Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-01-31

Youth Who Began Life Of Crime al
Seven Admits Arson and Murder
and Reveals Working Of BLACK
Handlers
a tale that laid bare the inside
workings of the most desperate banc
OF BLACK flanders" that the police
have ever COPIED with was told by
youthful witness before Judge Rosals
ky. In the court OF general sessions IN
New York, at the trial OF a member oi
the gang.
The witness, who confessed to the
police after he was arrested and
thought that the gang was not stand
Ing by him. confessed on the stand
under oath 70 being implicated in two
murders, nearly score oil bomb out
rages. abduction OF young girls ior
white slave purposes and other crimes
OF lesser masnitude.
His recital. as matter OF fact. was
story ncter cqualled in the blood
and thunder" yarns oil the penny nov
clcttcs ana astunished every body in
tho court room Judge ROsalsky sat
on the bench IN amazement while the
witness glibly told OF his connection
with the activities OF the gangsters.
The witness was Alfred Lehman
known To Ills associates as Schmit
Is" He is onlt twenty.three years ot
axe and Is slight OF build. with a pale
anacmic tacc. looking anything 5ut
the desperate criminal he confessed
himself To be
Lehman vas arrested with two 9th
ers in lyndhurst. y. l., in October
The three were charged with setting
on bomb in the establishment 81
klce y CO. in .yndhurst Lehman
thought that the gang did not intend
to aid him. ami accordingly the New
York police received word that he had
a tale that would interest them.
Deputy Police Commissioner Dough
erty went over To the jail and heard
i.ehman's story. Afterward. when I.ch.
man Vas brought to New YORK. he r..
itcratcd his Confession.
Lehman was placed on the stand as
the principal witness against Angelo
Sylyestro. who was charged with
placing bomb in the hallway Of the
tenement al - East Houston street
Lehman. in addition to telling about
his knowledge of and participation in
tho score 81 bomb outrages and two
murders. also told the court about the
burning OF two Brooklyn houses for
the insurance. He said that the bomb
outragcs usually brought the men do
ing the work $50.
One robbery in which a Chinaman
was Killed. he said netted him s..
while the two men with him. who. he
said. killed the Chinese. got the same
amount.
Regarding the bomb set off In the
tenement in East Houston street. Leh.
man said that the leader OF the Black
Hand gang was Interested in woman
and that man living in the tenement
was interested in the same woman
The gang leader. he said. wanted To
get rid Of this man.
"On Aug 81 Sylvestro and a man
known as lump took the bomb hand
ed to rs b, the gang leader and went
to the bach yard of the tenement at
40 East Houston street. said l.eh.
man.
This was next door To the Hippo.
drome moving picture thcator, which
was crowdod al the time "" set about
TO blow mp the place We didn't care
rap Tor the danger "a the crowd in
tie theaicr We were rhorc TO SGT on
tine bomb and we were -oiug To do il"
The witness went oil to tell how
the bomb allied to explode after III,
iusc had been liehrcj twice.
He then told o, having personally
set IRON sixteen % eighteen bombs.
som. oi wIic1 aiG great damage and
others refusing 20 explode.
Gross examined ~ Svlyestros law.
yer. Lehman said that he had begun
his career OF Grim" AT the age OF
seven Two othcr members 81 the
gang are expected To corrohorate his
story.
Rocco Pueblo another member 81
the sang, also confessed lie said he
parti, ipated in the setting OF OF
thirty ayo bombs ia different parts OF
the city
Il wa- paid from So to $loo for
each bomb that / planted myself" h.
said. "aud I received So each time
accompanied oth"r members of the
gang Whu planted bombs"
IAN pICu DADIIIM Dut