazzas recantation did not wipe
out the score Of his once giving informa-
tion To the enemies of all gangstcrs. the
po.ice' The Dopey Benny gang served
notice In the usual way. drifting gossip
tnfough East Side saloons and cafes and
stuss rooms that they were going to
XIII Piazza and as many of tho Italian
gang as they could get
For some time the fcud siminered
pop'y Bennys gunner were waiting 1,
fair opportunity. one came when they
caught Piazza's crowd in front of tho
London Theatre early one morning The
iusillade drew policemen but killed no.
body. Nv
The next outbreak was staged at tho
Madison Square Garden six day bicycle
rases, TO which all gangsters crow ded for
y weeks amusement. On the night Of
December IL Dopey Benny's following ap-
peared at the Garden and sent "A white
flag to the cold Sirocco and Kelly gang
daring them TO come out and fight. But
the Italians were not ready that night
and kept close to the galleries of the
Garden.
The next night they were ready. When
the Dopey Benny gang appeared and sent
another challenge the Italian gunner
sailed from the Garden and let ny with
five minutes and then stampede TO avoid
the police reserves
1t was not until recently that the police
the nselves knew that one man was
wounded in that fight This gangstor was
Tony Santulli. of the Italian forces, who
, caught a bullet In the hip. lie was carried
away by his friends and taken TO rhe
italian Hospital In East Eighty-thiid
street. where the bullet was extracted.
Two men were arrested as a result of the
/ fight at Madison square Garden. Tony
| Ross and Frank Giula, friends of Santulli.
ON Friday night, therefore, matters
were at an explosive stage between the
two gangs Maybe By coincidence.
! maybe not. each gang held ball on
Friday night. The Doggy Benny clan
met at the Stuyvesant Casino. at Second
! avenue and Ninth street.
The Italian gang with Piazza and his
! crowd gathered IN Arlington Han at the
dance OF the Harry l.cnny and Tommy
| Dyke Association. In the former hall the
! raid was planned. In the latter. measures
| of defence were taken
The whole neighborhoud knew In ad-
vance that there was going to be trouble.
I possibly a killing Each gang warned
| particular friends who were not gun
| fighters TO stay away. II was character
! istic Of the species that the women who
associated with these gangstcrs insisted
on attending the dances although they
4
Dop.y Benny and his gun fighters set
out for the Arlington Hall, according to
the police information, at go l.. NJ.
| They sent out scout known as The
! Cheese. who reported that the Italians
were pouring into the hall and tina, tho
! music was starting up.
/ Not content with the report of this spy.
! DopeS Benny sent woman into Airing
! ton Hail to lind out whether or not Piazza
was there. take a general look around and
10 estimate the force Of the enemy.
The attackers lurked around the corner
from the hail ready for charge. They
made no secret Of their business In the
street. but 1t appears there was no police
! man around.
| Back came the woman spy presently
and confirmed the report OF the first scout.
| The Doggy Benny glngsters lounged into
st Marks place and took up positions at
the stairway.
II seems that the Italians, knowing the
| rival gang was or should be dancing nj
! the Stuyvesant Casino. did not expect an
attack. They had no picket out, as Is
customary. and they did not recognize
| bopcy Bcnny's spies.
At the moment when the attackers ar
rived at the doorway IT Arlington HILL
Charles Piazza himself. the man most
wanted, APPEARED with an armful Of
badges and dane, programmes.
There was the bang OF n high powered
plaster out OF the doorway near Piazza's
head He yelled AN alarm and the ltal-
| ians came rushing to the door.
Mr.. Straus. passing by the hall on the
north side of St Marks place. was shot.
This was at 7 100 J.. NJ. There were few
more shots and then scurry away 10
avoid the police.
When the detectives started out tc clear
w Tie murder they had little to go on cx-
cept that Edward Morris. nicknamed The
Bull. the special officer at the hall. knew
something as to the identity of the gun
men. Morris was arrested ON Friday
night and held by Coroner Feinberg on a
technical charge Of homicide
At first Morris refused TO talk about tho
shooting. Then he got his nerve back and
agreed TO tell what he knew IL the police
would agree to protect him. He said when
the bargain had been struck that he could
identify man who rushed up to him and
asked to be hidden lie described tho cir
cumstances OF the raid and put the blame
FOR the affair ON the shoulders Of the
| Dopey Benny gang.
With Morris's information as a starting
point the detectives fairly swept the Eas
Side streets OF men accused Of gang ami.
atoms. From early afternoon until vel
along In the night every detective that ar.
rived AT Headquarters brought with him d
r1 sill