The sun., 1908-05-26
STREET FIGHT FOR $4,000
ITALIANS POUNCE UPON JEWISH
BANK MEssENGERs.
stab and IslacakJack Them by Daylight SIX
Doors From Elevated statisu-Dne
Of the Attackers Caught -Feur Other
Arrests- Polish Girl Heips IN Fray.

Arrests Polish Girl Heips IN Fray.
Three Jewish bank messengers bearing
$4,000 destined for the jefferson Bank. at
Canal and Forsyth streets, were attacked
and badly beaten by three Italian bandits
late yesterday afternoon in First street just
or First avenue. Although two OF the mes-
sengers tainted from loss of blood and shock
the robbers failed to get the money and one
Of them was arrested This was largely
due to the courage Of Polish girl, who ran
out Of restaurant and attempted to beat
OF the leader Of the gang.
The Jefferson Bank is thriving East Side
institution. 1t has one branch at Clinton
and Houston streets As there are no
vaults In the branch the money for the days
business il carried over from the main Office
every morning and the deposits are taken
back every evening.
The usual small party set out for the
banks headquarters about 40 yesterday
afternoon with $4s,O0O the full amount in
the drawers of the branch. About $4,000
Of the money was in small bills in large
leather valise carried by the regular mes-
senger Of the bank. Abraham Adelmann OF
27s South Fifth street, Brooklyn. Adel-
mann. q man Of As. has been in the employ
Of the bank since boyhood and is trusted.
With him went Joseph Velsor of s4l Marion
street. Brooklyn. and Abraham Stern of
rs East ll4th street. Manhattan. Velsor
carried two canvas bags full OF gold coin
and Stern q small package Of bills In his
inside coat pocket. So little did the men
anticipate trouble that they were unarmed.
West through East Houston street they
went. and on reaching First street. which
branches diagonally out Of Houston street
just east Of the Little Hungary cafe. they
walked through First street to take the
downtown elevated train at the First street
and First avenue station. They went on
unmolested until just half dozen doors
from First avenue. without 30 much as
demand to stand and deliver. they were
set upon by three young Italians.
Eva Javornioka, q strongly built young
Polish girl was standing in front OF Kolo-
monk restaurant and immigrants board
ing house at IS First street. She described
the fight through an interpreter.
-The first thing saw she said. was
three strangers running up and jumping
on those three bank men. They threw a
powder like red pepper into the mems
eyes and began to beat them. thought
at first that they were all Poles and had
sot into Asht Sc rsn cut and ran be-
tween the elderly messenger with the valise
afterward found out was Adelmann and
his assailant. who was doing the most
fighting When / got between them I
saw that the Italian was pulling with all
his might at the bag in the older man .
hand
-Adelmann was yelling Robbersl at the
top Of his voice. When I grabbed the
Italian by the arm and tried TO pull him
away he kept me of with one hand.
reached into his back pocket with the
other. brought out big knife. opened 1t
with his teeth and stabbed Adelmann
When / saw the knife got behind him
and hindered his arm as much as possible
but he Was very strong. He kept on swear
ing to himself and slashed Adelmann all
over
Both arms and hands OF Adelmann were
cut to ribbons while pulled at the Italians
back. Adelmann was screaming and groan-
ing, but held on to the bag, although as far
as could eco the Italian was on the way
to cutting his hands of at the wrist before
long. All this took place in about min
ute. The other two men were beating
the other two messengers all this time.
Then the people around began to yell
None Of the three men had succeeded In
getting away with any money and the.
leader, giving ono last cut at Adelmanns
wrists, ran of after the other two men,
called to doctor and had the injured men
attended,
Two Of the assailants disappeared, The
third, the one who had been struggling
with Adelmann. was bespatterei with
blood and had cut himself on the hand,
30 that a crowd OF small boys followed him
as he ran into First avenue. across the
street and west through Second street.
He ran into Ofiioer Malachi Ryan Of the
Fifth street station. who got tho handouts
on him after q struggle. He was taken back
to the place of the assault and identified
by the Polish girl as the man who had beaten
and cut Adelmann.
Ryan called patrol wagon and the three
messengers, still hanging on to their money,
were taken to the station. Adelmann
had series OF streaming stab wounds on
his wrists, forearms, left side and head.
He was sent home In o cab with doctor,
velsor, with two Of his teeth knocked In
and still reeiing from blows Of black
jack, tainted when he reached the station
and was taken TO Bellevue. Stern, the
least hurt OF the three, was sent home
The captured Italian gave his name as
Cosimo Riccobono, 20 years old, Of 42s East
Thirteenth street. He 10 plasterer out
Of work. He denied that he had had any
thing to do with the attempted robbery,
saying he had been passing by and had
gone TO Adelmann's assistance. He was
identified by several persons as the man
who had attacked Adelmann. Last night
Giovanni Rico obono, Cosmos father, and
Salvatore. Damiano and Ontonio. Cosmos
brothers, ere arrested on suspicion OF
knowing about the robbery plot.
Vice. president Roth Of the bank took
the money away with him to deposit 1t In the
vaults.
SUBPGNAS IN NEW HAVEN CASE.