New-York tribune., 1920-12-28
Eastman Met
asDrug
RingSquealer
Three Men Held As Mate
rial Witnesses After
Many Are Questioned
BY Assistant Prosecutor

Who killed Monk" Eastman is still
a mystery.
After number of men had been
questioned at Police Headquarters
early this morning in connection with
the murder, Assistant District Attorney
Hennis ordered that John Bradley, thir-
tyfour years old. of 112 Colyer Street
Brooklyn; John McKenna, thirty-two
years old. Of 1876 East Seventh Street,
and Max Weinstein, thirty three years
old, of Al Harrison Street, be held as
material witnesses. They are employ
teenth Street.
The three men will be questioned to-
day at the Office Of the District At
torney.
Perhaps the most important infor-
nation obtained during the day was
that which Indicated that monk"
whipped b. drugs and drink, had done
that thing for which he would have
killed another in days past. Accord
ing to stories told to the police.
monk had squealed, and for that had
made himself a marked man, doomed
TO die.
This was partially verified at Police
Headquarters last night.
Investigated in Drug Probe
The police generally scoff at the
story that "Monk" might have been
working at some legitimate job and
they laugh at the reports that the
former gang leader was bootlegging.
nit that he was being Investigated by
detectives sent TO round up drug
peddlers. And also they admit that
it is not unlikely that the argument
which resulted in Monks" death
started in cafe at 62 East Fourteenth
Street, now known as the Bluebird,
formerly the Chateau Thierry, in
which another war hero and former
prize fighter, Whitley" Lewis, was shot
year ago.
1t was announced at midnight that
Office had established that Monk" was
in the Bluebird from l o'clock to at
least 3:45 o'clock on the morning he
was shot. 1t was only few moments
later that he was found dying in the
street near by.
Of late, former Private William De-
laney, l06th Infantry, 27th Division,
which Was monks" real name when he
made his enviable war record, had been
given to boastng.
DO you know who I am ?" he would
ask Of a policeman, pedestrian or
seeker after "hootch." And to those
,tho uo~o ,,o ro -,,,o tho cra no
ster-war hero's identity he would say
in challenging zone Of voice: "Well,
I'm Monk Eastman, the gang leader
who made good; the guy that went over
there and came back a hero and was
made good citizen By Governor
Smith,"
Intoxicated When Slain
Ii "Monk" was bootleggng and in
partnership with a former gang leader,
the story that he quarreled over the
spoils and threatened to kill is logical.
If he did make such threat it is rsA-
sonable to believe that the man who
was marked BY monk" took advantage
OF Eastman while the latter WAS not
himself. 1t would have been the better
part of valor. And the autopsy showed
that Monk" when killed was drunk.
Ii he vas tratficking i'll drugs and
last nlght Dr carleton SIMON, IN
charge of the narcotics division at Po
lice Headquarters, said that for some
time "Monk" was being trailed i'll an ef
fort to learn the hangout Of a certain
opium gang-it is reasonable to believe
he was using the drug himself, for he
had been victim Of cocaine and opium
for years, having served eight months
for smoking and manufacturing opium
years ago. Those who knew the gang
ster contend that while in stupor