New-York tribune., 1920-10-11
Hold-Up Gang
Wounds 2, Robs
20 of $4,000
9 Masked Men Break Into
Rutherford Club, Beat
Members to Insensibility,
Stab One, Shoot Another
Fire On Pursuing Police
Telephone Wires Are Cut
Before Attack Is Made;
Escape in Automobile

Nine masked bandits broke into the
rooms of the East Rutherford Social
Club, at 131 Clinton Place, Rutherford
N. j., yesterday, held up twenty men
and, after using their pistols and
knives freely, escaped with $4,000 in
money and jewelry. Before departing
the robbers beat the cluD members into
insensibility with the butts of their
guns, stabbed one in the back and shot
another in the head. Neither of the
latter two is expected t, live.
The hold-up took place about o'clock
yesterday morning when the members
of the club were seated around tables
in a back room of the club house. The
bandits had previously cut all the tele-
phone wires leading into the place.
When the men within refused to re-
spond to their knocking they broke
down the doors. The members, cowed
by the display of revolvers and knives,
were lined up against wall and their
pockets ransacked by several Of the
robbers.
Bandits Jest With Victims
The victims evidently were known to
some of the bandits, who called them
by name as they went through their
pockets and jested with them on vari-
Gus personal affairs. To further cover
up their identity the thieves used a
system of numerals by which they were
designated in the orders of their
leader.
Arthur Raabe, of Carlstadt, one of
the club members, rushed to the tele-
phone to summon help. One of the
bandits made a lunge at Raabe and
stabbed him in the back. 1t is believed
his lung was pierced by the knife. He
probably will die
David Silverstein, Of Rutherford, an
other club member, attempted to go to
the aid of Raabe, but had walked less
than three steps when another of the
gangsters calmly took aim and fired at
him. The bullet after cutting its way
for four inches along the skull, lodged
at the base Of the brain.
Surgeons who operated on Silver
stein marveled at his miraculous es-
cape from instant death, but said he
probably would not recover.
Ten other members of the club then
started after the gunner, but their
lack of weapons made them easy prey
for the thieves. Welding their revolv-
ers freely, they succeeded in knocking
each man unconscious.
Leaving with a threat to come back
anu hlll ffll VI lHSlii IL tuS! luduc d
sound the hold-up men retreated to an
automobile, the engine of which was
kept going at top speed and at the
wheel of which sat a masked chauffeur
AS soon as they sped away, however,
a general alarm was sent out and the
police were informed that the bandit
cap had gone in the direction of Newark
Fire on Police
At about half past o'clock a high
powered machine speeded into Della.
wanna, the police Of which place had
been guarding the roads. They ordered
the driver Of the car to stop. but in
stead he put on more power and other
occupants of the car fred volley at
the officers. Returning the fire, an at
tempt was made to puncture the tires
and thus stop the car. but tie officers
were unsuccessful and the car sped out
of sight, the men still firing.
Less than ten minutes later police
alarm giving the cars description was
flashed to every town in New Jersey
and motorcycle policemen set out to
capture it.
The police have accurate descrip-
tions of the bandits.