it
PAGE 8-HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
Huge American Criminal Organisation Revealed
In the United States, sharing the news headlines with the war in recent weeks has been one of the most fantastic stories of crime ever unfolded to the American public. It is a "tale that might have been penned in collaboration« by 'Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe, so complicated and clever is the detective work involved, so sinister the characters, so unbelievable the ex tent, violence, and diabolism of the action.
"Before the bar of justice have come some of the leading figures of a criminal network overshadowing even the great racketeering organisations that flourished in the prohibition era of a generation ago; and ahead at least four of a coterie of assassins possibly without rival since the days of the Condottier} have been sent cursing and raving to the electric chair. "Murder. Ine.." is journalese for strangled with a rope, stabbled 83 this ring, whose operations have times with an ice pick, and had proved that crime, like business, his skull bashed in, with a meat has outgrown its days of "rugged chopper. "Happy" and . "The individualism' and moved on to Dasher" were sentenced to die in the greater glories of monopoly the electric chair some little time Confessions by leaders of "Mur-ago. der, Inc.," revealed a highly-
CONFESSED 18 MURDERS
SEVEN DEATH SENTENCES
52 Years' Hard Labour Passed Ou
22 Accused
Seven men received the death sentence. 22 were sentenced to a total of 51 years and 10 months hard labour, and four men were acquitted. at the December Crim- inal Sessions.
The men sentenced CO death were Lau Fat. Cheung Kai-sau.
and Cheung Sau-fat; Wu Leung: Lul Shek, Tam Wing-kit, and Chan Fel, who were defended at their respective trials by Messrs. D. J. N. Anderson (instructed by Mr. H. L. Kwan), T. F. Lo Mr. A.] el Arcull. Hin-shing Lo (Mr. J. M. Hall, Percy Chen (Mr. Alfred
Y. Hon). H. Macnamara (Mr. M. organised business operating rac- Technically, that trial was "con- A. da Silva), George" She (Mr. F. "kets in every large city and in-
dustrial area of America: an or-cerned with only one killing, but X. "d'Almada), and H. Somerset-
Kan Fitzroy (Mr. was the opening gun
Fuet keung. It morely canisation, that trained its per-
Inc."
Peles, respectively. sonnel had its own code of con against "Murder.
Cheung known in the Brownsville section duct, and killed on contract.
Wan. charged with
arms
GENERAL
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1941.
"Kung Hay Fat Choy"
TO-DAY MONDAY-
JANUARY 27, 1941
IN THE
"Roof Garden"
HONG KONG
HOTEL
Special
CHINESE
NEW YEAR'S DAY TEA
DANCE
恭
The 15-Inch guns of a British battleship bombard Bardia.
喜
CHINESE NEW YEAR
發
ta-
財
5 to 7
pu
m
CELEBRATIONS AND
SUPERSTITIONS
"KUNG HAY FAT CHOY."
of Brooklyn as a cruel, sadistic wounding with intent, received It is a grotesque caricature of American big business, and its slugger, told the District Attorney seven years' hard labour; while Man Shul was sentenced to six the ramifications are almost as mant-in clipped language full of
This will be the greeting among the Chinese · population underworld argot. in
years' hard labour on three char- which Is fold. Today It is almost impossi-
himself had ges-shooting at Sgt. Matheson. day when they observe the New Year on the Lunar Calendar. The ble for a
gangster, big or little, singing." that he
robbery, and possession of
Chinese are a more realistic people; they wish each other richness in- murders. Stx of to conduct an independent racket committed 18
calmly detalled on the and ammunition. His accomplice, stead of happiness as the Europeans do. Whether he runs a lottery which them he
Man Hung, was sent to prison, Custom dies hard' The Chinese would mean that the child will withess stand. He described the miltons or a peanut ma-
celebrating never have enough to eat in the chine that brings in fifty dollars Combination" as an organisation with hard labour, for three years. public still insist on
RUBBERY, ARMS
the festive season inherited from future!
fact three their ancestors despite the
It is considered very bad luck for
nets
ike a chain of banks" or "like a a week, he "cun work his scheme
An Nam, charged on only with the permission of "Mur- tree with all its branches branch- der. Inc.." or the "Combinationed out" He emphasised that it counts of robbery and one of pos-that the Chinese Government has a Chinese to meet a nun on New to abolish the Year's Day. The superstitious as it calls itself. The leaders extended from coast to coast, and session of arms and ammunition, for years tried
Chinese will slap her on the bare- grant territories for the operation that there were many thousands was sentenced to 33 months and Lunar Calendar.
and 12 strokes of the cane;
Most of the Chinese business set head and say "lucky.". of the rackets. The nation of people involved
13
No Chinese celebration is com- The salaries of "Murder. Inc. 301 Suf-lau, Lau Kau, Mok Kei, tie their accounts only once in a divided into zones each with а leader and staff
100 to 250 and Wong Chol, received 30 mon-year's time and this being the case plete without the aring of crackers employees vary from These leaders direct all schemes and fix
dollars a week, he added, and all ths each for participating in a creditors will play a seak-and-hide and this is" certainly in abun the
game with the debtors on the New dance.-E.P.T. percentages to be paid to the the boys make a good living." junk robbery.
But some of the lesser lights-
Luk Wing and Wong Sing were Year's Eve when the latter have "Combination." They also direct the killings of those who fall afoul Reles was a foremun-told a dit sentenced to 27 months' hard to clean up their year-old debts. comes the of their rules.
ferent starv
"Pretty" Lavin and labour, and 12 strokes of the cane. Once the new Year "Düke" Maffetore,
two" robberyy charges; and debtors would be relieved because The killings-and they are num-
Mak Kam-sau was gaoled for two they have another year to go be- bered by the score-are merely troopers," as they are called in,
years for robbery and possession fore they are again pressed for the by-products of the rackets. The the organisation, said they were of arms and ammunition, as did debts sphere of the "Combination's" in- often broke, and were compelled to Yau Kau for simillar offences.
REUNION DINNER fluence includes gambling. prosti- borrow tution, traffie in narcotics, lot-fantastic interest rates: that they were each sentenced to 18 months the most customary item on New teries, and usury. By sheer force committed murder for as little as hard labour for robbery, while Year's Eve when every member of it also dominates trade union five dollars," or even for coffee Wong Sang received 15 months the family gathered together to
locals and has a
various
In
of
Irum
two of the
the syndicate
at
Wan Lam-yeung and Pun Yung
Ticlence.
The "family reunion dinner” was
:
financial stake and cake." They had no choice. and 12 strokes for robbery with partake of the dinner. Families. night clubs
man becomes a mem and for once a
rich and poor, prepared the most cabarets. It operates certain leg-ber of the gang he cannot quit. For possession of forged 10-yuan delicious food. Some very poor
To try. timate business enterprises and
of to violate the rules, notes, Chan Hung was sent to families, which may not have meat "muscles in" on others, where it means death
gaol for 15 months; and a like for the whole yeaf, will see dishes exacts tribute from honest bust- Rales admits that nine times. sentenced was passed on each of of meat and chicken lying on the rless inen by threats or use out of ten, when a gangster wants Ave" returned banishees-Li Tong table. violence. Through its control of to cult he is killed. The widow is Lai Wa. Man Wang. Kung Tak-on. In the olden times, after the slot machines it collects pernies not told what has happened to ind i Tong.
dinner, male members of the even from the school children of her husband, though she may Tam Ying and Yeung So were family would go out shopping for the nction. And. Flot least, learn about It months later in the sentenced to 12 months and 12"New Year goods" while, the falr through is connexion with cor- newspapers. However, she re-strokes, each, and Chan Kal to 12 sex would stay behind waiting the rupt political groups. It plays an iceives his salary as orig as the months. on a robbery charge. dawn of the new year. Hundreds Important and sinister tale ingang is making money. This is
urban governmert
܂
Wa
"Murder. Inc.'s" own form of line insurance!
KILLING ON CONTRACT
SHANGHAI TAILOR
of stalls were erected in the Wan Chu Chung w!ng. a Shanghai chai and Mongkok districts for the tailor, was sentenced to six mon-display of goods.
hs for possession of a revolver. The Eve was not without fun for The only men to be acquitted the children, Holding lanterns in
'ICE-PICK CLUE Recently pubile attention centred on the trials of four The "Combination" is a "busi- members of "Murder. Inc." whonces outfit. Reles insists, whose were Hui Hung. charged with hands, they paraded in the evening had been caught in the net or main object is not murder but the Dossession of arms and ammuni- to "sell laziness." It is believed by evidence gathered by District At-making of money. Murder is utton, and Wu Kwai, 30. Wu Fong, törney William O'Dwyer, of the dental: Since Murder, Inc." 29, and Wu Yan-lee, 34, who were Borough of Brooklyn, in the City obtains its money by illegal means, found Not Guilty on a charge of of New York, and two of his as it must purge its rivals and node robbery. sistants, Solomon Klein and Bur- violators by illegal means.
With the exception of those ton Tarkus. "Last winter District Most of these statements were charged with murder, none of the Attorney O'Dwyer set out to stop made only few days ago as Heres defendants were legally a wave of racketeering in his testified against Harry ("Pittsburgh (sented. borough. There had been a num- Pho")
ber of unexplained murders, with ("Rugry")
Strauss and Martin Goldstein, two other
repre-
इ.
"FUNIETY".
petty ⚫racketeers the victims. leader., of the organisation. Who Their bodies were dumped from were charged with killing Irving Varied
and unique are
superstitious parents that young- sters who sell their laziness on New Year's Eve, will forever be diligent, "Lucky money" is another wel- come gift for the children...Some naughty children will say a person has no "luck" if lucky money pot given.
is
But a bachelor er spinster will never
to give lucky money"
children!
SUPERSTITION the Chinese are famous for their
speeding automobiles into main" "Puggy") Feinstein, a small-time streets. There were no clues hookmaker. In September, 1939. many items in the programme of superstition. On New Year's Day a And in the underworld none would They strangled him, set his boay "FUNIETY" which is being pre-Chinese mother will advise her on fire, and tossed it into a vacant sented at the China Fleet Club child not to leave any rice in the The entire detective force of the lut. This kuling was done "on
Theatre at 9-15 p.m. on Saturday bowl for leaving a single grain borough and its scientific labera- contract" from one Albert Anas- Feb. 1. in aid of the BOMBER tories were placed at the disposal tasia, tugitive leader of a water- FUND.
talk.
J
of the District Attorney's office front racket, because, Feinstein han
A speck of rust in a stab wound brossed" a minor political worker led to the discovery of an ice pick who had been friendly to tossed into a trash barrel. The organisation
fce pick gave up the trace of fingerprint, and into the clutches
of the law fell a murderer...
>
the
The artistes appearing include Maude Minnie Mather, William Monty Ditton. Micky de Sousa,
Knight, "Les" Gibson, Gertrude Goddard, John Gilchrist, Bill, Sam-
Trade Commissioners Entertained
At
the Ritz Restaurant U11
Reles said he had helped kill ways, George Frost, Doris Shields, Feinstein. Goldstelt and Strauss Frank Lee, Freddy Archer, Gaston were sentenced to die in the elec- D'Aquino. K.O'Nell Shaw, Stanley Saturday the Indian Association Enough evidence to involve. the trie chair November 4. They were Hinchliffe, "Mystp" The Memory of Hongkong and South China higher-ups was drawn by the led away to Sing Sing prison to Man (who exhibits his talent in entertained trict Attorney and his assistants await death. shouting curses upon an entirely new act) Allison Fish and Mr. P.V. McLane, the..
Mr. V.G. Bowden Aus- from this main one. Abe Reles, the Court..
r. and David Kossick who is also trallan and Canadian Trade Com known in the underworld as "Kid When they had gone, the Court producing the show. Twist." · This, alight, kinky-haired, commended the Jury and informed.
missioners, respectively,, and Mr. Humphrey Ramage is the stage KF. Key, secretary of the Hong- brown-eyed gangster, Batnosed and them that. In addition to the manager and the lighting effects kong Chamber of Commerce to a 'with low, wrinkled forehead, began crime of which they had con- ire being arranged, by Mr. R. Cunchoen party, his criminal career in 1920 at the victed the defendants, the District Butler. - age of 13, as a runner of bootleg Attorney had proof that Strauss 311-sents are bookable in advance Mr. G.T. Assomal, Vice-President The guests were welcomea, py whisky He had been arrested 43 had committed 28 murders "under the Anderson Music Company of the Association, and Mr. K.B. times on every charge ranging contract" since 1930.
e House Street, from juvenile delinquency and Meanwhile the investigations of
Valdya, the Secretary. disorderly conduct to murder, the Mr. O'Dwyer
assistants and his
In a short speech Mr. Vaidya latter no less than five times. but are continuing. They have found
emphasised that social contacts he went free on all, except five the bodies of long-missing gang-
the representatives of sters encased minor charges.
essential British Empire in concrete and From "Kid Twist came the buried in lonely, rural places;
ROLLER-SKATING to the much needed and much story of the "Combination." or they have raised from "lake bot- Following receipt of complaints talked of unity of the Empire,
and "Murder, "Ing." Much of the In-toms the bodies of other slain men from
many residents, the po-
Mr. Bowden, Mr. McLane formation he gave led to the ar weighted down with the very alot ce are adopting effective mea Mr. Key suitably replied... rest and conviction on murder machines from which they had sures to put an end to roller- charge of Harry. ("Happy") Makine earned their livelihood; they have skating in the streets. and Frank ("The Dasher") Abban- found others whose bodies have As a result, the Police have dando. They were accused of been dismembered..
taken out summonses against five killing a fellow-gangster named And, one by one, the killers are Portuguese children including a The Military Authorities inform George Rudnick. In 1937, because being brought to justice. The strl, who, it was alleged, had us that there will be no parade" he had turned informer to the four that have now been tried are caused annoyance to. pedestrians of the H. K. V. D. C. Taining police. The prosecutor presented going to the electric chair. by skating on the pavement Cadre and Company on Chinese evidence that Rudnick had been "Murder, Inc." is being dissolved. Hillwood Road
New Year, Jan. 27 and Jan, 28.
POLICE ACTION AGAINST STREET
between
were
NO PARADES FOR TRAINING CADRE
2
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