The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-09-17
Gangsters Were
 in Massacre
(Continued from Page D

The massacre occurred only 24 hours before the scheduled dis bandmnet of the Wayne county special grand jury, the presence of which was credited with keeping Detroit almost free from gang war fare during the past year.
 The killers planned cunningly and apparently left no clue behind them-unless Levine, white faced and thankful for life, can be in- duced to talk more freely. The luck1ess members of the little Jewish navy" it appeared, went to their deaths in the belief that they were to attend a friendly confer ence.
 According to Levine's story he and the three victims left the race handbook place operated by the Sutliff brothers to keep a rendez- vous with Raymond Bernstein, re- puted liquor chief. At the busy in- tersection of Grand boulevard and Second avenue the car, with Levine at the wheel. was overhauled by the killers machine.
 The executioners, Levine said, ordered him out of the car, cov- cred the victims with their guns. and all six drove away. apparently to the scene of the killings.
 Police found the three bodies sprawled about the apartment in attitudes of desperate defense. All apparently were caught unawares, and riddled as they attempted to flee. Herman Sutliff's teeth. still were clenched on the smouldering cigar when the police arrived. The other two victims held cigars in their stiffening fingers.
 The three guns were found in a can of green paint which effecru- ally erased any finger prints.
 Newspaper Charges
 Detroit. Sept 17-(UP)-The three victims of yesterdays gang execution were killed because they hijacked $110,000 worth of liquor shipped here for the American Le- zion convention next week. the De- troit Mirror said in a copyrighted story to-day.
 "The liquor arrived safely this week and was stolen two days la ter" the newspaper said. "An ul- timatum went out to the hija cking mob to return the stolen goods. No attention was paid to the warning. Two more of the gang are slated for death the Mirrors informant said, unless they give up the loot.
 Second Brother Killed
 New York, Sept 17-(UP)- Gang vengeance caught up to-day with Meyer Shapiro. chief of the Brooklyn alcohol racket.
 Shapiro, who, with his brother Irving, incurred many enmities be- cause of their activities in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, was found shot to death, a bullet wound behind his ear, in the base ment of a squalid lower east side tenement.
 Irving Shapiro, with whom Mey- CT was engaged in the slot machine and laundr brackets before branch ing out into the "alky" trade was shot and killed last July.
 In the street in front of the ten ement building were found two empty 5-gallon tins. the type usu- ally used as alcohol containers.
 Shapiro, the police said, appar- ently had been taken for a ride" and his body dumped into the basement.
 The body was discovered by a newsboy.
 < It was only in recent months that Meyer Shapiro gained the rat ing of "big timer" in the alcohol racket. His reign as chief of the slot-machine and laundry rackets in Brooklyn was marked by con- siderable gang bloodshed.
 In June, 1880. six men were shot one dying later as result of slot machine war. All were said to be members of Meyer Shapiro's gang.
 Irving Shapiro was ambushed in the hallway of the Shapiro home in Brooklyn. on July II, brought down by eight bullets fired by men who were believed then to have killed him while gunning for his brother.
 Meyer and his brother were held charged with the killing of Sam Cohen but later freed.
 Gang Disclosures
 Chicago, Sept 17-(UP)-A let ter signed with the scrawl of Mike De Pike Heitler. who could write nothing but his name, who may or may not still be- living, gave author ities a 1.000-word chronicle of gang murder. police corruption and huge graft to puzzle over to-day.
 Al Capone was named as the gang lord who ordered the assas- sinations of Alfred Jake" Lingle. Chicago Tribune reporter, and Jack Zuta, a henchman. Capone also was listed as one of the eight men for police to look for should Heitler. double-chin vice mon ger. be taken for a ride" The letter was supposedly dic- tated by Heltler to an illiterate woman shortly before the vice dealer disappeared.
 A charred body found in a