New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-04
BANK MESSENGER
AND ROBBER DIE
AFTER HOID-UP
Companion Shoots Assail-
ant and Saves $4,000 in
Subway Ambush.

A daring attempt to hold up two
bank messengers in the entrance to
the subway at Fourteenth Street yes
terday afternoon resulted in two
deaths.
John Gardiner, one of the messen-
gers, who carried a grip containing
$4,000 from the Bank of the Metropo-
lis, 81 Union Square West, died in st.
Vincent's Hospital at 1920 this morn
ing from bullet wound through his
head.
Ten minutes later Bellevue Hospital
notified the Coroner's Office of the
death of George Debrosa, the gunman
who shot Gardiner and tried to steal
the money. He died from a bullet
wound inflicted by one Of his own re-
volvers in the hands Of Walter Orle-
man, the other messenger, who chased
Debrosa half a block to Broadway
after Gardiner fell.
As Orleman was about to pur-
chase tickets at the booth on the mez-
canine platform he heard the crack Of
a revolver. At the same time the bag
was wrenched from his hand and, turn
ing, he saw his companion lying bleed
ing on the cement flooring. A pistol,
tossed away, had fallen near GARDENERS
head.
Orleman rushed for the stairs. AS
he did so a bullet from above nicked
the collar of his overcost. The figure
Of man was silhouetted against the
sky, and just as he was about to dart
from the subway kiosk the messenger
grabbed him. 0rleman pulled the weap-
on out of the mans hand and shot at
him Just as the latter drew another
pistol-his third-and aimed it over
his shoulder.
Leaving the bag behind him, Gardi-
ner's assailant bent over as if in great
pain and ran into penny arcade on
the south side of Fourteenth Street.
Orleman emptied the mans own gun
after him. The crowd parted in oppo-
site directions just as the stranger
rushed into the arcade.
"Stop thief" cried Orleman, then
threatened to shoot to kill.
For an answer the gunman turned
and fired several shots at Orleman.
Patrolman Dennis Graney, believing
Orleman to be the fugitive. shouted TO
the latter to stop. Orleman fired again.
Scores Of persons rushed into the penny
arcade after the men, but the fugitive
escaped by the back entrance, which
leads out in Thirteenth Street.
Shot for Policeman Fails.
II is half block from that point to
broadway. With the gunman's bullets
still flying thick, Orleman ran after
him east into Broadway. At the corner
the fugitive darted south to loft
building. He snatched his cap. which
was of a dark gray material, from his
head and threw IL into the street. Then,
as he was about to jump into the en-
trance of 832 Broadway. Patrolman Ma
loney, Of the 18th Precinct, tackled him
and threw him 20 the Sidewalk.
Pressing the muzzle OF his weapon
,o The policeman's stomach, the fugitive
nressed the trigger A click was the
only answer. Maloney twisted the re-
volyer out Of the mans grasp and
nointed il at Orleman. in the belief
ibe, he. too. was a fugitive.
"Thats the mani" orlemann cried.
"u. tried to get away with this bag.
shot my partner and then shot at me.
For Gods sake, hurry back! Gardiner
10 dying" ,,
<ainted and was carried TO the tenn
porary shack of the construction com
psnv near the kiosk In Fourteenth
Street. Sire Meantime Gardiner had been
nieted sp by several Of the subway
employees A hasty examination showed
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