New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-07
Say Policeman
Killed Man and
Concealed Fact
Sergeant Says John Wis
sci Admitted He Shot
Charles Tucker, Then
Accused His Companions
Made Homicide Charges
Expected to Surrender to
the District Attorney.
but Fails TO Appear

Inquiries we're begun yesterday into
reported admission by Patrolman
John Wissel, of the West Forty
seventh Street police station. that he
shot and killed Charles Tucker Mon
day night i'll an automobile in which
he and four friends were riding on
Eleventh Avenue. near Forty sixth
Street The policeman later took two
of fuckers companions to the police
station and charged them with homi-
eide and violation of the Sullivan law.
1t was reported yesterday that Wissel
had admitted to his sergeant at the
Vest Forty-seventh Street station that
he had shot Tucker
Two Investigations are under way.
Inspector Boettler, Of the 4th Inspec-
ton District, is conducting one and
Assistant District Attorney John R.
Hennis the other. SO far no charges
have been made against Wissel, who
has not been suspended from the
Police Department or arrested
Says 1t Was an Accident
Tucker was shot after somebody in
the automobile had fired revolver into
the air. Wissel, standing on nearby
corner, ran into the street and ordered
the car to halt. According to the story
which the patrolman told yesterday at
the precinct, he entered the car. with
his own revolver drawn, and Tucker
was accidentally shot while the patrol
man was searching Cornelius Egan and
Charles Gleason, his companions, from
whom two revOlvers were TAKEN
Tucker died almost instantly. Wis
sci charged Egan and Gleason with
homicide and violation of the Sullivan
law and John Cacadona and Frank
Rucichiano with having stolen the car
in which the five men we're riding.
Assistant District Attorney Hennis
began his inquiry on Monday evening.
and "lssel was with him fer the great
er part of the night. During that time.
Hennis said Yesterday. " isseI said
nothing to him which would indicate
that the patrolman did the shooting.
Belated Admission Made
Yesterday morning Wisscl told the
offlcer IN charge at the Forty seventh
street Station that he had fired the
shot which killed Tucker. He then
'e1t the station. Officers of the IRE
clnct refused to discuss Wissel's con-
lesson with reporters who informed
Inspector Boettler Of the story
''Hit liz rIlcW UCtnl0G about
IT, and went at once to the station
where he learned for the first time of
lssel's admission. This in spite Of
tho Tact the inspector had been at the
Forty seventh street precinct earlier IN
the day.
IF the cops are trying to hide any
thlng'' Hcnnis said, 81 want it unde--
stood that am not a party to it,"
Reloads His Revolver
Wlssel's revolver, the Assistant Dis
trIct Attorney said was fully loaded
when he examined it after the shoot
ing. Wlssel had admitted, he added
that he had reloaded the chamber
emptied by the shooting of Tucker.
Wlsscl is World War veteran. He
was appointed to the Police Depart
ment in 1917, and between May, 1918.
and June, 1919, he served overseas
where he was attached to the 31Sth
Machine Gun Battalion. He is sim
gle and lives at ass West Thirty-ffth
Street.
The four men arrested by Wissel
we're arraicned yesterday in the West
Side Court and held in 81 900 bail each
on charges of grand larceny and vio
lat!ng the Sullivan law