New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-02
WANTED: A FOOL KILLER
NEW YEARS. NEED OF HIM.
Many Wounded by Stray Shots
False Alarms Endanger Fremen.


New York was in need of the services Of the
FOOL killer early yesterday morning when nine
false alarms OF fire and a dangerous fusilade Of
revolver shots in the streets added to the ex-
element attending the noisy orgy which wei
coined 1907. The firm alarm fiend was respon-
sibe Tor considerable damage done to one fire
engine and the sending Of its driver and a pa
trolnan TO IL hospital The pro1niscuous shoot
ing IL the streets resulted in many wounds, but
fortunately did not cause any deaths.
Tie din Of footing whistles and horns. ringing
bells and shooting had not been in full swing a
minute after the arrival OF the New Year when
the ATemen responded TO an alarm from Hudson
and I4aight streets, to find that drunken man
trying TO call d messenger. After that I'M
necessary alarms were rung at intervals of a
few minutes at widely separated stations in
Manhattan and The Bronx, evidently by per-
sors who could not have had any knowledge Of
one another's foolhardiness.
The alarm which caused the most mischief
sent out at 12:14 a. N. by an excited man,
who saw the glare of a bonfire built by some
boys beside the roundhouse at 15Sth street and
the Harlem River. AS Engine Il was answering
10 the call It against an electric car at 18th
street and Park avenue. The shock threw
Charles Stripping. the driver, off the engine. The
three horses then ran away with the engine.
which had been damaged in such a way that its
whistle kept up a continual screaming. Italians
in the neighborhood added to the fright of the
horses by shooting. Patroiman George Pagan
caught the bride of the nigh horse and held
until the team against telegraph pole.
That stopped the runaway. but both Stripping
and Pagan We're hurt badly enough TO be sent
10 Lebanon Hospital one Of the fire engine
aorses cut badly.
The ambulance surgeons were kept busy
the frenen responding to calls. In almost
every case, however, they contented themselves
with dressing z gunshot wound and leaving the
sufferer at home. The stray bullets seemed TO
have had the knacA of avoiding vital parts OF
the bodies. merely cutting slight burrows in
scalps. clipping of ears or fingers or Embedding
themselves in f1eshy parts OF legs
One Of the narrowest escapes was that in
which Patrolrnan Harlem and Heany had com
mon share They We're riding on the rear plat
form Of a Seventh avenue car at 31st street
when stray bullet cut a piece from Heany's
rubber coat below his chin. and then made
hole through the left sleeve Of Harterns coat
grazing his forearm and just drawing blood.
In Brooklyn the stray bullets wrought more
havoc Lille Crane, seven years old. was
standing in the doorway Of her home at No. 68S
Henry street, when a bullet entered her breast.
She was taken to the Long Island College Hos
pital, seriously wounded Joseph and Bartholo-
NEW Cordinattl, who had been firing revolverE,
were arrested later on suspicion Nicola Erino.
3 young Italian Of No 14o4 6sth street, was
when he shot in tie chest He was taken
TO the Norwegian Hospital, where II was said
later there was srna-. nope FOR his recovery;
Along with the persons who were arraigned
in the cttys police courts yesterday for being
drunk and disorderIy IN the early morning cele-
bration were several OF the reckless shooters
The magistrates were lenient as rule and dis
charged them with reprtrnaEds.
Isaac Certr1ght, q Negro, who hec been caugnt
shooting recklessly IN Tenth avenue at 6Sth
street, was defended by Negro lawyer. who as
serted that a citizen had the right TO shoot in
the street unless the police could prove bad In
tent Cartright was held for trial in Special
Sessions
George Lobato. another Negro was held for
shooting az Eighth avenue and 60th street
George Szobo. Austrian. was held Tor IrlaI
On the charge Of reckless shooting in West 6ith
street. Patroiuaan Sullivan, who arrested him.
said TIE bullets rom Szobos revolver drew
sparks from the stones as they hit the pavement
Of the street
They must have been steel bullets" remarked
tbs magistrate.
Central Ofice detectives had seventy-two
crooks in the police courts yesterday, hav-
ing found them in the crowds IN the streets IN
the early morning hours. AS the prisoners had
not picked any pockets before they were
rested, so far the detectives could say. they
were turned adrtft again.
After the excitement Of the early morning tha
city had quiet holiday. A favorable change
in the weather tempted many thousands of per-
SONS cut OF doors for walks and drives but the
great majority Of New Workers spent ths day
in home enjoynents, having extra good din
ne- es the chief celebration. Contrary TO the
usual custom. there was no special entertain
nle1t for the prisoners 81 the Tombs.
II was e quiet day at the City Hall no new
officials being introduced into Official life Many
OF the city politicians went to to Albany to at
tend the inauguration Of Governor Hughes.