New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Seven Safes Dynamited
in One Building About
Hour Inspector Boettle
Wrecks Coffee Houses
Heads Are Broken:
Furniture Smashed
Crowbars Wrapped in
Newspaper Used to De-
mOlisI Dozen Places

Jus. about the time burglars were
methodically dynamiting seven safes
in the six-story loft building at 103
Canal Street early yesterday morning,
Inspector William F. Boettler. who
commands the 1st Inspection District,
was leading q score of his plain clothes
men on a raidinr expedition through
the lower East Side.
Restaurant and coEcc houses were
the objcctves Of the police Using
crowbars in newspapers, they wrecked
an even dozen, cracked few heads.
shins and jaws and called it night
No arrests we're made. Proprietors of
the raided places said they assumed
Boettler and his men we're seeking
gambling games. Bocttler could not be
reached last night.
The police were most energetic in the
Astor Place Cafe, II St. Marks Place,
which is conducted by Louis Damaszek
and bis nephew, John. At O'CLOCK, in
the morning this place, with its bare
tables, was crowded with walters re-
freshmg themselves after a hard Sat
nrd6y nights work in East Side dance
halls
4Heie Weie SiAty oI seventy custom
crs in the place, about half OF them in
the back room, where there we're a dozen
card games going. From time to time
Louis Damaszek would stop at a table
to discuss with favored patron the
result of his legal battle with the
police, Magistrate Sweester's recent de-
cision, holding him guilty of disorderly
conduct, having been reversed OIL ap-
peal by Justice Wadhams.
The First Onrush
Then the door WAS banged open and
score Of men rushed into the place.
Inspector Boettler remained at the
front to direct the attack. A couple
Of his men piled three or four cane
seated chairs in the doorway as a bar
ricade. then knocked the lights out Of
the ceiling with their crowbars.
In darkness they proceeded with
their work. Tables we're smashed to
kindling; chairs were broken up; a
telephone was torn from the wall; now
and again cries Of pain and dull
list or crowbar had found Il human
target; in the rear Of the cafe prac-
tically everything was smashed.
Next tho raiders went TO Adier's
Cafe, 264 East Houston Street. This
is just across the street from "I.ittle
Hungary" A policeman, No. 66O47,
has been stationed in Adle1's for many
weeks to see that there are no viola
tons Of the law there. Shortly before
2:15 yesterday morning the policeman
was summoned next door to answer
the telephone. "The captain wanted
to talk to him. When he returned
about tiftee, minutes later he cx-
pressed amazement.
From Peace to Bedlam
When he left dozen men. some OF
them long g-whiskered patriarchs, "play-
ing may be two or three thousand
points pinochle for cups OF Coffee" had
been seated quietly around the marble
topped tables. In the rear Mrs. Ethel
Goldberg, a good short-order cook, was
busy over her range.
When he came back from the tclc-
phone the place was IN darkness cX-
cept for small candle guttering on
the wreck of a table. Seated on the
floor and wailing and swearing we're
half n dozen casualties. Julius Stein,
273 Grand Street, WAS dripping blood
from a wound back Of his ear which
he said had been made b. q blackiac
Mrs. Goldberg tho cook, was moaning
in ono corner She said she had been
struck in the back when she tried to
fec from the raiders. A chair pro
iected through the splintcred glass
front of . tall cigar case on top of a
counter at the rear. Dozens of other
chairs were scattered in the street, and
ono even had crashed through n show
case in front Of the Marcus shoe store
on the opposite side OF the street pro
PEELED. according to the patrons, by
one Of tho plainclothcs men VINO was
responding to Il military comman nd
from Inspector Boettlcr. who, they said
shouted:
"Pick up chairs and let them have
it
Cleared Path Through Crowd
The shouts and screams and tinkle
OF breaking glass attracted large
crowd, even for Houston Street. and
Inspector Boettler's men cleared them
selves path Will, some of Adler :
chairs and proceeded to the next cafe
or coffee house or the programme.
Some of the other places visited
we're:
Oliver e. Purdy's restaurant, in the
| basement of 20 st. Marks Place, which
had pool table in the centre OF the
floor. The furniture in this place was
wrecked and the dishes broken.
Mrs. Lena Steinbers's restaurant. in
| 143 Norfolk Street. This place was
opened for the first time last Tues
day. On Thursday and Friday it was
closed because of the Jewish holidays
and opened again for business Satur-
day. One Of Mrs. Steinberg's custom
ers Saturday night was her business
rival, Louis Rebner, whose restaurant
is in 105 Rivington Street. When the
policemen entered the lights went out
ais it hold-up you make?" inquired
Louis, as he shook from his beard tht
coffee that drcnched it when a police
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