Judge Ray Threatened - 1912

Threats For Judge Ray

Exposure of Death Plot of Convicted Sicilians

Utica Saturday Globe, June 1912

 

 

Judge George W. Ray and grandson

 

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  Press dispatches early in the week exposed a plot hatched behind the bars of the United States prison in Atlanta, Ga., by several members of the Lupo-Morello Sicilian gang of counterfeiters and murderers to assassinate William J. Flynn, chief of the New York division of the secret service, who ran the counterfeiters to bay, and also to kill judge George W. Ray, of the United States District court, who sentenced the coiners to terms of from 15 to 30 years at hard labor in the United States prison.

 

One of the Sicilians told of the plot which was formed last December, when two Sicilians visited Ignazio Lupo, known as "The Wolf," and were instructed to kill the secret service chief and judge Ray. Even during the trial Ray is said to have received a threat of death in a letter, which read:  "If Lupo, Morello and their companions are not liberated you will die like a dog. We have killed better men than you or Smith or Flynn."

 

The Smith referred to was Abel I. Smith, assistant United States attorney, who prosecuted the counterfeiters.  Chief Flynn believes the gang is seeking his life and that its members know who killed Detective Petrostino in Sicily some years ago.

 

As for Judge Ray, he does not seem to be disturbed by any threats of personal harm, or the exploiting of plots to take his life.  He certainly will not be deterred from doing his duty by any such course on the part of condemned criminals.

 

During the days spent at his home in Norwich, a favorite pastime of the judge is the entertainment of his only grandchild, George W., Ray, Jr., the small son of Postmaster and Mrs. J. Johnson Ray.  Grandfather and grandson are nearly inseparable and each vies with the other in getting the most recreation possible out of the hours they are able to spend together.  Already the youngster gives promise of leading as strenuous a life as his distinguished grandfather.