New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-03
TAXI GANG DRIVER
ACCUSES POLICE
Montani, in Sing Sing, De
cIares Freedom Was
Offered for $4,000.
STORY ALL ROT"
SAYS CAPTAIN RILEY
Prisoner Interests Whitman Ala
in Story C. "Frame-Up' in
$4,000 Robbery Case.

CGOsVNO
Gene Nontani. now serving sentence
~ from ten 10 eighteen years in Sing sing
os ono NJ the rineleadors in the $4,000
tsNicab robbery I'm Trinity Place In Feb
ruary. 1912. has laid charges before AS,
sistaut District Attorney FREDERICK Eroehi
that two police officials. after his arrest
offered TO get him or on the charge IN
return for $4,000 Mr.. Groehl told yester-
dav OF Montani's story as the convict re-
lated 70 10 him last saturday in Sing sing
Il was at the prison on other business.
when a convict approached me ana toid
me what Montani had TO say he SAID
and arranged TO see him. nave not
had time 10 investigate the charges yet
hut he told me things which seem TO IN
dicato a very strong case. The two men
he claims sought the bribe-well' don
want 70 mention any names now. out the
records OF the case show who the police
men we're who handled the case against
Montani"
The money was taken from two mes
seneers of the East River National Bank
who we're transporting il in taXicab 10
the bank from the Produce Exchange Ma
tional Bank As they turned into Trim
ity Place from Broadway a gang TOOK
possession, and after blackJackirg the
rnessenEers and speeding on for several
blocks Jumped out with the money and
scattered.
Was Twice Arrested.
Montani was chauffeur Of the taXicao
As soon as the robbers fed he called for
help. giving himself UP, and asserting
that he was innocent Of completely In the
crime. He was once discharged. but after
further investigation, which produced evil
dence that he was associated with the
members Of the gang. who by this time
had been rounded up. was again arrested
He stuck 20 his story of innocence, but
his pals turned states evidence against
him and ne was convicted on trial. He
received a heavy sentence. but tn others
pleaded guilty and got off with light pen
alties in return for their testimony.
In his story Of the alleged bride offer
Montani told Mr.. Groehl that two OF the
n.er on whose testimony he was convicted
had made afidavits generating him and
setting forth that they turned against
him 10 get light sentences for themselves
These men. il was learned yesterday are
Edward Kinsman and Jess Albrezza, now
I'm Sing Sing serving their terms.
Judge Charles c. Mott. who was AS
sistant District Attorney at the time and
prosecuted the case, said yesterday that
when an application for a new trial for
Montani was made Kinsman and Albrezza
made af1davts denying in general terms
their evidence against Montani.
But their affdavits contained no new
information and carried no weight with
Justice Seabury. who denied the motion
for o new trial" Judge Mott said. Com
missioner Dougherty and his men did ex-
ceptionally efficient work in the case and
obtained a conviction. I do not think
there is anything in the charges. The
case attracted so much attention, l do
not think the police would have dared at
tempt to get Montani of"
Riley Calls Il Rot"
Deputy Commissioner Dougherty. who
considers the taxicab robbery case his
star accomplishment as detective, de-
clared yesterday that Montani's story was
"a tissue Of falsehoods." Dominick Riley.
the retired police captain. who is now
under indictment for alleged part in the
overlapping graft, was Dougherty's chief
aid In the case.
Yes / am the man who rounded up
the taxicab robbers, and Montani is the
man who was convicted" he said. Let
me give you one real hot one. and that
is that these insinuations against me are
being put out by q man in the District
Attorneys Office 20 poison the minds OF
the public against me. 10 hurt me in my
present case. IL IS all lot of rot and
all want Is fair treatment. Montani
was convicted on the testimony OF his
own pals corroborated by his own
words. which we got with a dlctagraph.
What is more, he appealed the case and
the lower court was affirmed"
Riley later in the evening issued.
through his attorney, formal statement
repeating these declarations, adding: can
innuendo. a story which permits of an
unfair inference. Is an untruth and
stab in the back. having perhaps an u
terror motive in connection with the case
pending against me" He ended with the
following reference TO his indictment in
the wire tapping case:
The indictment found against me De-
cember was thrown out to-day, fifteen
days after my attorney moved for an
inspection OF the grand jury minutes.
why this story was published to-day 1
do not know, but served the citizens OF
this city for period OF eighteen years,
honestly, fearlessly and faithfully. did
so because ! knew New York citizens
are fair minded. and still think so. This
falsehood cannot hurt mo In their eyes. II
that IS the intent"
Wasservosel Explains.
Isidor Wasservogel. Assistant District
Attorney. denied last night that the
charge against Riley had been dropped.
as indicated in the statement. What
really happened. he said. was that
superseding indictment was found, am
pnfying the information In the original
Indictment. and adding several counts TO
the charge against him.
d. r. Mcdonald. who was Montanis
counsel said yesterday that. although he
was not handling his interests now, at
the time he heard rumors that the police
had offered TO let him or but that he
knew OF no evidence TO support this.
- would not like 20 say that ] think
the police went TO the extent OF framing
ND an innocent man because he would
not pay them s. 900 10 get him on he
said. but the only place where the shoe
ninches and what might support Mon