Evening star., 1939-07-31
Iepke' and 'Gurruh'S

Federal, State and municipal law
enforcement authorities have in
tensified their long hunt for Louis
CLepke") Buchalter, notorious CO.
leader of sundry New York rackets,
as the result of series OF gangland
killings attributed by District Attor-
ney Thomas E. Dewey to gorilla
boys" once connected with the So
called Lepke-Gurrah protective"
mob. Mr.. Dewey has asked the City
Board Of Estimates of New York City
for a twenty-five dollar
fund to be posted as a reward for
the capture Of Buchalter, wanted on
Federal charges OF violating anti
trust laws and on numerous State
charges. Mr.. Dewey regards it as
highly significant that several recent
murder victims have been identified
as prospective prosecution witnesses
against the few remaining members
of the erstwhile powerful and ruth
less gang.
Just a few years back "Lepke"-
the nickname is a corruption of
Louis-and his partner, Jacob cGur-
rah") Shapiro, presided over a GRIM
inal syndicate accused of ruling New
York's fur, garment and bakery in
dustries with an iron flst-a fist that
welded at strategic times such in
struments of compulsion as guns,
knives and bombs. To safeguard
ones business against the threat of
such violence was simple matter,
the gorilla" gangsters would point
out to frightened shop and factory
owners. All that was necessary was
to join one Of the syndicate's pro
tective associations" and "kick in"
regularly substantial sum in dues"
The system worked for while. Busi-
nessmen who refused to join found
their places OF business wrecked by
bombs, their show windows ruined by
bullets or bricks, their own persons
imperiled. Those who enlisted the
protective" services of the mob had
nothing to worry about. Local au-
thorities seemed powerless to cope
with the reign of terror.
Finally, New York appealed to the
Department of Justice for aid. The
statutes were examined and it was
decided that the only Federal laws
which might be successfully invoked
against the protective associations"
were the antitrust acts. Special
agents of the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation began to search for evi-
dence. After a while word got around
that the G-men were putting on the
heat" and "Gurrah," with unusual
emphasis on his favorite phrase, told
his cohorts to "get out" "Gurrah's"
nickname is phonetic approxima-
ton OF his characteristic growl to
unwanted visitors: Get out of here"
But the G-men continued to put on
the heat" Last year they an
nounced a twenty-five hundred
dollar reward for information as
to "Gurrah's" whereabouts Cur
rah" apparently remembered what
had happened to certain other fugi-
tives who were badly wanted by the
F. B. I. A few days later he sur
rendered to Federal officer in New
York. He is serving two years for
violation of the antitrust laws. Now
the heat" is being turned on "Lepke"
with full force. The F. B. l., in it's
July bulletin to 10000 police agencies,
carried his picture and a notice that
he is a desperate" fugitive. Co.
operation of law enforcement Off
GERS in all parts of the country was
asked in the manhunt Mr.. Dewey
has followed this up with the request
for twenty-five thousand-dollar
reward. "Lepke"-if he is still
alive-would do we'll to face the
inevitable as did his one time part
nor UHurrobO