ONE KILLED, FOUR SHOT IN RUM RUNNER FIGHT, 1923

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New Jersey Courier 26 Oct 1923


ONE KILLED, FOUR SHOT IN RUM RUNNER FIGHT

One man was killed and four others are known to have been wounded in a fight between Atlantic Highlands rum-runners, smugglers, and a crew of high-jackers, from Newark, who are alleged to have held up and robbed the rum-runners at various times of both rum and cash. The fight was on last Saturday night.

Frank Laconti, of Newark, found near the scene of the battle with a bullet through his abdomen, afterward died at the Monmouth Hospital, Long Branch. Six other men are under arrest, as follows: Henry Butterfield, G. Butterfield and George Nettiger, all of Atlantic Highlands. They are held in $5000 bail each. Henry Butterfield suffers a bullet wound through his left shoulder. His condition is not serious.

They are held on charges of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill.

David Laconti, brother of the dead man, Robert Snyder and Alfred Bacmeister, all of Newark, are held in $1000 bail each as material witnesses.

Laconti stood behind a telephone pole during the fight and from the numerous bullet marks found on it later it was indicated the rival gang did their work to "get" him.

The fight is declared to have been the outcome of the feud between two groups of rival rum running interests, one from Highlands and one from Newark. Twenty men are believed to have participated in the battle, in which more than 50 shots were exchanged.

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