New-York tribune., 1919-03-15
Bronx HOld-Up
By 6 Claiming
To Be Soldiers
Robbers Visit Drug Store,
i'll Taxi, Take $500 From
Till and From Customers

Six young men who said they were
returned soldiers who couldn't get jobs
Solomon Greenberg's drug store, at
Wales Avenue and 152d Street, The
Bronx, last night
! For implements they used six large
and businesslike revolvers. The 'job"
took only five minutes, and when they
retired and leaped into the taxcab
that waited at the door they had been
rewarded by their efforts with $500 in
cash from the till, 500 in postage
stamps and 500 in savings stamps from
the same source, and about 500 more
in cash and jewelry taken from the
customers in the store.
In the store at the time the men
made their entry were, besides Green
berg, DR.. S. NJ. Dernell, of 672 linton
Avenue; Richard Hirsch, of 686 Tin
ton Avenue and William Rosenfeld of
800 East 152d Street
Six Men File In
Hirsch was in the telephone booth
and the other customers were chatting
with Greenberg when the taxi drove
up to the door. A second later the
six men filed into the room.
They were all young and stalwart
| Each man wore a long raincoat and
cap. Up against the counter they lined
and with one accord each produced a
revolver which he levelled at the vic
tim nearest him, while in chorus the
intruders demanded Hands up"
Greenberg, Dernell and Rosenfeld
complied hastily. SO did Hirsch when
dragged from the telephone booth.
Then the man who was apparently the
leader of the hold-up men said:
ere sorry to do this, but we're
returned soldiers and can't get work.
We gotta get money somewhere
Searched Victims Pockets
Thereupon they proceeded to get it,.
While one man plundered the cash
register, the others searched the hap
less druggist and his customers, all
of whom stood with hands raised high
toward heaven-all of them, that is,
except Rosenfeld, who lowered his suf :
fciently to slip a valuable sapphire
ring he was wearing under the collar
of his coat.
DR.. Dernell's pockets yielded $35;
Hirsch gave up a handsome gold
watch and S22O in cash. The bandits
also. opened a bag which he was carry
ing and closed iNhastily when a mon
key peered up at them. Hirsch cx-
planned that he was an actor and used
the animal in his act, and they let
him keep it,
Rosenfeld's wallet was in his hip
pocket, and the robbers in their hasty
search missed it. They took some small
change from him and also from Green
berg.
Then they backed away toward the
door, rcvolvers still levelled, and ran
for the cab, which still stood by the
curb, the engine throbbing. The gears
grounded and they sped away. The
police are searching for them, so far
without success.
Shot BY Hold-Up Men
Early yesterday morning two high
waymen attempted to hold up and rob
Charles Brthall, forty-four years old,
Ct $50 Fifty-third Street, Brooklyn,
when he was less than 100 feet from
his home Birthall is big man and
for several minutes he battered his
assailants in good fashion. Then one
Of them drew a revolver and shot
Birthall twice.
At the Holy Family Hospital, where
Birthall was taken. it was said he
would recover. The hold-up men
escaped. They took nothing away with
them, however, but their bruises.
Patrolman William Mulry, in cit-
zen clothes, was on his way from the
West 152d Street police station to the
subway when man attempted to beat
him down with blackjack. The Off
Ger warded Off the blow and then hung
on TO his assalant until three Off
GERS on duty came along and made
the arrest The prisoner gave his
name as Harry Goetz, OF 1886 West
Sixty second Street.
Three Men Arrested
Three men, identifying themselve =
as Patrick J. Cronan, thirty-scwn. Of
200 West Eighth Street: John
Kelly, forty-two, of 34l West Forty
. fifth Street, and James Gardner. thir-
tyfour, Of 600 West 138th Street. wero
! locked up by the police in the West
l35th Street Station on charges of
: grand larceny, The police assert they
; found the men fraudulcntly soliciting
advc rtiaements and obtaining checks
for programme for the New York
, Police Benevolent Society"
In the Essex Market Court Magis.
! tratc George W. Simpson held Charles
Leroy Street, in $500 bail on a charp,
OF highway robbery Losi Is said te
have knocked down Herbert Brody. q
!, tn .rteen- year~old gthoolboy, Of ga
! Seventh Street, who had been Gent from
Public School % by his teacher with h
tcn-doilar bill TO get change will
which TO purchase thrift stamps, and