New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-15
VICTIM REVEALS
HOW UNION MEN
CUT OFFHISEAR
Labor "COurt" Was Cham
Der of Horrors, District
Attorney Learns.
MANUFACTURER HELD
ON MURDER CHARGE
Two Other Arrests Round Out
Day-Gangsters Hasten to
Make Confessions.

Fresh tales Of torture inflicted by
labor leaders and gangstcrs upon
strike breakers were brought yesterday
20 District Attorney Perkins and As
sstant District Attorney Breckenridge,
who. since the confessions Of popey
Benny Fein. have sought 10 break the
rule OF gangs on the Eas! Side by
wholesale indictments
Confessions obtained by investigators
included one of a workman IN n cloak
making establishment who had an ear
sliced Oft by the court of special scs-
sions." one tribunal of the labor men
and their gunner allies. because he
vas found working in a shop IN which
strike had been declared.
During the garment MAKERS strike Of
1918 the man. whose missing ear cor
roborated his story, declared, word
was gwen en- organization OF gangsters
that workshop was running on the
thirteenth floor of an East side loft
building contrary TO union orders. A
raid on the establishment was made az
once.
A summons at the door being unheed
ed. the room was entered b. force and
half a dozen men were found az work.
They were ordered 10 accompany the
raiders TO 4 building in RiNinCton
Street, where the court" was sitting.
That body, according TO the witness
consisted Of five labor men whose
names were familiar in the garment
and cloak making trade and more than
n score Of gangs:ers. A few Of the
latter conducted his trial. After tell
ing the others that they would not have
to appear until next day they directed
their attention 20 the one man. For
safe keeping he was locked in a dark
closet scarcely two feet square.
Describes Tortures.
The prisoner was evidently forgotten,
for il was not until the next night
that he was released from his narrow
quarters.
"He has a gun on him" one Of his
captors shouted. as he stepped out,
whereupon several of them beat him
into unconsciousness A court attend
ant" was dispatched TO a drug store
for restoratives; they were admin
istered, then further punishment was
melted out.
Lets cut off his ears" said an Of
fcer of the strike breakers court, ad-
vancinC with a knife.
Terrified. the man looked about and
saw an open window. Without paus
ing TO determine what was below ne
leaped through it. He landed upon a
shed level with the second floor, but
before he could escape TO Rivington
Street the gang from above were upon
him. They carried him back to the
room, and there, while several men
held nim and he begged them 10 shoot
him outright and cease their tortures,
on ear was slowly cut away from his
head until it was held only by the skin
II was the victims wife who then
made trouble. She went to the Dis
trict Attorneys Office and lodged com
plants with the police. When it be-
came hot for the perpetrators of the
inquisitoYial acts they went to their
victim and offered him $500 TO leave
tie state.
'Gangsters Hurry to Confess.
Three more arrests were made yes
terday the first that of John Wedenger,
cloak manufacturer, of 50 East
Ninety-ninth Street, at his place Of
business at 80 East Twenty-ninth
Street. He was charged with murder
in the first degree in connection with
the death of Herman Lieberwitz. who
was beaten TO death in the hcadquar-
tiers of the Cloakmakers' Union, az So
East Fourth Street, building in which
one Of the gangsters' courts was
held.
Louis Rabinowitz. a baker, of 10S
Norfolk Street, and Harry Pudlowsky.
a prize fighter known as Young
.Sharkey were also arrested on
charges Of assault in the first degree.
They were held in bail of $500 each,
while Wedenger was committed to the
Tombs without bail.