The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-03
TAXICAB BANDIT SAYS
POLICE ASKED $4,000
GcnO MOntani Asserts Two Of
ficials Offered Freedom
for That Sum.
TELLS STORY IN SING SING
DOughcrty Aroused. hut En-
Captain Riley Sees Move to
Prejudice His Case.

C;eno Montani. who was sent to Sing
Sing nearly two years ago as chief OF
the 'taxicab bandits" now says that soon
after his arrest two officials of the New
York police offered to see that he went
free IL he paid them $1,000. His story
is uncorroborated.
Montani was the Young owner and
driver OF the taxicab upon which a pack
OF gunner pounced in Trinity place on
February H. 1912. They blackjacked two
messengers OF the East River National
Bank who were in the cab, seized a
satchel containing $4,000. travelled few
blocks while one of the robbers held a
pistol against Montani's ribs and then
loaped off and disappeared.
The arrest and conviction of this band
and the recovery of large part of the
money was one Of tn" proudest feats of
the detectives directed by Deputy Com
missioner George :. Dougherty. Three
turned states evidence. said that Montani
h"ss"d ~" robbery ard got OF WITH light
sentences. Montani, always processing
innocence. was sent to prison for from ten
to eighteen years.
ON Saturday last Assistant District At
toruey Frederick y. Groehl went to Sing
Sing with Detective Thomas Maxwell tn
visit a prisoner who previously had in
formed MIR Groehl that Montani had q
story Of attempted bribery to tell. This
prisoner brought Montani to them and IN
the presence of witnesses he made his
charge against the two police officials
one Of whom has prominent post at
Headquarters. the other being a captain
now on the retired list The interview
lasted only ten minutes. Mr.. Groehi
would not reveal the details yesterday
al fht.t H.. h..4,,
investigated. There were signs elsewhere
in the District Attorneys offices that nc
great results Of this investigation are IN
sight at present
In addition To his story of attempted
bribery Montani told Mr. Groehl that h,
had ailidavits from two OF the taxicat
robbers that they had testified falsely
against him to save themselves
II is supposed that he had in M Il
,fridavits made by Jess Albrozza and
Edward kinsman. which wer. sent to
justice Seabury ON June 10. 1919. with
Montaufs application for a new trial.
k.nsman said in his affidavit that he
never saw Montdni until the day Of the
robbery. and that Montanl had no part
n IT, Tho affidavit continued:
The deponent gave the testimony he
dd AT the trial nj the lnst!sation of Off
Ger Reilly. He was coached on said tes-
'!moDy by the aforesaid Reilly. he having
informed the deponent that the said Refill,
wanted TO pu; Gcno Mon;ani away"
Ia his affidavit Albrozza swore Montan
MAS innocent and added:
The deponeut was induced by George
bougherty. Deputy Police Commits
souer. and Officer Reilly to give the ties.
tlmCLy he did give a. the trial. the afore-
aid Duugherty and Reilly having in
formed your deponent that II he would
50 testify ne would se, a light sentence
These affidavits of the two convicts did
7 not sway Justice Seabury. He refused tC
: grant Montanl new trial.
/. Deputy Commissioner Do.Ehcrty seemed
both amused and indignant when hc
heard about Muntani's bribery yarn. IL,
said ne hardly knew Of a case wherein q
greater number Of witnesses had supplied
cprrOhbratiyo evidence. Judge Mott oi
/ General sessions, Who as Assistant Dis
TIE. Attorney prosecuted the taXicab rob.
, bcis. said the SAINT
EN-tapt. bomuick Riley appeared t.
I suspeC; that the story had been sprung I,
swing public sentiment against him AT q
time when ne IS wrestling with bribery
charges In relation To alleged graft from
wireless wire tappcrs He said he mad
heard % Montani's story before and that
IL was false.
The original Indictment against Riley
was d.sm.s ed by judge Swami yestsr-
! day on motion OF Samuel :. koenig. n.
ley's counsel. \ supcrscdlng md ictmcut
F, with four counts instead of one was
! found. Riley. pleading not guilty CAV.
! $40 bail.