New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-12
TAYLOR, TAXI BANDIT
WITNESS, A BOOMERANG
Defence Puts Leader on STAND,
but Testimony Damages
Gangs Own Case.
COUNSEL VISIBLY SHOCKED
Man on Stand Admits Planning
Hold-Up of Silk Company's
Messengers and Tells
How Loot Was Split.

The first witness called yesterday in the
defence of Patrick Bolger. George and
Robert McVetty and Charles G. Clark,
known as yellow Furst." a gang leader.
all Of whom are on trial IS alleged auto
bandits before Judge Foster in General
Sessions. was Joseph Taylor. the young
man who has acknowledged leadership or
the automobile raiders and has pleaded
guilty To robbery.
TAYLOR was called to disproye testimony
given by Acting Captain Tunney. of the
Detective Bureau Not only did he fail to
disprove Captain Tunney's statement that
Bolgcr was known IS one OF the gang
who had been engaged in other robberles'
but he identified Bolger as one VINO han
taken part in the hod-up OF two messcn-
gers for the silk Finishing Company oil
America. That robbery. which involved
nearly 81. 200, was one which had not peeh
laid to Bolger's account heretofore
When Taylor was called as witness
lie refused TO appear until he had seen
Charles F. Bostwick, the Assistant DIS
trict Attorney prosecuting.
Don't make me testify against those
fellows" he said They are in bad
enough now
I'm not calling you. It's counsel Tor
the defence" said MIR Bostwick.
What" shouted Taylor. incredulous.
Taylor is tall and thin. lie speaks very
slowly and il was evident that he intend
ed to give only the barest sort OF answers
and TO spare the four men at the bar as
much as possible. When Walter ,. Ken
nedv. counsel for the four asked him
about captain Tunney's statement
though. he answered that BolSer was IN
the Bethune street hold-up-that OF the
silk company's messengers.
After the hold-up. which he himself hau
planned two weeks IN advance, all SIX OF
the bandits. including Bolger. he said
drove 70 Charles Cariesi's saloon on Ave
nue. \. where the loot was divided. Boil
gers share. he said, was $50. earliest was
the head Of notorious band OF forgers'
His conviction on a forgery charge was
recently affirmed by the Court OF Appeals
When this testimony was brought out
Mr.. Kennedy looked pcrturbed.
you're inundated. aren't YOU ne
asked. afraid to speak your mind out!
Not ~ all" answered Taylor decisive
lv. rive decided TO tell the truth, that 3
all"
The lot OF TAYLOR and others OF the
dozen alleged auto bandits IN the Tomos
who have given information 10 the Dis
trict Attorney Is not an easy one ana
,fr Eostwick has asked the warden TO
give them every possible protection. as
he fears a pitched battle between those
who hare confessed and those who have
not. Bolger himself. according To the po-
lice and according to his signature on
two rolice court afiidaVts. not only CON
fessed his own part in the hold-up or the
saloon IN west 18th street. for which he
is on trial. but also implicated others IN
that and other roboeries.
Yesterday. when he TOOK the stand. now
ever. he talked straight at his compan-
ions In trouble and denied making any
confession or duplicating any one else IN
any crime. II seemed as though he were
more anxious 10 convince them that he
vas a "stlckcr" than 10 persuade the
Jury Of his innocence. he confined his
own defence To q broad denial, and re-
marked without much interest that hr
couldn't remember where he was the day
the saloon was roboel.
The case will probably go to the jury
on Monday.