The sun., 1919-08-03

zenship back Tanner Smith became as
decent a citizen as anybody. He got
a Job as beef handler on the docks,
later became a boss stevedore, and
when he was killed last week Tanner
Smith had amassed a fortune Of some
500, 1000.
The police helped him, and many of
the officers who had been his enemies
In the old days became his best friends
when he turned straight. Only two
days before his death Smith sent word
to the writer that he had reformed
and was going straight and doing well,
and asked that IL his name and the
name Of his old gang was mentioned
in these articles 1t be noted that he
was now straight. And In justice
to Tanner Smith 1t ought to be said
that he not only went straight himself
but he persuaded others of his old
gang TO reform too. The police say
that the reformation of at least fifteen
men was due to Tanner Smith and
Tanner Smiths influence. He estab-
lished the Marginal Club. paid all the
expenses, and there he was always
available for men who wanted to give
up their evil ways and become decent
once more.
The gangs that existed in New York
when Commissioner Woods went into
Office were not so strong and powerful
as the oldtime gangs like the Kellys
and the Eastmans and the others.
Kelly had reformed by that time, had
assumed his real name Of Paul Vaca-
relli and had gone into the real estate
business with his brother. Eastman
was in Jail, and several others Of the
leaders were also in prison. But there
were plenty Of gangs even then, such
crowds as that of pickles" Laydon
"Dopey Benny" Fem, tine king of all
the horse poisoners and Of the thugs
who hired themselves out to labor
leaders and to manufacturers for
strike duty; the Owney Maddens, q
gang of vicious thieves and cutthroats
and the band Of Jack Slrocco. who spe-
cialized in labor troubles and in black
lacking pickets in strike troubles. Do,
pey Benny confessed to District Attor.
ney Perkins and gave information
which resulted in the breaking up o
many gangs, and Owney Madden wal
sent to prison for burglary.
Madden's Mode OF Living.
Madden was a typical gangster-vi
cious, cruel and cowardly. lie wa!
never known to work; but he alwayi
had plenty Of money. Some idea Of hi
philosophy Of life may be gained b!
the following account. written by him
self for the police, OF what he did OF
four days OF his career:
Thursday-Dance in the Afternoon
at Tammany Hall Dance and cabare
at night. Took girls home. Went T.
restaurant and stayed until A. NJ
Friday.
Friday-Spent day with Freda Hor
ner. Looked at fancy pigeons Me
girls in saloon, stayed there until
p. NJ. Took girls home. Back to sa
loon and stayed there until A. NJ.
Saturday-Slept all day. Went t
dances In Bronx and on Park avenue
Sunday-Slept until o'clock. Dane
at Tammany Hall afternoon and night
Up until about 1912 the gang
fought mostly with the police, nj
though OF course there were man
fights among themselves. But thes
fights were sporadic and occasiona
the principal fighting of the gangster
was done with the police. But In 1911.
what with the reform waves. the nc
tlvity of the police and the genert
cleanup that politics was experiencing
the graft of the gangs became les
than 1t ever had been. and this natu
rally caused the rivalry between ther
to increase.
Gangs kept invading each other
territory to hold up the gamblin
houses and in 1912 this trouble culm
mated In a general gang war in whic
some forty or fifty battles were Tough
Some of the most important of thes
} were the conflict between the Red PEI
pers and the Duffy Hills in 1929 stree
} in which four passengers In ptLssln
: trolley car were struck by bullets; tn
} fight in a Tenth avenue saloon
/ which James Dunn, leader of II
, Gophers, was killed; the row betwee
t the Joe Bakers and the Morellos {
r Third avenue and Hath street, with
death list of five, and several figh
) between the Jack Zelig gang and II
r gang commanded by Chick THICKER,
: gangster of the old days who was fa