Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-12-18
BY ALEXANDE RHERMAN
NEA Service Staff Writer

NEW YORK, Dec. -
Here are the latest quotations
from the New York Gunner S
curb:
One human life, $50 to 500.
tai case), SIS to $50.
One good beating-up (hosPi-
An ordinary beating (scare
case) IS to $40.
A ''freeze-out' Ga barbarous
lashing of the face with a knite),
$40 and up.
"Bloat" work on strike ser
vice, $40 day.
According to these figures, the
cost of living hasn't gone up IN
more than a decade. For they are
practically the same that ruled the
market when the gangsters IN the
lannon's Rosenthal murder and Bar
nett Baff cases focused the spot
light on the organized murder o.
the East Side underworld.
These figures aren't of course
listed in any table published broad
cast such as the quotations of the
stock curb. or even the bootleggers'
mart. but they are compiled from
reports gathered by Investigators
who have delved into the Workings
of the underworld. But like the
figures on other curbs, they are
subject to constant fluctuations.
With increased police activity comes
a tightening Of the market.
Lefty Louie, Gyp the Blood, and
the others Of the notorious gangs
are gone. In their stead arose Kid
Dropper. Bill Lovett, Harry kram-
er Jocko Moore and others.
They. too, have passed, victims
of their own methods
And now others are rising -
carry on their work.
The type remains the same.
A typical gangster is about %
years old, often less a neat dress
err, usually sporting a striped silk
shirt with a large diamond stickpin
in his tie, pale. anemic looking,
short in stature, shifty-eyed, a0d
soft-handed.
He isn't brave; and rarely fights
with his fists His weapon is a re-
volyer. And he usually travels in
packs.
Each gang has its own little
sphere of influence. Infringement
on this right of domain precipitates
open warfare.
Occasionally comes free lance,
who win sell his services to any
gang.
Foremost among this group was
Harry Kramer, known in the under
world as Itchy Fingers" and
Hook Nose Lefty" He began his
terrorism when he was Is.
Sentences to Sing Sing didn't
stay his efforts. He became one Of
the most dangerous gunner in Che
city, always ready to sell his trigger
finger to the first bidder.
But his reign was cut short last
October, when he was killed in a
duel with a paymaster's guard il,
daring hold-up so yards off Fifth
avenue. One of the guards went
down, too, but Kramer's compan-
TONS got away with the $4,000
loot.
But most gunner go down ms vic
TINS of their own class. Take the
most prominent link between the
case of Kid Dropper. who was the
oid-tlme gang history of New York
and the younger generation of the
present.
1t took the Kid, whose real name
was Jack Kaplan, almost IA years
to reach the peak held by Paul KEEL
~, Monk Eastman, Humpty Jack
son. Big Jack Zehg, and Chicago"
'""der of the Five Point GANG
Johnny Spanish and the rest of the
old regime.
And then when he was at the
helm of gangdom, a measly, weak.
22-year-old tyro, who hadn't won
his gangsters' spurs yet, killed him
as he was leaving the jefferson
Market Court.
The Dropper, who got his name
by dropping kids who wouldn't give
nm their pennies, began his oper-
atons in 1908. He headed a small
group of gangsters who terrorized
small merchants in the Chatham
Square part of two, just off China
town.
His bravado won the admiration
Of Johnny Spanish, who became his
tutor
Under his tutelage, the Kid soon
formed his own gang. ut Piled a
lucrative trade in furnishing pro.
lection.
Bloats," understood gangsters
who ACTED as guards, were furnish
ed for IS or $40, a day And the
Kid, as director of operations, re-
eeived $1,000 or more as his re
tainer.
Other gangs tried to edge in.
Open Warfare resulted.
Chief of the opposing gangs
were the Little Augies. Not only
were they rivals for protection
work, but one of their number had