The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-17
BANDIT HARKS BACK
TO WHITE LIGHTS"
Brooklyn Bank Robber Recalls
Days Of Splendor in
Broadway.
81 HAVE LIVED" HE SAYS
Even Dined Occasionally at
Delmonico's, Handy Re-
marks in His Cell.

Gordon Faweett Handy" who finds
footing banks IAN exciting game"
whether 1t be as a bandit out West, a
holdup man in Brooklyn or a filibusterer
in Central America, has a keen recollec-
ton of the bright lights OF Broadway.
lilo was lying on his cot in the little cell
al the Raymond street Jail yesterday
afternoon. fully dressed. An afternoon
newspaper was propped up before him.
Cigarette In hand, he languidly scanned
the news. When visitors appeared he
removed his hat. arose and leaned
against the wall OF the cell. ''1Iave a
ciFarette?' he asked courteously.
Il suppose" he said, and his eyes
,vinked, Brooklyn considers 1t q du-
bous honor to have me here. I must
say that personally prefer Manhattan.
Yes I've seen Broadway's lights. And
I'VE dined occasionally at Delmonico's. a
BIT to the East. There may be a waiter
or two there who still remembers me.
And there are other places-Shanley's,
Murray's" He pulled at the cigarette
and looked at the ceiling.
what have you to show for your
lite?"
We'll, have lived" He smiled--he often
snle-"and 1 have known what 1t means
10 live. l guess there are lots of folks
who haven't" He paused for a moment,
and then said slowly: 'If were in a
POSITION to give a word OF advice to a
chap about to start out in life 1 would
emphasize to him the value OF money
something that / never knew"
The value of money, no matter how
It came?"
"No," he answered thoughtfully. 81
wouldn't say that"
Handy, or rather Allen" which he
insists he be called, described in a
casual way, but with precise, accurate
language, his first experience as a bank
bandit
His First Bank Job.
1T is, of course, few years back. II
was in a certain city, won't mention
the name. 1t was really accidental. 1
needed funds badly. Yes, 1t was a bank.
but there was not much to the affair
It was really a shoestring job. We split
about $4,000. Yes, two of u.s. OF course
it was very exciting. and 1t was sue
cessful. l suppose l just drifted from
one thing to another" He said he felt
he didn't have concentration enough to
follow an honest calling. Yet he had
made quite a little money legitimately.
But l really don't care to discuss it."
He smoked some more.
Il never went to church much" ne
laughed, except when ] was young
and was forced to CO." He attended
church services at the Jail Sunday. II
am not of any denomination. Once
dohbled bit in theosophy. I suppose
WIEN the end comes 1t will be the end
OF me. No, am not thinking OF doing
away with myself. l committed suicide
tao other day when I made the state
ment l did to District Attorney Lewis"
Hsmby confessed that he killed Paying
Teller De Witt c. Peal and Assistant
Treasurer Henry w. Coons at the East
Brooklyn Savings Bank in December.
He and pal stole $4,000 at the
time He goes to trial on the charge
Of killing the two men next Monday.
Handy laughed heartily before an
kWering the next question. Radical,
Well, don't my actions indicate II. Yes.
know. You mean politically. Hard
N-but I'm broad minded enough to see
both sides of the question. That is, 1
can also see the workingman's side"
lie said he favored the republican form
o. government as followed in France
above all others. He was in Russia be-
fore the revolution.
His thoughts reverted to the East
Brooklyn Savings Bank holdup and he
eH7ained how 1t came that he shot
and killed the two bank officials. From
h'i standpoint the moment he entered
bank 10 rob IL every person in 1t be-
came potential enemy. AS soon as
mat individual refused to do as he was
commanded he became more than a DO
tental enemy-a menace.
Now those two fellows I killed did
hot hold up their hands when told them
TO- Every order l gave at that bank
was repeated twice-let me see, yes,
t8iee. l admire their loyalty. but the
money was not theirs. and 1t was in
tured"