New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12
FOUR POLICE
SENT TO STOP H0LD-UP
Bank Runner Beaten with Black.
jack in Fight for SatChel
Containing $500.
ONE SHOT; SAVED BY WATCH
Squad Of Detectives, Knowing
Exact Plan of Attempted
Robbery, Surround Place
and-Man Gets Away.

and-Man Gets Away.
As result Of an Underground" tip 10
Deputy Commissioner Dougherty that a
robbery was to be committed yesterday
morning at the four story factory build
ing No. 4l3 to ~ East 3sth street De-
tective James A. Watson, of No. 26G West
l5sth street, is a patient I'm Bellevue Hos
pital. with a bullet in his left groin;
Peter z. Piunkett, bank messenger for
the Union Exchange National Bank, IS
In bed at his home, No. 2l3 East list
street, suffering from several contusions
OF the scalp and fractured right thumb,
and the entire police force is looking for
an unknown Italian about twenty-five
years old. At Police Headquarters is one
Frank Moran. nineteen years old, OF NO.
200 East l03d street. lie is employed as
a packer at the Harlem Market.
II happened yesterday morning, when
three detectives. besides Watson, Detec-
tives Slevin, Rais and Oliver, all in blue
shirts, were at the factory. where, ac-
cording to the tip" that had gone out
Plunkett would come about 1880 o'clock
to be delivered to the firm OF Schwartz
koff & Ruckcrt. manufacturers of pat
ented cigar boxes. ....
True TO the information. the detectives
after taking up their allotted positions.
one across the street and the others scat
tered around the lumber yards I'm the
neighborhood, saw two men appear about
10 O'Clock After conversation short
distance from the entrance to the build
ing one proceeded to the building. The
other, who was later identified as Moran,
took his post as lookout" near First
avenue.
After a short wait Plunkett came down
the street carrying the satchel containing
the money. Unaware of what was in
store Tor him he entered the doorway and
saw man. apparently an Italian, as
cending the stairs The stairway and YES
tibuc being narrow. he stepped aside and
intended to wait for him To pass.
Attacked with "Blackjack.'
When near the bottom he looked up in
time TO sec blackjack" poised over his
head. In his left hand he clutched the
money bag His right arm he raised to
protect his head. Handicapped by the
satchel and disarmed. except for small
billy" the bank messenger was at tho
mercy Of the man.
His call for help brought Watson from
across the street. as we'll as several hun
factory building Watson, upon opening
the street door. saw the man attempting
TO release the money bag, which stu was
tightly gripped in the hand of the semi
conscious man. In falling to the floor
plnnkett fell over the bag in such posi-
ton that Il was impossible for the hold
up man to get II.
Confronted by the detective, the des-
perado drew a revolver and fired at the
officer. The bullet hit a gold watch In
the detectives pocket took downward
course and lodged I'm his groin. After mr.
ing the shot the man ran into the street,
heading toward First avenue. Watson re-
gained his feet and got TO the street in
time to see his man getting away. lie
fired three shots At him before Detectives
oliver and Slevin Joined in the chase. At
N
street. thence east and into doorway
at No $40 East 35th street. II is apparent
that he made his escape over FENCES IN
the rear. his torn raincoat having been
found hanging on one Of the rear fences.
There was a small buIlcthole in the side of
tn. coat toward the back.
An ambulance from bellevue brought
Or. TYSON. Before its arrival Plunkett
delivered part OF the money to the cigar
box firm and had gone under the escort
of policemen to the firm of Ely Rieser &
Co., First avenue and Ast street. $3.50
of the money being for them The money
was TO be used to pay OF the employees
OF the two firms. Having fulfilled his
mission Plunkett reported TO the bank
officials and went to his home. No. 2l3
East fist street, where he was attended
last night by his family physician, DR..
Bert Munday. No 367 West ed street.
. II was, said by the police OF the East
18th street station yesterday afternoon
that so careful were the detectives I'm
their attempt to arrest the highwaymen
that instructions had been given the reg
ular policeman on that post to stay away
from the vicinity. They told the patrol
man, it was said, that the sight Of a
uniform in the neighborhood might pre-
vent the desperadocs from attempting the
robbery.
o Captain McKenney. In charge Of the
squad that set out to apprehend the dar-
ing holdup men. refused last night to
comment on this phase OF the case. He
displayed the watch that in all PROBABLE
ity. saved the life Of Watson, and seemed
we'll satisfied with the work.
so far as can be learned. there Is no
connection with this case and that OF
Ncil Henderson, who was held up and
robbed OF 800 Friday night at Park ave
nue. and 10Th street.