Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-10

- y EW YORK Nov. 4-The gangster is the profess
IN sionaI murderer of the town, and it is safe to
say the great majority of homicidal killings
are his work The number of these is therefore
pretty fair index to his activities. In the first nine
months of 1915 there were 172 persons murdered In
New York. During the months of this year there
only 1877 murders. The present police admins
tration points this reduction of nearly 20 per cent IN
the number of homicides the most concrete PROOF
that its war gangand is getting results
-
The methods of this systematic disarma-
ment, effort capture the leaders of the
destroy their prestige; and swift and relent
less prosecution of all homicide cases by the most
modern police and detective methods
The leader of a gang is force that holds it
together protects and the brain that directs its
activities. is criminal of more than ordinary
courage and personality who rises to his place by
might and holds it the same way against numerous
rivals. His followers rely upon him to arrange the
Jobs" upon his political influence to protect chem
in they caught The arrest of leader, there
FORE body blow at the existence of the gang-and
it is also hard thing to accomplish
owen Madden one of the last big leaders be put
away, serving twenty-year penitentiary term,
was a typical gangland chief. He is described as a
slender, handsome young man with light har ana Dlue
eyes, pleasant manner, and always 1aultessly
dressed The detectives' who spent their days and
nights trying get evidence against him knew him
not only a successful criminal but also as a
pleasant acquaintance. He acknowledged leader
of the largest West Side gangs-the successor
of the old Gophers-and had always $50 or 200
call The chief activities this body of crooks
strikebreaking Madden is supposed to have
enjoyed income of about $4,000 as his share
of their earnings, lad considerable capital
He little rough work himself. and such was
of his name that when he did 1T was almost
impossible get witnesses against him. Thus, while
gang trying to break strike at soap factory
he was suspected killing employe going to work.
but it impossible to get enough evidence for
conviction.
Like many another great man, owen Madden tripped
the complications of love affair The lady
in the case was a Side beauty Of famous charm,
and the property Patsy Doyle, who belonged to
the Jerry Moore gang, until Madden won her heart
Doyle Madden word that he would dearly for
this alienation afections-in word, that he would
be "croaked" The challenge angered the young chief
reckiessly telephoned Doyle to the effect
that he would "get his" That was the first step n
for the police got witnesses who had over
heard threatening telephone message
Madden was not satisfied merely a gunman
to shoot Doyle He himself went with three of his
followers saloon where Doyle hung out and while
the leader the curb and smoked cigarette his
men went inside and shot Doyle full of holes. The
police arrived after it was all The only thing
they got was sailor who had witnessed the shooting
and was not afraid to testify and sundry
nesses who had the gangster in the vicinity.
Maddens angry haste costing him heavily.
After the killing three gunner another
cafe where they met Skirts, got drunk and told
all about it, police found the women and wormed
the story of them Then they raided the headquar
of Maddens roped in twenty-eight of his
henchmen identified the murderers by the sailor, and
had a complete Madden got twenty years for
conspiracy to kill It poetic retributon since
the killed better than he. but it smashed
power of the largest and most dangerous gang in
York.
Nearly always it is personal feud-an affair
of "honor"-that brings the gang leader down. Thus
Henry Moore aspiring young gangster with really
exceptional talent for killing, first arrested
when he charged with shooting couple of men
like dance. He acquitted because no
one cared testify against him. little later he
convicted a charge of fighting, and the
he n -DriS he
got out he was a warier The police wanted
him again, and they continued WANT him for four
years. although he remained in and about New York all
of that time.
lie a very short and weighed 80 pounds