New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
HELD AS AUTO ROBBERS
Four Alleged Gang Members
Caught in Police Raid.
VICTIM IDENTIFIES TWO
Woman Says They Snatched Her
Handbag, Containing $50
Trailed by Their Car.

Four alleged members Of the Gopher
gang" three of them with long criminal
records, say the police. were held In S4,OVO
bail each for examination by Magistrate
Herbert, In the Harlem police court yes
terday afternoon as the four taxicab BAN
dit. who held up and robbed woman In
Harlem on the afternoon OF May /.
The prisoners were arrested by Detec-
tives O'Neill. Kerr and Giery after some
clever work extending over three days
Two Of them have been identified by their
victim. Mrs. Veronica Schubert, OF No. 514
West 18th street, as the men who leaped
out of the taxicab and wrenched from her
a handbag containing $50
The quartet and their taxicab were
chased by two other cars, the occupants
OF which witnessed the robbery, but the
robbers had the speediest machine and
escaped
From a Harlem business man, who was
walking past 18TH street and ST. Nicholas
avenue when Mrs. Schubert was robbed, the
police learned the number of the thieves
machine.
It turned out to be the license issued to
a physician, who had sold his car to pub
lie hackman. The hackman, whom the po-
lice would like to meet. kept the car at
the garage OF Paolo Vaccarrell, better
known as Paul Kelly one time gang leader.
O'Neill Giery and Kerr learned that one
Of Kelly's customers took out four Joy
riders on the day of the robbery. But
Kelly himself knew nothing
"Why is this car bearing wrong license
NUMBER" asked O'Neill pointing to the
machine the robbers used
"I don't know" replied Kelly, Struggling
his shoulders.
And why has the paint been scraped
from II and new coat applied in the last
four days. asked Giery.
Because it needed It," said Kelly.
"Of course, the repainting has no con-
nection with the robbery" observed Kerr
Kelly shrugged his shoulders.
From other sources the detectives learned
that the men they were seeking might be
found in the society Of big Tom" Court
ney.
Yes" said Captain Dunn. when Court
news picture was picked out Of the Rogues
Gallery by Mrs Schubert, he is far better
behind the bars. He is the most desperate
man at large in this city"
At least twenty times, say the police,
has Courtney been arrested In the. last
eighteen years, and seven of his thirty
seven years have been spent in Sing sing
So that when Courtney and three COM
panions were spotted by O'Neill In a res
taurant at Eighth avenue, near Ast street.
O'Nein telephoned for two policemen 10
toin him before making his presence known
All three entered the restaurant with re-
volyers drawn This did not brighten Big
Tom" who failed to throw his hands up
with the others when ordered to do So and
WAS knocked to the floor for his bravado.
Two of his friends were George Howard
who, two months ago, according to the po-
lice, finished little stretch In Sing Sing
and Charles williams, who has been In ana
out of iail ever since 1896. the police de-
clare. The fourth man. who said he was
Joseph Kirk, with a lodging house as his
home. is new to the police
The men are said by the police to be
members Of the Gopher gang which draws
it's recruits from the West Side, between
34th street and the San Juan Hill section
At primaries and elections politicians IN
need of strong armed men call on the
"Gopher gang" and when any OF the latter
become enmeshed In the tolls OF the police
the politicians reciprocate, and the result
is frequently witnesses and compartments
disappear before the gang men are ar
ragned for trial.