New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-07
"CROOKS" IN PANIC
AS POLICE RAID
Mckay's Ousting Squad
Causes Big Scramble
i'm "UnderWOrld.'
MANY CAPTURED,
BUT FEW HELD
Arrests Not Backed by Law. Says
Magistrate-MOre Plans IN
Crime Crusade.

Commissioner Mckay new Sf"''" -
crook chasers" swooped down upon the
underworld yesterday and the result was
a scramble to ESCAPE on the part OF pick
pockets. petty thieves and criminals be-
fore the squad had chance 10 a't'''
them as Migrants. The speed with wHich
this vanishing was accomplished was tue
reason given for the small number Of act
ual arrests made by the special squad
Seven arrests were made. however ana
two OF the prisoners were women.
This work of the special squad was not
the entire story OF the campaign against
the crooks" The whole police force
was under special orders 10 lend mana
I'm the work. and the result was that
thirty-eight men were hailed into the
Tombs court yesterday to answer various
charges before Magistrate Deuel..
The flank movement on the hosts OF
crime began shortly after midnight yes
tcrday morning and kept up until day
light. II took place in the list Inspection
District and was led by Lieutenant
Ahearn. Of Inspector Myers staff assist
ed by Detectives Cooper Kelly and Dun
nigan This squad made a systematic
descent upon a number Of saloons hotels,
moving picture houses and restaurants
and rounded up the prisoners without
distinction as To whether they might be
engaged in a peaceful occupation at the
moment or were caught violating the
law.
The first place visited was the saloon
and hotel of Christopher Casino, in Madi-
son street where thirty-four men were
found engaged In stuss games. Casino
was locked up on a charge OF keeping a
disorderly house. while his patrons were
charged with disorderly conduct.
Then the squad landed upon a club in
Monroe street. where. according to the
police, Carl Busacca. Of No. ~ Oliver
street, was found with a slunS shot IN
his pocket. He was arrested.
4 coffee house i'm James street Melted
two victims. charged with violations of
the Sullivan law. They were Antonio
Zackerino. Of No. 50 James street. and
Nicholas Sassi, of No 40 Catharine street
When arraigned before Magistrate
Deuel., Casino was held in 500 bail, while
Busacca. Zackerino and Sassi were each
held i'm $1,000 Then came a setback for
the police. When the officers presented
charges of disorderly conduct against the
other thirty-four there was no complain
ant 10 appear against them. They were
then discharged from custody.
When questioned about his attitude in
the crusade and the reason for discharS-
ing tie accused men. Magistrate Deuel.
said:
a III a i'm
the men," he said. Anyway. I am not
excited by this-what shall | call it,
this outbreak of the measles there is
such a Juror about"
The attitude at Headquarters, he was
told, is that It will be impossible for the
police to clean up the city unless the
magistrates cooperate with liberal APP
plication of the law"
Well" he replied. they can expect no
stricter enforcement Of the law from me
than ordinary. ] shall simply enforce the
law in each case on it's merits
The seven arrests credited to the special
SQUAD itself were those of Frank Pizzuto
of No. IS East 18th street, on a charge of
having a loaded revolver: Birth Barr, of
No. PIG East 18th street, and Thomas
ElaShldN, or NO 5DN w est f'lil Sti''t, b'th
arrested as professional criminals and
Scruccio Rama. OF No. 26 Spring street,
Hoboken, and Alfredo Pira. of No. 30
Central avenue Hoboken, charged with
operating a confidence game In addition
TO these, two women were picked up as
pickpockets. They were Madeline Ieisler
and Annie Goldberg. of No. 2o4 East 10th
streer.
Pizzuto was held for trial, while Barr
and Flashlay were sentenced TO SIN
months in the penitentiary by Magistrate
Appleton as Migrants.
Annie Goldberg. when arrested, was
dressed in furs. and wore diamond eat
rings worth 5000. II is alleged she stole
the pocketbook of Mrs Hattie Brewer.
Of No. ~ Jefferson Place, The Bronx,
in a department store bus.