New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
0NE TAXI "BR|CAND"
ADMITS PART IN CRIME
s,rrenders Because He Knew He
Would Be Caught, and Says
He Got $4,000.
WOMAN STOLE HIS SHARE
Police Matron Promoted to Rank
of Detective, Eight Patrolmen
Advanced and Lieutenant
Commended for Work.


,orfess,ons competed with each other
Yesterday for rapidity and number, with
~. advantage on the side of the uplift
movement among the cops although
the crooks scored a good record with
,beir "squeals" and confessions.
At9o'clock 1t was announced that Mrs
rsabella Goodwin, a police matron' had
bsen elevated TO the place Of first grade
detective. At 10 o'clock. or thereabouts'
r,rsene Splaine arrived at Headquarters
ord confessed that he was one OF the
nrincipals in the taxicab robbery. by IL
o.c,ock eight patrolmen had been made
acting detectives for their work on the
case. At noon came the news that Mat
TOO Abarno had gone TO the District At
,ornev and confessed that he was one OF
tho famous three brigands' who had
ha-d I'D the robbers and taken Slo,ooO
from them. And the last outburst OF
noiice ioy was sjgnalized by the an
nauncement that Lieutenant Detective
pomjnick Reilly had received special
commendstion from the Commissioner
for his excellent police work in the WhC'e
case in general.
The most important OF these events IN
the ewes of the police. was the conles-
sion of splaine Behind it was good
Adjective story and shrewd work on me
mart of Clare and DAILY. two detectives
who had been sent West TO get him.
Started on Blind Hunt.
When they started they had no notion
where he was. except that he had gone
West. In Chicago they fell In with a
woman called Big Jo," representing
themselves TO her as ''yeggs Ihey
tained her confidence. and she told them
of man answering Splaine's descrip-
ton who was around her house several
times spending his money like drunken
sailor. He had gone further west
she said. and the two detectives immedi-
ately sent out telegraphic descriptions TO
the police of all cities covering west
going lines The police al Memphis re-
ceived their telegram at I:40 o'clock In
the morning, and nabbed Splaine on
train arriving twenty minutes later lie
had 1851 of the money left and num-
Der of newly bought diamonds.
At Headquarters yesterday Splaine
confessed In detail TO his part as one Of
the principals. He told how he elm oed
on the running board Of the automobile
containing the two bank messengers
nj -
tackled Frank Wordell. the boy inside
Did you hit him with a sap" Deputy
Com missioner Dougherty asked him.
sap" being the latest thieves slang for
blackjack"
Yes. had a homemade sap" Srlaine
said II opened the door and socked
the boy. Dutch was taking care of the
old man. The kid put up a fight and
showed me off the running board once.
Kinsman helped me back on. Then l
beat The kid until he was Just like he
was asleep. Dutch had done for the
old man meanwhile and when Gino
stopped the machine We jumped out and
beat II with the money. i don't remem-
her Just where we went. Dutch knew
Ne town better than me. We were on
car, then got on the elevated, and
finally got off al Blocker street and
went to Pushs saloon, where the money
was divided"
Then followed the oft told tale Of how
the "three brigands" entered at this
tuncture and took $1,000 away from the
robbers. And fitting nicely to this came
Matteo Abarno with his story, volun-
tarily- surrendering himself and telling
his tale 10 the District Attorney.
Il WAS walking up Broadway one night
short time before the robbery" Abarno
told Assistant District Attorney Embree,
who was detailed 10 take his statement.
when met two pals. who told me about
II, ] thought I'd take a chance at get
ting in on It. In fact. we told some Of
them in the gang II they didn't pull the
Job as they planned it we would croak
some Of them. That was TO keep them
from getting cold feet
"on the morning Of the robbery
watched the saloon where knew they
were going to meet and make the divvy
after the robbery. / saw them go in on
me run with leather bag. l knew
tnree OF the five-Albrozzo Splaine and
kinsman. followed them in after few
minutes. and found them in the room
With the bag open II was a sight for
your eyes. believe me!
Got $4,000 by a Bluff.
AS soon as they saw me they all
oesan to yell. I didn't tip you off to this
ou l.? / simply smiled and stood back
ahc made grandstand play. | made a
trao and picked out package marked
10000 and said, This is for my friends
punch into each pocket. When / went
cut found my two pals that had tipped
me OH to the job, waiting for me out
s'de, bu: I swear to God didn't know
'ncy were there. They had followed me
we split the coin up right there, $4,000
apiece. ana $1,000 was to be paid for the
oeience Of Maloy in Brooklyn.
with all this money in my pocket
ieit Ike rich guy, and decided the
sunny South was for mine. went (,
havana. where ] stopped at the Ingle
,erra. In a park ] met up with goot
looking girl. / had $l0S in my shoe ant
T~'"o In my pocket. We went out fol
good time When I woke up the ga
was gone and the money was gone. That
spoiled my trip. so ] took "A boat bacl
to New York."
ADarno lived in Camden. n. j.. an,
When he went there he found tho noIic,