New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-19
Grand Jury Indicts Two
of "Kosher Gang" in
John Doe Quiz.
OLD CHARGE USED
IN TRAPPING MEN
Jacob and Joseph Cohen
Under $4,000 Bail
Moore Aids Police.

hlu OIlhO, OA 100 tuH oIs' DiOOh-
lyn, yesterday marked the end of the
twenty-ffth day of police effort over
the murder of Barnet Baf, the poul-
tryman Of West Washington Market.
All three brothers have been associ-
ated with the so-called Kosher gang,
who in the capacity of chicken han
dlers, union inspectors and pickers have
for several years terrorized the inde-
pendent live poultry dealers of this
city.
Harry Cohen was yesterday booked
upon the records Of the Detective Bu-
reau as a material witness in the muir
der of Barnet Baf." The records in
his case show that Cohen was arrested
for assault upon Arthur T. Pierson, a
representative Of certain Western poul-
try shipping interests. His two broth
ers, Jacob and Joseph, were yesterday
indicted by the grand jury upon a SINH
lar charge, although the police allege
that they are held as suspicious per
sons"
It was significant, however, that
neither Jacob nor Joseph Cohen was
taken before the grand jury. although
James Moore, taken two days ago on
an old warrant charging assault and
whose name has been associated with
the Baff investigation, was one Of the
chief witnesses called.
Indicted in John Doe Quiz.
Later, when Assistant District At
torney Delehanty appeared before
Judge Malone, in the Court of General
Sessions, against the two defendants,
he inquired whether or not they had
means TO employ counsel. Upon receiv-
ing an answer in the affirmative be an
nounced to the court:
"These men have been indicted in
connection with a John Doe inquiry
being pursued by the grand jury in re-
gard to the murder of one Barnet Baff.
II is of the utmost Importance to the
State that these defendants be held to
await the result of that inquiry"
Judge Malone fixed bail in $4,000
each for the two prisoners.
Assistant District Attorney Dele
hanty said later that the State had Sc
cured certain witnesses 10 testify con-
cerning the alleged telephone call re-
ceived by Bah, which summoned the
poultry merchant from his stall in
West Washington Market TO his death.
Ia
ket with a fine tooth comb" said Mr.
Delehanty, "and we expect 70 produce
important testimony before the grand
jury as a result Of our Efforts
According TO information received
yesterday afternoon from detectives
working on the Baf case. James Moore
is alleged 20 have confessed that the
Cohen brothers engaged him to commit
an assault upon the bookkeeper of the
murdered man.
Brothers Guilt Denied.
Alfred J. Gilchrist, Of 26 Court st.,
Brooklyn, said late last night:
81 have not as yet been retained by
Jacob or Joseph Cohen, but do rep
resent Harry Cohen and will probably
be asked TO defend his brothers. | do
not know what minor scrapes in the
way of fsticuffs these boys may have
been engaged in previously, but | am
confident that they are in no wise i'm
plicated in the murder of Barnet Baff
an my opinion the arrests are part
of a fishing excursion quite typical Of
the present police administration and
it's methods. ! do not think that the
actions of the police will result IN any
thing other than an immediate habeas
10. -
civil action against the city for false
arrest"
Among the witnesses said to have
appeared before the grand jury yester-
dav were Moses Rosenstein, David
Klodney and Isadore Schwitzky. Ro.
senstein, previously arrested on
charge of forgery, is now booked on the
police records as a material witness in
the Baf inquiry.
Klodney and SchwitZky, so far as
could be ascertained last night. have
been deprived OF their liberty as al
legged material witnesses without ar
raignment for more than forty-eight
hours on the alleged grounds that they
are suspicious persons"
II was intimated last night that a
habeas corpus writ proceeding would
be instituted to-day for their release
from custody.
Still another mysterious arrest in
the case was that Of Benjamin Lewis,
who formerly worked for certain
kosher produce interests in jersey.
Lewis was arrested in his home at 224
Throop av., Williamsburg. yesterday
by detectives from the Brooklyn Cen
tral Office. lie was Immediately taken
10 the Manhattan Police Headquarters
and thence to the District Attorneys
Office, where il was later reported that
he had expressed willingness to tell
all that he knew concerning the case.
Lewis, il was learned from the po-
lice, was discharged from Sing Sing
eleven days before Baff was murdered.
Detectives have been watching his
home for the last four days in order
20 arrest and question him
The new developments in the Baf
murder seem to have started in the
coroner's court on Tuesday. when
Michael J. Aselita. a saloon keeper. Of
327 West 4ist ST., who was held for the
grand jury by Coroner Fcinberg for
thc killing Of a negro named "Kid"
Jones, asked the Coroner whether
things would go lighter with him if he
told who committed the Baf murder.
The information that he gave. I is un-
derstood, resulted in the renewed ac-
tivity Of the police and representatives
OF the District Attorney and thc round
ing up Of the ten men on Wednesday
night.
. Asclta told, according TO Coroner
Fienberg. the first names Of the men,
and said both were chicken handlers
well known around that market u
81 understood he associate these men
with the murder.