The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-04
One KILLED IN GANG
FIGHTS, FOUR HURT
Saturday Night Orgies Are
Followed by Many Shoot
ings and Standings.
THREE COPS ARE INJURED
Man Is Shot to Death in Feud
Over Girl He Had
Just Married.

Knife and pistol operations of gang
sters early yesterday resulted in the
death of one man and the wounding of
four Others one of whom may die. The
orgy of gang warfare started soon
after the Saturday night ''rackets"
broke up in various parts of the city,
and in three instances the objects of
attack were policemen. all of whom suf-
fered injuries which necessitated their
taking sick leave. Five arrests were
made In the outbreak and two OF the
prisoners were held in court
Policeman Gallagher of the Beach
street sta ton found the body of Thomas
McCrohan, IS, a stevedore of II Pike
street, lying near fence at the corner
of West Broadway and Park place.
McCrohan had been shot through the
head trail of blood stains leading
to the curb indicated the body had been
carried there in some sort of vehicle.
The police later found a loaded pistol
in the dead mans pocket.
Soon after McCrohan's body was
found the police were notified that
Joseph Burns, 23 years old, of 1865
Fulton street, Brooklyn, had been taken
to the Broad Street Hospital by two
men in a newspaper delivery wagon.
Burns had been shot through the groin
and was placed Immediately on the
operating table. An Xray examination
showed little hope for his recovery.
Victim n Recent bridegroom.
Although informed by Capt. Carey,
head of the homicide squad, that he
probably would die Burns, who admitted
no hod haan ont drinxipo with McCro-
han. said he knew nothing about the
shooting other than it occurred at North
William and Chambers streets. What
precipitated the shooting he would NOT
say, and when asked to describe his
assailants he said: II wouldn't tell
you If knew"
John J. Gallagher of 1921 Fulton
street, Brooklyn. who said he was
brother-in-law of Burns, called at the
hospital and said Burns had been best
man at the wedding three weeks ago of
McCrohan. Gallagher said that one of
Mrs. Merchants former sweethearts,
who is now supposed to be serving a
term in prison. had made threats against
McCrohan
Detective Joseph J. O'Leary OF the
East Fifty-first street station was walk
ing east in Forty-seventh street near
Second avenue when he heard some body
say. Look out. there goes O'Leary."
Turning, the detective saw two men
standing in q doorway. AS he started
toward them one opened fire. OLeary
lodged and one of the men fled down
the street the other running into the
hallway The detective fired two shots
after the fleeing man and then ran into
the hallway.
Dodges Attack From Roof.
There a tussle ensued in which the
detective was being worsted until he
broucht his blackjack Into play fcrling
the man, who from papers in his pockets
is believed 10 be Nudge McCabe. presi-
dent of the Lets Go Club" a social
organization of the upper East Side
Policeman Patrick Gilshirar Of Tho
West Forty-seventh street station was
tele- honing for a patroI wagon from
police signal box al Tenth avenue and
Forty-fifth street when he was felled by
gangstcrs. The policeman had just ar
rested 2 man suspected or robbery. Ser
eennt Handwig who had been talking to
Gnshinan on the telephore sent two men
to the signal station. who found the po-
liceman lying or the ground unconscious
the third rolice victim of the gang
STEERS was John F. Rein of the Beach
street station. who lives at 1913. Yves.
/ Sixty-third street. Rein was entering
! the vestibule Of his home when he says
several men set uroa him, lsroclted him
10 the ground and began kicking him
The policeman fired several shots which
scattered the group. two of the men fall
Ing to the ground. Policeman DOYLE of
the West Sixty-eighth street station
summoned an ambulance from Bellevue
Hospital. TO which the wounded men
Thomas Waters of 12S West Sixty-third
street. the house in which Rein lives. and
Arthur Branigan of 14S West Sixty
seventh street. were removed.
Charles Dunton, 20 years old n chauf-
feur. of los West 127th street. was
he'd in $500 bail by Magistrate Cor
rigan in Washington Heights Court to
await the outcome Of tho injuries Of
Horny Berger of 1850 avenue A.
natient in Harle,p hospital. suffering
from several stab wounds in the head
and body. Berger. according TO tn.
notice. was passenger in the taxicab
owned by punton.