Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-18
BROADWAY CROWDS
GET REAL THRILL
Watch Armed Bandits Rob Jew
elry Stores and Make Their
Getaway-O One Spectator Is
Shot

New York. March 12-While Broad
way tonight was crowded with theatre
goers. three armed bandits smashed in
the window Of a jewelry store at 37th
street. kept the crowds at bay with their
revolvers until they had emptied the
contents of several trays into their
pockets and then escaped, shooting one
pedestrian who attempted to stop them.
A few minutes later three men en-
tered another Broadway jewelry store,
a few blocks up town and after throw
Ing pepper in a clerks eyes, grabbed
some trays of jewelry and ran from the
store. Two men. alleged to be members
of the trio. were arrested by the
police after n chase.
Both robberies, committed in the heart
OF the white light district. were wit
messed by thousands of persons. Broad
way was thrown into the greatest ex-
element as police reserves arrive on
the double quick and, working on the
theory that the robberies were COM
mitted by Two different bands, raced
up and down side streets and secured
the subway for the four missing
bandits.
In addition to the pedestrian who
was shot, but not seriously injured.
one other member OF the crowd sue
in getting his fingers on a flu
gitive. He was rewarded by n crack on
the wrist from a revolver butt which
caused his arm to fall helplesslv TO his
side.
Proprietors of the two stores estim-
ated that thousands Of dollars worth
OF jewelry had been stolen.
The first robbery, in which Schwartz
brothers were the victims was engin-
$500 -GAA H. VyAGy.
rubbing elbows with passing Lades-
TRANS. one Of the bandits slipped an
iron bar through the handles Of the
door. so hat It could not be opened
from the inside. Then a. brick, wrapped
in cloth, was hurled through the win
dow.
At the Jingle OF falling glass. Frank
Schwartz ran excitedly 20 the door
and tried to pull 1T open as he shouted
for help. The crowd. also attra cted by
the crash, swarmed about the robbers,
two of whom continued cody at their
task Of raking diamonds and ruhies
out of the window, while the third
member Of their party kept spectators
at bay.
Seeing the crowds halt and form in n
semi-circle FOUND the store. Patrolman A.
Weigen came racing to the scene. Just
as he arrived and began to fight his
way through the excited throng. the rob-
hers called 1t a days work packed the
last of the gems into their pockets. parted
company n started each for himself
to carve a way through the human semi
circle.
Then came gun play. Sighting a man
break away from the crowd and dart up
Broadway. Weigen, with drawn revolver,
ave chase.
The crowds took to cover as they heard
the crack Of a revolver, but Weigen had
missed his aim. and the robbcr sped on.
In front Of the fugitive was a subway air
hole. with the cover of and through this
hole the bandit jumped to the subway
tracks 10 feet below. He narrowly missed
being struck by a passing train, for the
roar Of its roeress was heard on the
street above n few seconds after the rob-
Der played his last card and won.
After reserves had assembled in full
force and searched the subway from And
street down and 34th street up, they found
no trace of the daring bandit and were
forced to admit that he had strolled 10
the nearest station, jumped up on the
platform and escaped.
The second robbery occurred in the
store of Marcus Feldman between 45th
and 46th streets. where the theatre throngs
are thickest,