New-York tribune., 1919-12-28
Policeman Kills
Gang Suspect in
Street Gun Fight
Battle Follows Shooting in
Syrian Restaurant; Crowd
Sees Rusc Used by Fugi-
tive Result i'm His Death

A spectacular revolver battle, during
which ten shots were exchanged be-
tween Patrolman Joseph J. WINNER,
of the Old Slip station, and Phillip La
Houd, known to the authorities as a
gangster and gunman, ended early yes
terday in the death of the outlaw after
he had received two chances for his
life
The final shooting took place at the
Rector Street station of the B. r. T.
subway and was preceded by an cx-
change Of shots during a chase of
several blocks. La Houd, the police
say, had entered Syrian restaurant
at 95 Washington Street for the pur-
pose of holding up the patrons. A
similar robbery in that place last year
yielded $4,000 in loot to the gang, of
which the victim of yesterdays fight
is said to have been q member. La
Houd fired three shots after he en-
tered the restaurant and seriously
wounded Tuffc Zuzber, thrty-tive
years old, of 50 Washington Street.
Burglar Alarm Calls Policeman
Patrolman WINNER was just COM
pleting his tour of duty when his at
tention was attracted by the ringing
of a burglar alarm at Rector and
Washington streets. He started toward
it, but turned back when the ringing
stopped Then he heard shouts at
Washington and South streets and
several revolver shots He ran toward
that corner and saw La Houd dars
rom the doorway of the restaurant,
which is owned by Abraham Numair
The man carried his revolver in his
hand and turned at Washington and
Morris streets. WINNER followed
When the patrolman turned the cor
him. WINNER returned the fire with
two shots and followed La Houd
through Morris to Greenwich Street,
where the bandit made for the Rector
Street subway station. WINNER was
almost at La Houd's heels, but was
afraid to shoot because of a crowd of
early morning workers leaving the
tube. He called to the man to halt,
and La Houd raised his hands over his
head, crying:
Don't shoot I've got enough
Ruse Used by Fugitive
AS WINNER approached the bandits
hands slowly dropped, but were jerked
aloft again when the patrolma warned
him:
"stick Fem up. Don't try any funny
business
The patrolman approached, then con-
fdent that La Houd would not try to
shoot, but when he was within five
swoopcd down and his revolver was lev
eled at WINNER. Then WINNER fired,
the bullet striking La Houd in the
chest. AS the patrolman leaned over
him La Houd gasped:
"Why did you shoot ?"
Bystanders said there was no CUES
ton that the fugitive would have
shot the patroman had he not fired
first. An ambulance was summoned
from the Broad Street Hospital, and
after Dr. Page had declared the man
dead the body was taken to the Old
Slip station.
Identification of the dead man was
made from papers found in his cloth
ing. The police say he was SO years
old and member Of the Red Hope
gang, one member of which is awaiting
eiectrocution in Sing Sing for the muir
der of d Harlem bartender, slain during
hold-up. Other members also are
SAID to be serving prison terms for
Attack Laid to Duel
Detectives who were assigned to
make an investigation of the Shooting
yesterday said that La Houd, who also
was a Syrian, undoubtedly went to the
restaurant to hold up its patrons He
was well known in the district and only
a year ago fought a revolver duel with
Syrian named Frczzclo, but neither
was injured FrcZZelO was in the rcs
taurant eating yesterday when La Eoud
entered, and IL is believed the three
shots he fired were meant for the
former. Zuzber was struck by stray
bullet
The police of the Old Slip station
are equally positive La Houd planned
hold-up. The robbery last year also
was daylight Job" The men robbed
were almost all commission merchants
and several lost large sums of money.