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Da ily ‘Mew Worker York Gity eke DATE Vio ‘How the Fur Union Sinashed Lepke- Gangland Grip i mn the Ine! By Esther Cantor a The man who put the finrer on Jacob “Gurrah" Shapiro, partner of No. 1 racketeer Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, vester- day described how his union broke the back of the industrial gangsters in the fur industry Irving Potash, manager of the Furriers Joint/ Council, whose testimony put Gurvah behiyd closed bars, related how the fur workers employed by thelopen shoppers while law- enfgrcement agencies.-igiored’ “thé murders, slugginegs and ill¢gal trade combinations. a It was in federal court in Octhber, 1936, that Potash testified on the link betweefi the Pepke-Gurrah gang. The union leader was to meet the head of the bosses’ associa- tion, a Samul Mittleman. Mittleman appeared with Gur- yah, When Potash declared that he would “have nothing to do” with Gurrah, the racheteer warned him: “Potash, vou will have te deal with me. whethér you like it A not.” , Ht the left wine fur/’union officials not oriyv deal with the Lepke-Gurrah ga to gain a hold on the industry __[Potash. continuing his testimony, described a con- RACKETEER PAL Ciurrah, back in the early/’20s, had been a partner of -Little Augie,’ The pariner-to-be of Lepke had gone far from the days down on the East Side when he was muscling into the racket by of-ring “preieetion” to poor pecdlers, Thee paddiers who r fused to pay fer “protection.” weuld be forced to leuve the streets. Jacob Srapiro’, favorite order to the.> peor men was “get out of here.” When slurred scunded The “sur- roh a here.’ from which he ob- tained his name. With Littl Augie, into the painters racy a out yr. cetive Zones kosees who paid through the nose in ordes tc break all at- tempis at umionianoen, Pickers who aticmptcd te march before ‘“profected’’ shops were beaten rp. Strkers wee terrar- Wants were tow. Mean- yvhie. Lith Augie was killed sand there are thuso who say it vas an “insic7’’ job to germit Currah to become unci pe fod boss. didn't y* but broke their attempts versation with emplovers fol. owe inf the brutal murder of Morris Langer, union cfficial. The Dosses told him: “You know that in back of this association are Gurrah and Lepke and they're not playing with toys.” The furriers taught the racketeers that their union and decent working conditions also aren't toys. The story assumes added im- portaice as the nation-wide hunt for Linke is on, while government. wWitnesbes are murdered, ind some yacketcers contivue tc flourish under the eves of District Attor- ney Thomes E. Dewey. The indictmon: of Lepke \wa Gurrah by the federal goverdn- os ment reads like the indizoneht eG agahirt these racketeerc by the fur workers J:emselyes, befare they could force the jaw-enforce- ment azercics to step in The indictment ponang against vhem by Dewey's office, still tro - ing ty catch up with the “elusive” tonke\ took a valuable iea roxy | the charges made bv th\ fur workers in their successful Yght against the racketeers. he leat moved mXp- * {gee willing izcd, i ps ’ ° SCI the strang-srm nan, fond a good pariner in Lopke the ‘brains’ cf the rocket. Lep- ke had a quick rise in TANVMAN, They formed a virust.” amalgam- ating a number of recikets. ae er wore to find good pickings witich were soon to run into the millions from the city ‘s garment industry. The fur industry was a partic morrel tacy sought From 1985 to 1928. Lepie-Gurrah PaAnssrers battled wath fur workers in an effort to wsin control of the iadustry. The fur umion. hawever, dis- recarded “protested” — sops and struc whreacver himon con eytians were bens ist a. Pick- boing shieged, striners Ap ICAS law-onforcee- jonored. but te battle vlariy juicy te contre). the ens Wore pean. nt eons eontinucd the /rangsicrs. to wert Potash told of demonstration the 1927 workers during The un.on workers strike. Gu suceveded in having locked up @ wh the fur bars. The hallways district racketeers wanld hide i to blackjack Workers were in hospitals. the district and complaints to * nail tornes’s office ace jznored. . To protect WOYKETS cending iron bars wangsiers, immune from ote ear of gorrilias who cruised armed with iron n pickets. But at- were the skulls of the from the constantly des- wiclded by arrest, spe io Phar REN, Pee on WOr arg 2r helmets. qies, “Ghirah came into the nnron jeadquar fers, | somal warning off the TATRA EET union offices bodiry. $1 OTeT prot vcicd was thrown out ixsuing a per- to Potash “to day “The of the i ist. Glavin Mir. Crowl...----- (Mr. Harbo 7 ~S r Mr. Leste; h Bir. Lawie Mr. Nichols Mir. Rosen Me. Sears | Bir. Quinn Tam: Bir. ‘Tracy - \ Miss Gandy -