New-York tribune., 1909-07-11
JOHN SMITH" EXAMINED
NO MORE BERSIN CLEWS.
Both Equally Guilty in FIatbush
Crime, Says Wounded Burglar.

Little headway was made yesterday by the police
IN connecting the murder OF Samuel Bersin. the
Harlem painter with John Smith, Frank
Schmidt, as the police give his name. and his
pal, Carlo Giro, who are under arrest charged
with the murder OF Mrs. Staber in ETatbush
While the oiIcIoth found in the OF tho men
resembles that In which the body OF Bersin
wrapped, It Is not exactly the same When Giro
was asked yesterday IL he knew Bersin he flushed
and said "T never heard Of him" He said that
he had bought the olcloth to carry plunder in from
q woman who kept small store near his room
Giro heretofore has not been willing to say much.
but he was in an arniable state Of mind yesterday
and spoke apparently without reserve He said
that he first met Smith in Sing Sing. where both
were prisoners. and did not see him again until
he met him in Mulberry Park week or so ago
He said that Smith planned all the robberies
and did most OF the work after they forced their
way In Then he described how he and Smith
broke into the staber home and the struggle that
occurred when young Staber seized him
Over at the Swedish Hospital in Brooklyn. the
physicians were forced TO call halt on the po-
lice who we're putting Smith" through the third
degree" Owing TO his wound and the examina-
ton the police have been putting him through ne
was in a state Of collapse yesterday. and coroner
Brewer told the police that they could not examine
him any more for the present Assistant D4strlct
Attorney Elder made public the confession or
Smith TO him. Inspector OReily and several po-
told by Giro, except that Smith denies ne was
the leader OF the expeditions, saying they shared
equally In the crimes. Smith" said;
1T is not true that was the leader in the rob
berries We were both equal IN everything we
entered the house by the window do not kno"
uho fred the shot that killed Mrs Staber-Thether
II was Giro or myself. I fred two or three shots
and was the first TO go down the stairs DON
remember where was when was shot
MY revolver empty. when we got on the
outside but Giro reloaded II for me- After was
shot gave the gun 10 Giro. but we both had re-
volvers when were in the house, also ammonia
bulbs and flashlights. Giro and have committed
several other robberies in the neighbo-nood- Out
don't remember what the addresses were never
shot at any one to kill. but just TO protect myself
There were Only two OF never told Giro TO
fire back II Ee fired on. for was no more the
boss than he was. We both went around IN the
DAYTIME 10 nick out the easy places rob. and
used 70 meet each other at 7th street and Avenue
A The night OF the murder We went over the
Brooklyn Bridge, and tried to jimmy the cellar
door II would not open. so forced the htchen
window and opened the door for Giro
I'VE took our shoes and hats of and laid them
down. We both went upstairs and both had re-
volvers ammonia bulbs and flashlights we went
into the room where the old gentleman was
opened the bureau drawers. took the piece or sll-
YER bag and pocketbook The old gentleman was
awake. We told him to keep quiet We only
wanted few dollars I had the pistol in my pocket
while searching the drawer. Giro had the nshc
with Mr. Staber.. They fell into room
While the fight was going on downstairs
Then heard the shots and ran upstairs, and was
shot as I the way upstairs. 1 was hit by
two shots. This happened when the fight was
going on. 1 fired 1 going upstairs 1 fired
one shots"
Did you fire at Mrs. staberg' he was asked.
''I fired blind TO the person when they
fired me-
The funeral OF Mrs. Staber took place yesterday
very quietly at the home in Flatbush. number
OF detectives hand. but there was no neeG
for their services. crowd collected.