Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-22
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
was chance TO make some easy money
in Philadelphia without danger to ourselves.
The pay Wis to be SO or Sl5 a day with
all expenses. / put the matter up TO the
gang, ard sixteen Of them accepted the Job
I'VE went over to Philadelphia Monday
morning, and Tuesday was spent in famil
Iarizing ourselves with the Fifth" and
each man wore a small piece OF white rib
bon on the second from the last button Of
his vest for Identification.
I'VE were all supplied with guns and
blRckjacKs and were introduced to a num-
Der OF men, who, we we're told, would
take care OF us in case OF trouble
we engaged in several minor fights
wedne sday morning In the Fifth but at
IL o'clock we were told that things had
gone wrong and that we had better leave
town
I'VE returned to New York in twos and
threes"
Burkhardt admits being a member of the
gang but denies being in any part Of the
trouble. Dennichy and Brannelli emphat-
ically deny they we're members of the gang,
Falcone secured the Frog Hollow" sec
ton Of the Bronx, got sixteen members of
the gang and spent two days looking
over the situation" here he admitted.
CHANCE FOR EASY MONEY
After being grilled by New York and
Philadelphia police throughout the night, he
told the story Of how the three men, stran-
gers from Philadelphia, had made him the
proposition. Of how they had the chance
to make easy money with practically no
danger" and Of how the program Of crime
was carried out.
Falcone's detailed story, a story Of gun
men whose wages are measured by sue
cess" in crime, rivals the famous Becker
case. 1t is a tale which reeks with the
doings of those who had no interest In
Philadelphia affairs further than to club
and shoot for a certain sum of money-$lO
and SIS a day and expenses for intimi-
dating voters
Falcone. with his three pals Louis
Brannelli, alias Straight Louie" because
he is cross-eyed; Michael Dennichy
printer, and Fred Burkhardt, former rail-
road detective, together with eight other
members of the gang were caught in the
police dragnet. The first four were grilled
during the night the other eight are being
grilled today.
Falcone is said 20 have stated the men
we're Joined at the Pennsylvania station
by about fifteen others and that they went
to Philadelphia together being joined there
by twenty-five or thirty men from New
Jersey. The men worked in pairs. The
work began, Falcone is said to have stated,
bur had not progressed far until the word
wa, flashed around that the gang had been
found out that murder had been COM
mitted and that the gang must flee. They
left, Falcons is said to have confessed,
sinRly, and not only had to pay their own
fares back 10 New York, but were not
paid for their work.
District Attorney Rotans request that
Lieutenant David Bennett be dismissed was
contained in a letter to Director Wilson,
which pointed out that neither Bennett nor
the policemen under him could be relied
upon to gather evidence against the accused
lieutenant The letter was as follows;
William II. Wilson,
Director of the Department of Public
Safety,
city Hail, Philadelphia,
Dear sir-Lieutenant David Bennett,
of the Third District. has been bound over
for appearance at court on one or more
criminal charges involving grave acts Of
violence by himself and other policemen
under him against citizens OF the dis
trict, which charages It will be my duty
10 investigate and prosecute. A war
rant has also been issued against him
and Others on the oath Of a citizen of
the district. charging them with con-
spiracy to violate the election laws OF the
Commonwealth, to commit assault and
battery and murder.
hearing OF this charge is to take
place next week A policeman was muir
dered in Lieutenant Benefits district on
wednesday last. which IL is charged the
police of the district eonnlved at or
failed to prevent. This murder and other
acts of violence on election day are now
being investigated by me officially.
Under this state OF facts, feel that |
investigation Of the charges against Lieu
tenant Bennett and the policemen under
him, and of the murder charge. cannot be
conducted with proper efficiency so long
as Lieutenant Bennett is in charge OF
the police OF the district Obviously /
cannot confer with him or rely upon him
to procure me the evidence necessary 70
establish crime which may involve him
self Obviously, also. the policemen under
him and subject 10 his orders win he /
liable 10 unfair restraint ana oureen Il
asked % furnish evidence that may M