Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-24

win his gang and made things so uncomfor.
able for the printer that he was glad to sell
out at any figure they named. They promised
hm $500 and he got out. The forgers then
took possession Of the printing plant and made
their counterfeit passes and after this work
was finished they turned the plant back to tho
owner III lieu OF the $500 they had nromiead
him.
On the very frst attempt to use these forged
passes the forgery was discovered. This led
10 the arrest Of OF the constructors The
detectives searched his quarters and found
SnTicient evidence to assure his conviction
with long term staring him in the face the
man confessed and implicated Kid Twist The
Kid was brought to trial. The authorities had
tor use against him the testimony OF his part
her IN crime and some corroborating evidence
But Twist and his friends secured any num-
DER or respectable people in his neighborhood
TO swear to his good character. According to
lhem he was all that good young man should
The detectives and police worked hard on this
I'd Twist case and all their labor was In vain
lAey could not convict him. The fear OF The
vengeance OF his gang sealed the mouths Ct
every one OF the merchants and others who had
often been robbed and backmailcd by Twist
and his gangsters In spite Of every persuasion
Dy the police the district attorney and the
protection of the court not one person could
he induced to tell the truth about Twists bad
Character
The jury. with little else than the testimony
OF confessed forger before them which was
onset in their eyes by the testimony OF Twists
ircndS had nothing TO do but declare him in.
nUccnt.
Ganssters and their victims will come into
'otrt WIN their faces cut up and bleeding and
Il is evident to every one that an assault has
been committed. yet it is almost impossible To
find witness who has the courage to testify
t:iilnSt them. The Court can do noting but
discharge the prisoner In such Some.
times storekeeper who has suffered more than
usual by the sangster's depredations will sum
mon up enough courage to file a complain.
With the policeman. When the warrant IS
served on the gangster he and his friends get
20 WORK on the storekeeper and by the time
his trial comes round the poor storekeeper has
been frightened TO death and will not back up
his original complaint. The gangster therefore
goes free.
Most gangsters are addicted to heavy drink.
Ing and the drug habit Some OF them are wise
enough to let these things alone and they are
che hardest for the police TO trap.
The average gunnian is open to do any sort
OF rough work and mis- price is not exorbtant.
The trade unions the East Side, according
to the story OF Dopey Benny" make use Of
is now in Jail. He was one of the most no.
torous OF the gunmen and has given the po.
lice Il full statement Of his activities with the
labor unions.
II seems that when a strike is declared the
SahgStor is employed by the Union to harass
the employer and damage his property and
drive him into a suitable frame OF mind for
negotiation with the strike leaders This ex.
unions is due 10 the fact that very often cor.
rupt and inscriptions men will manage to gain
control OF tho unions and call strikes in order
that they may have an opportunity to eXtort
money from the employers In order to coun.
teract the gang influence Of the union the EN-.
ployers will sometimes avail themselves OF the
services OF another set OF gangsters whose
duty it is to pick quarrels with the strike lead.
ers and pickets and then beat them up in
thorough fashion.
The young rowdes who do this kind OF work
will often &c: seven to ten dollars dag for it.
ana that pays them better than any homes.
1916, Star COMPANY. Great F3riiain Rights