New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-05-02
THREE MEN Shot
IN DAYLIGHT Fight
Two May Die-DetectiVe Is
One Victim

New York, May 2.-Maddened by
a fancied inGult, Girolemo Gesso, an
italian driver, shot and seriously
wounded three men yesterday, one of
them detective sergeant. while be-
ing pursued through the streets in
Washington Heights. y crowd of sew
eral hundred tried to take GeSSo from
the police 9nd he was so TOufrl
handled THAI he was taken to Belle
vue hospital The wounded, who are
in the Knickerboclcr hospital, are:
Eugene T;reen, chauffeur, recently
DISCHARGED from the 27th division,
573 West 120 street; bullet wound
in stomach; may die.
Nicholas O,Rourke, driver Of a coal
wagon 81 Old Broadway; shot in
back of head; may die.
Joseph Walsh, acting detective SER
geant. 238th street and Broadway;
shot in stomach and leg; expected
to recover.
Sergeant John A. Devany of the
West 125th street police station was
badly cut about the head and Shout
Zlers by falling from the running
board of an~ automobile during the
chase. After his hurts had been
dressed II the Knckerbocker hos
DlUal ne wont NOME
Gesso. who lives at PA West 130tll
street, went to ST. West 130th street,
presumably to visit his sister. The pp-
lice said he formerly lived in that
neighborhood and there had bcen
complaint that he had attempted to
force his attentions on women.
In the 130th street house lives Mrs.
Jessie Gaynor, whose nephew, Joseph
rift. was colling on her. Both were
in the hall when Gesso assembled the
stairs. There was an alteration and
Gcsso became abusive. His talk at
tracted attention, and some one told
,Breen. who lives next door.
Breen escorted Mrs. Gaynor and
her nephew to Amsterdam avenue.
where the nephew boarded a street
car. He then took Mrs. Gaynor back
to her home. AS he walked into the
hallway of his own nome Gesso fol-
lowed. Immediately afterward q
shot was hear, and Gesso darted out
and ran toward Broadway.
= y crowd, which rapidly grew in
numbers began pursuit There were
cries of stop, thief" He's killed u
man." and cries for the police. Near
Broadway and 130th street, O'Rourke
was driving his coal cart He got off
his wagon, and as Gesso drew near he
dung his shovel at him. Almost at
the same time Gesso fired. The bullet
struck O'Rourke in the head and he
fell.
~ From a distance, Devany heard the
cutlery. He boarded q passing autOmO-
bile and started for the trouble. He
had almost reached 130th street, when
the car SWerved to cut ahead of an
other vehicle, and the sergeant lost
his balance and fell.
GessO ran north on Broadway, turn
ed east in 133d street, and at Am
sterdam avenue turned south. Walsh
was returning from the Washington
Heights court on an Amsterdam ave-
nue car. When he saw the pursuit he
ordered the motorman to speed up.
AS the car came abreast of Gesso,
Walsh jumped off, ran behind the flu
gitiye and graSped him by the collar.
,Gesso turned and fired twice. both
shots taking effect. Both men fell,
and though wounded, Walsh disarmed
his prisoner.
The crowd set upon Gesso. They
beat him over the head and kicked
MIN. Walsh struggled to his feet,
backed his prisoner into a hallway,
and drove the crowd back with his
revolver. He then led Gesso to the
where he collapsed. Gcsso is charged
with felonious assault and violation Of
the Sullivan law.