The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-25
CANISTER BEATEN
IN HIS TOMBS CELL
Benny Snyder Attacked by
Three Men Who Are Indicted
Later for Assault.
MOTIVE Is NOT SOLVED

Benny Snyder, who some time ago
pleaded guilty to m~anslaughter for
killing Pinchey Paul at the direction
Of Joseph RosenZweig, called in gang
dom Joe the Greaser, was so badly
beaten in his cell in the Tonbs last
Saturday morning that at the request
OF the District Attorney Justice Davis
in the supreme Court yesterday post
poned his sentence until fall. In the
meantime an investigation is being made
TO determine the reason for the attack
en- him.
Three men have been indicted as his
assailants. but as they were in nowise
concerned in his confession to the Dis
trict Attorney which brought about a
plea of guilty from RosenZweig the mo-
tive behind the attack is still unsolved.
When Snyder's cell o. was opened
last Saturday morning for breakfast
the three men rushed in from an adj
Joining cell and with their heavy cups
and bowls began beating him about the
head n body. AS a result OF the as
sault his head. back, arms and legs
were terribly bruised and he was un-
conscious when keepers rushed in. His
condition was so serious that Or. LIGHT
e~nstein. the Tombs physician, was called
to care for him. Since then he has
been confined to his cot.
Snyder was represented by William
Travers Jerome, and the latter advised
him TO plead guilty and tell his story.
This Snyder did to Assistant District
Attorney Weller. on the strength of his
Information RosenZwcig was Indicted for
murder in the first degree. After being
In the Tombs for several weeks Roson-
zweig pleaded guilty and then nimself
made a confession IN which he gave
the inside story OF gangsters In connec-
ton with organized labor troubles in
this city. He had many encounters with
Dopey Benny Fein's gang and told Of
making a good living at the business.
Snyder's victim, Pinchey Paul, had
crossed the path of R~osenzweig, who
decided ne should be got rid OF, Ac-
cordlng 10 Snyder's story he received So
for removing Paul, lie lay in wait for
him in suffolk street, whore he shot him
down. After Snyder, Rosenzweig and
Fein had confessed more than thirty in
dictmunts were filed for assaults and
riotlng. Many were against East Side
labor leaders who, Il Is said, hired thugs
to beat up strike breakers,
AS a result of the confessions eight
men were also indicted for mucrder IN
the first degree. They will be tried in
the fall.
The impression got about the Tombs
tina Snyder was "A stool pigeon for
the District Attorney, and as the men
beat him they cried you dirty rat 80
"You squealer!" n "Friend of the Dis
trict Attorney! !"
Chief Clerk Breckenridge who investi-
gated the attack on snyder, decided hat
he was beaten because it was thought
he was in jail to report the doings of
prisoners 10 the prosecuting officers. This
was untrue, however, he said, ana all he
had ever done Has 10 tell Of his gang
connections.
An effort TO keep the attack secret was
made, hut 1t came out yesterday after
three persons had been indicted by the
Grand Jury. They were Frank Maestry,
awaiting sentence for manslaughtcr in
tho first degree for killing Jack Curley
In a gang fight at Fifty-eighth street
and Lexington avenue Frank Feroli,
under indictment for killing Luigi Car
dcnZa, and John Nipolitano, awaiting
sentence for killing Joseph Bianco All
three men we're Identified by Keepers
Straus and Fasslg as being Snyder's as
sailants, and Napolitlno and Macstry
were indicted for assault in the first de.
gree as a second offence, both having
before been convicted. and Fcroli for as,
saul In the first degree as a first or.
fence. Their trials win begin ~ soou rs
Syrtcr IS able to testify.
Mr.. Breckenridge IL working on tn,
theory that the beating OF Snyder Wa:
the result of orders from some one con.
fined In the prison.