New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-23
Bank EmpIoye, Beaten Down
with Club, Escapes Bullets
and Turns Pistol on
Robbers.
ONE SHOT BY POLICEMAN
Victim, Who Had $4,000 IN
Bag, Attacked as He Left
Cab to Deliver 1t to
Factory-Paraders
in Panic.

James r.. Wntress. q bank mes
senger, just stepped out of hanson
cab in front OF the Nathan Manufact-
uring Company, at No. 1l6 East lO0th
street, yesterday noon, when he was
set upon by four men. who attempted
TO wrest from him a satchel containing
$1,000 representing the payroll of the
company. Then one of the four beat
him on the head with club, and as
he went down the robbers fired at him,
but all their shots went wild.
Stunned though he was, Wintress re-
tanned enough of his senses to roll over
on the bag and at the same time TO
draw his own pistol. His fire was so
fast that the four took to their heels
Just as four policemen came running
up. The police caught four men, two OF
whom Wintress identified as his as
saiants.
Wintress said last night that one
thing that helped TO save him was his
height. He IS more than six feet tall,
and the robber had TO reach up to
strike him. Another thing that saved
him and also his employers money, al
though ho did not mention il, was his
steady nerve and quick action.
Sure He Shot One Assalant.
Il only did my duty" he said. They
are a great bunch Of shots. There they
had me up against the wall, shooting
at me, three Of them not four feet
away. and not one OF them hit me. The
police clam they shot the one who is
wounded. ! shot that fellow myself
before the gang broke and ran. IL |
didn't get him. got one Of those who
are missing"
He said that before he stepped out
Of the cab he noticed the four men
reading a newspaper. He hesitated a
moment, feeling suspicious, but at last
decided everything was all right, al
though he got his hand on his pistol
so as to be ready.
lie had no sooner taken two or three
steps when he felt that they were
going to get him he said, and swung
around. but not soon enough to avoid
tho blow.
AS soon as ] got my magazine gun
10 going" he said. they got cold feet
and beat it. was dazed from the
blow on the head. or none Of them
would have got away. ! got eight
shots out OF my gun in a second. Then
the police came UP. That is all there
IS 10 it,
At the time OF the hold-up and pur-
suit OF the robbers. First avenue was
crowded with little girls in white con-
firmation dresses from the Church Of
our Lady of Mount Carmel returning
from a parade I'm the celebration Of
Corpus Christi. The sidewalks were
filled with admiring parents and
friends. and panic relgned as the po-
lice. pistols in hand pursued the fusi-
tives
Men Were Waiting for Him.
Wintress. who lives at No 30I West
1lith street, Is employed by the Column
bia Bank. al No. 50I Fifth avenue. lie
noticed the four men as he stepped out
of the cab. They were lettering at the
wagon entrance to the factory two
reading a newspaper, while the others
were talking, and as Wintress started
for the office the attack began
Apparently they had expected him to
go down UNCONSCIOUS at the first blow.
At least they were unprepared Tor a
fight. for when Wintress got his own
pistol into play they decided this was
not their kind Of robbery, and were
on the point Of flight when four police
men bore down upon them from First
avenue. where they had been guarding
l