The New York herald., 1921-10-14
BOOTLECGERS CHIEF
KILLEDASHES
|. AN INNOCENT VICTIM
Joseph Viserti, Convicted Of
One Murder and Suspected
of Another, Dies in Duel.
MADE HALF A MILLION
Suspected as 'Squealer, Gun
men Open Fire on Him as
He Steps From Car.
TERROR IN NEIGHBORHOOD
Police Find Slain Bronx Road
house Keeper Had Long
Record of Crime.
HALF A MILLION
IN NEIGHBORHOOD

Joseph Viserti, alias Joseph Peppe
proprietor Of a roadhouse at Fordhan
road and Southern Boulevard, The
Bronx. who Is reported to have made
more than 100000 in bootleg opera.
tons, was killed yesterday afternoon
in a pistol duel that began in front
of coffee house at S67 Broome street
and ended inside with the Staying by
Peppe of Louis Range, a jewelry sales.
man, Of 139 Forsyth street. Range
was sitting at table slipping coffee
when Peppe ran into the place. pisto
In hand, and was caught between the
fire of tho opposing gunmen..
The staying of Peppe. who was well
known to the police. as he had been
arrested thrice for murder, on one OF
which occasions he was sent to prison
but pardoned subsequently by Gov
Whitman. is thought to have been due
to belief among his ,henchmen that
he had "squealed." On the occasion
of Peppe's last arrest for murder
which was October 8, he made long
statement for Inspector John D.
Coughlin, head Of the detective bureau,
the nature Of which could not be as
certained.
Persons In the neighborhood where
the Staying occurred, which has been
the scene. Of other bootleg murders dur
ing the last year, openly asserted Peppe
might be. termed-a king IL there were
such person among the bootlcggers
Before prohibition. they pointed out
he had little or nothing. Yesterday he
drove up In front Of the coffee house
In Mercer sedan, as he had done on
many occasions before. Then he dis
played an unusual amount OF jewelry
When he was arraigned October 3 In
the Brooklyn Traffic Court on a speed
ing charge he wore a ring the diamond
in which was reported to be worth
$4,000.
Used Iron Pillar a. Shield.
Three shots were fired as Peppe
stepped OUT Of the car. Reaching for
his pocket and pulling his pistol he
darted into the coffee house and ran
to the rear. Peppe slipped behind an
iron pillar and aiming his pistol toward
the street door fired four shots. One
Of these hit Rango under the left arm
and he fell to the floor. The salesman
had been having his shoes shined by
an urchin when Peppe ran In. The boy
had completed polishing one shoe and
ran to the street, abandoning his box.
when the shooting began. Costible
F'lorio of IS Elizabeth street. friend
Of the salesman. who had been sitting
at the table with Range, dived under
meath Il and remained there until the
smoke cleared away.
The Rev. Father Anthony Palisi. for
merly a chaplain at the Tombs. was
riding through Broome street on a street
car when the shooting began. He ran
into the coffee house simultaneously
with a score Of policemen who had been
attracted by the shots. The priest found
Range dying, and administered the last
rites Of the church to him. Pcppe was
dead. Tho pistol with which he had
killed Range still was clutched in his
hand. 1t had four empty chambers.
Only one OF the bullets had hit the
salesman. The other three imbedded
themselves in the walls.
Shooting Causes Uproar..
Tho tenement district surrounding
Broome, Mott and Elizabeth streets
turned out such q crowd OF men, women
and children that It took the reserves
of two precincts to restore order. In
the throng were many persons who
knew Peppe Intimately and who heaved
a sigh OF relief upon learning he was
dead. At first 1t was thought that
Range was a bodyguard Peppe always
had near him and whom he is under
stood to have paid 500 week. But
papers were found In the salesman's 9
pockets which led to his identificatio
by his brother. Dominick Range. of
214 Grand street.
Two score detectives and policemen
searched the neighborhood, bue could
find no one who had seen the man who
shot Peppe. F'lremen OF Engine Com
pany SO, whose quarters are but a few
doors from the coffee house. ssfd they
street a moment after the shs,ts were
heard. but he was running 30 fast they
did not get a look at his face or a
chance to see what kind OF clothing he
was wearing When II was learned
Peppe had arrived at the coffee house
In an automobile a search was made for
the car. but II could not be found II
was discovered later that the chacffeur
had driven the car TO Peppe's house 3s5
East 10sth street, to Inform Mrs. visertl
OF the shooting.
Peppe had been getting into trouble
ever since he purchased the automobile
He was arrested several times for speed
ing and II was upon the occasion of his
last arrest. October 3, that homicide
charge was lodged against him and he
was taken before Inspector Coushlin to
make the statement which possibly may
have been the cause OF his death He
was accused az that time of participa-
tion in the staying May IL last OF Joseph
Lagunins, proprietor of soda watc-
stand at 2os East 107th street wit
nesses to the murder failed to identify
him and he was turned out.
Peppe's police record dates back 70
April, 1913, when he was arrested on a
murder charge in connection with the
death OF Jerri Mazda. He pleaded guilty
to the Staying before Judge Rosalsky In
General Sessions and was sentenced to
Sing Sing Prison for from years and