New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-19
Captain Tunney's Hospi-
tality Wins Confession
Burglar Band Caught
LOOT OF % CRIMES
REACHES $4,000
Two Women Scouts for
Gang Only Members
Not Under Arrest

Captain Thomas J. Tunney, the Pc
lice Department authority on the works
OF Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has intro
duced q new method of obtaining con-
LESSONS from obstinate prisoners. II
resulted yesterday in the breaking up
OF a burglar band which has defied the
police for months, committing more
than a score Of thefts and obtaining
loot worth $4,000.
Tony Shondo, seventeen, Of 232 East
10Th Street, and Harry Passoni, of 226
East Twenty-ninth Street, were arrest
ed Friday while trying TO enter an
apartment at 895 First Avenue. After
hours of grilling by tho old methods
they would admit nothing.
Captain Tunney had the pair brought
TO his Office. They entered sulking,
sullen and silent.
Boys said the captain, Tets forget
business for a while. It's about lunch
time. Suppose We eat, There's some
good spaghetti In the little restaurant
over the way there. Shall / send over
for some for your
Tony Picks Steak
Tony looked bewildered.
81 don't eat spaghetti much any
more" he said. III you amt Kidding
me, ri have a steak"
"A steak, and what else?"
well, IL this is to be regular meal
m take some French fried potatoes.
asparagus on toast, green peas, celery
and olives, camembert cheese, coffee
and a package Of cigarettes"
"Now, Harry, how about your" so
ncited the captain.
Harry wasn't so hungry. A little
roast beef, mashed potatoes and cotee
would do for him.
The orders were brought from a res
taurant. Captain Tunney's guests went
at their food with relish.
When the epicurean Tony was ready
for his demi-tasse he reached for a
cigarette, tilted back his chair and said;
ITS all right, captain. were the
boys you want"
Finish your meals. boys" responded
the captain, land then tell me about it.
Their story, Captain Tunney said,
clears up twenty-five burglarles, includ-
ing the $4,000 burglary at Brill
Brothers store, In Cortlandt Street, on
August II, and the $4,000 burglary at
Jacobs Brothers store, at zoos Third
Avenue. Eleven others implicated IN
the confessions were arrested.
Women Choose Victims
Two members Of the band who are
still at large are women. To them
Shondo gives credit for the success
OF many Of the burglaries. The gang
never tempered with doors or win
dows. They sawed their way through
walls and floors. The women would
visit store selected for footing and
while making purchases would observe
the location Of burglar alarms. the
thickness OF walls into the hallway
and such details. Before leaving they
would secretly mark the wall with
chalk TO indicate the best place to
break through.
The burglars would appear at
scheduled hour and drill hole through
the wall. A little later the wrecking
squad would show up and carry the
goods into the hallway or basement
When this was completed motor trucks
would appear and the goods would be
hauled away.
CAPTAIN Tunney said the men also
named the fences" where they dis
posed of their goods.
Shondo and Passoni will be exam
ined Monday before Magistrate Nolan
in the Yorkville court. Five Of the
eleven others were discharged. The
remaining six, held under $4,000 bonds,
will be examined Monday before Magis-
trate HANDY.