The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-02
TANNER SMITH
 REFORMED YECC NOW AVENGED
Killed Because He Wanted To Go Straight-His
 Slayer Shot.

New York, Aug. Flying wounded ,
 ana lowering between life and death 1
 toaay Is George Lewis, a chauffeur O.
 1Iz West Nineteenth street, Manhat- 1
 tan, Who was shot after a desperate
 PlstoI battle in the streets of Hoboken
 late Thursday night. in which more
 than fifteen shots were fired.
 Before he fell, the police say, Lewis
 shot and killed "Blubber'' Shaw,
 twenty, of the same address. It was
 an encounter which, detectives say,
 was due to the death of Tanner
 Smith,
 The murder of Tanner Smith
 nas been avenged' was the word
 which spread with the speed of
 lightning in New Yorl<'s under
 world today Whether it has really
 been avenged or not, whether the real
 man who got" Tanner is now dead
 or not the police have not yet de-
 termined. One fact stands out-that no less than four shootings have taken place, three of them fatal, since gangsters who belonged to the Tan
 ner's' ring before he reformed split over their former leaders strange re- formation.
 Tanner himself was shot and killed ''by his best friend" as his sister Mary and his devoted brother Paddy Smith told the police. This is only one of the tragedies. A few days later they "got'' Johnny Spanish.' another reformed gang lea der, and the police have not yet set hands on his murderer. And now Robert Shaw, whom his pals know as "Blubber," was killed in a street battle in Hoboken. while Lewis is ly- ing near death in St. Marys Hospital. The police were unable to venture a guess today as to what the outcome of the feud would be. More encount- CTS among gangsters are expected, and although detectives are working cn the case, there is practically roth- Ing they can do to stop the war now raging in the lower west side. Battle Creates Panic. The pistol battle in Hoboken creat- ed a panic among passersby. Before he could get away from the scene ot the fighting a bystander, Daniel Leahy. twenty-five, of Jersey City, was shot in the mouth and was taken to hospital.
 The police picked up two revol- vers, each with five cartridges explod- ed, and found a pistol with three cartridges exploded in the hand of "Blubber' Shaw.
 At the Sfxty-eighth street Station yesterday a detective said Shaw in particular had been sought by the po- lice in connection with the killing of Tanner Smith.
 Two theories were held as to the cause of Thursday nights shooting One was that friends of '"TannSr" had gone to Hobokcn to wreak vengeance; the other was that the shooting oc- cured among men who were ,impi- cated In the killing of the reformed gang leader, and perhaps feared tha- one or more of their number might "suueaI" Detectives were sent to Ho- boken for more detailed information. Lewis was taken under arrest to St. Mary's Hospital, with two bullets in his lungs, and was charged with ! killing "Blubber" Shaw. Three other men were arrested in connection with killing, Joseph Mcdonnell, twenty ! one. a teamster; Peter Costello, twen- ! ty-one. a chauffeur, and James Cos | telo. eighteen, Peters brother of Ho- ! boken. They are charged with being 1 disorderly persons
 When "Tanner' Smith was n1ur- dered last Saturday night in the rooms of the Margina club, at 129 | Eighth avenue, while playing cards
 with a group of friends, 1t was open | ly declared that his death would be | avenged in the underworld's own way ! and that the law would not have time | or opportunity to take it's course. Five Worked Together. l The battle in Hoboken, the police say. was the carrying out of the | threat.
 It was 9:45 o'clock when five men were seen to turn into Second street i from Washington street, Hoboken, | more brightly lighted thoroughfare. | Passersby,. who later were questioned | by detectives. say they noticed several | men Scrudnizing every one who pass l ed. The five disappeared in the | shadows of a warehouse and there | waited.
 Ten minutes later Second street | echoed with revolver shots. Bullets | blew past the ears of persons stand | ing in the street, shattering windows | in the vicinity. In an instant the street was emptied of pedestrians | Loud cries of pain were heard from | those who were struck. After the | first fusilade the firing quiet down. 1 only to spring up again. There were | a few scattered shots, and then po- | licemen. rushing from every dlrec- 1 ton. closed on the block where the
 battle had ragged.
 | D street the man, who later proved to
 be Shaw, staggered into the glare or | a street lamp on the corner. In his | hand he held a smoking revolver As one of the policemen ran to seize nm | he fell. He was dead when the Po- | licemen reached him, TWO pulletS | had pierced his lungs.
 District Attorney Swann today was | notified of this latest of gang en-
 counters and promised immediate de- 1 veIopments in the prosecution Of the | guilty persons in connection with the | shooting. tI is known that the Whoie
 case is complete, and that indictments | and important arrests are near.
 l Meanwhile folks of the lower West
 Side, where Tanner" Smith lived and
 moved-and was murdered, were still
 talking today of the great last nom
 age paid the reformed gang ieaoer'
 when he was buried with the pomp
 l nd fnr a king