New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
Trio of Bandits
Pose as Detectives
And Ransack Flat
Merchant Is Shot and Four
Holdups and Burglaries
Are Staged Within One
Mile Area in Harlem

Four burglaries and hold-ups within
mile area in Harlem were recorded
yesterday. The boldest of the crimes
was attempted By band Of three, who
gained entrance to the apartment OF
John Goodell, merchant, at 621 West
135th Street, after twice pounding or
the door for admission.
Goodell, his wife, young daughter
maid and Edward Douglass, a soldie,
guest, all had retired, when shortly
after midnight there was a loud knock
at the door. The merchant, suspicious
warned the intruders to depart, and
the band obeyed.
At O'Clock they returned more
persistent than ever. Slipping down
the rear fire escape, Goodell went with
all speed to the West 125th Street sta.
tion, returning with Policemen Hill and
Karl
Posed as Detectives
Meanwhile the burglars had an
nounced they were detectives" ant
demanded the door be opened. Reas
sured, Mrs. Goodell opened il, to be
confronted by three men holding re
volvers. The occupants were herdec
into the front room by one of the rob
bers, while the other two ransackeC
the place. They filled two suitcases
with clothing, seized diamond ring
Mrs. Goodell was wearing and were de.
parting when the merchant and his po
lice reinforcements arrived.
They found a throbbing motor IL
front of the door. At their approach
two of the men fed to the roof anc
escaped A third man, who said he was
Michael Earle, of 1O9 West 10th Street
was caught coming down the stairs
In the automobile was diamond ring
which Mr.. Goodell identified as belong
ing to his wife. Earle was arraignet
in the Washington Heights court on
short affidavit charging suspicion c1
grand larceny. The case was adjourned
until tomorrow to enable Mrs. Goodel
to attempt to identify him.
Haberdasher Is Shot
Louis Levy, proprietor of mems
furnishing store at 1886 Broadway
started for the rear of his shop, Leaving
$199 in bills he had been counting
when smiling customer entered.
second later a man in uniform entered
and both drew revolvers. The pair ap-
peared so pleasant that Levy shouted
for help. Two bullets, one of Which
grazed his scalp, checked him. AS 8
crowd gathered the men leisurely
walked out with $15, saying:
"a man has shot himself in there"
A man in the crowd followed the pair
who thereupon ran. A patrolman fired
shots at them, but they escaped through
an apartment delivery entrance.
After a chase over a roof, down 6
fire escape and over backyard fences
Detective Behan, Of the East 104th
Street station, arrested man describ-
ing himself as Harry Green, a clerk, OF
64 East 105th Street, and charged him
with burglary.
The detective had gone to POI East
1O6th Street in answer to an alarm by
the night watchman. He said that when
he entered Green gave the alarm To two
other men and the three started for the
roof. The other two escaped A largc
safe in the Office of the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company, on the second
floor, was found to have had a hole
drilled in it preparatory to tripping" 1T
Three negroes held up and battered
David Kolvinsky, owner of a cigar store
at 80 West 18th Street. One drew 9
revolver and beat Kolvinsky into IN
sensiblity while the other two took
$40 from him.