Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-20
NAB FIVE ROBBERS
AFTER GUN BATTLE
Patrolman Routs Men in Motor
car, Surprised Breaking
Into Liquor Store
FLEE IN RAIN OF BULLETS

Five motor bandits, interrupted as
they were attempting n robbery at Third
and Poplar streets at 2 80 o'clock this
morning. escaped after exchanging
more than twenty shots with patrol
man. but were captured less than half
an hour later on Callowhill street, near
Fourth
A revolver fight between two Of the
alleged robbers and Patrolman James
Gotschall. Of the Third street and Fair.
mount avenue station, lasted several
minutes.
The patrolman finally drove the rob-
bers into their automobile. and in n
running fight the men escaped west on
Poplar street and south on Fifth.
Patroman Gotschall approached the
corner of Third and Poplar streets
from the north side. He saw man
standing as though IN guard. Mt the
northwest corner and another at the
southwest corner.
Cutting Locks from Door
Two men were seen cutting locks from
! the door leading to the basement of
Jacob Weisberg'S wholesale liquor house,
at $50 North Third street, and fifth
man was at the wheel of touring
car. the engine of which was running
Gotschall ran into the middle OF the
street, drew his revolver and ordered the
men to surrender.
He was answered by four shots from
the two men standing guard. The pa
trolman returned the fire. and as he
tried to approach the men, they fired
three more shots.
Gotschall lodged behind tree. re-
filled his revolver. and again opened tire
al 4 m
hot for them. They rejoined the two
men who were trying to force an en-
trance TO the basement of the liquor
house, and the four sprang into the
waiting automobile.
The car swerved into Poplar street
and was driven west at high speed.
As the car sped away, Gotschall ran
after it and fired five more shots. The
occupants of the car continued firing
at him until the machine shot around
the corner and disappeared down Fifth
street.
Others Came TO Rescue
Two patrolmen from the Front and
Master streets station and a patrolman
of the Tenth and ButtOnwood streets
station heard the shots. aud camc to
Gotschall's aid, jIst as the men drove
out of sight.
lOtSchall nOtlncu lno Inlru street
and Fairmount avenue station, and the
Tenth and Buttonwood and Eleventh
and Winter streets stations were also
notified. Details were sent out from
all three stations to search for the
robbers.
At 10 o'clock Sergeant COnlin and
patrolman Bender, Wilkinson, Scott,
Lowry and Kessell. of the Third street
and Fairmount avenue station, saw a
touring car on Callowhill street be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets.
Two men had just left the automo-
bile and were walking toward Fifth
street. The patrolmen deployed and
surrounded all five men, who were
taken to the Third street and Fair
mount station.
The men arrested werc Joseph Brat
toff 2413 South Fifteenth street; Jacob
Miller. 2135 South Sixth street; Harry
Fishman, 2323 Germantown avenue !;
Lewis London. BIT North Eighth street,
md Louis Berctsky, I2lS Woodland
Held in S25OO Bail
Vhov were arraigncd before Mags-
trotc BOYLE and held in $500 bail for
n further hearing on next Tuesday
morning. Police claim that several of
tho proup have records. Charges made
against the mon are fOrciblr entry and
| larceny.
Adolph Miller, night watchman,
cmnloyed in a plant near the shooting,
saw the battle between the police and
the suspects. He raised "A window and
ono ono Of the five men under arrest fired
n shot at him, the bullet striking near
thc window frame.
patrolmcn FotsChall and Wilkinson
told at the hearing how they had
watched the suspects and the car in
which they were riding, and OF the in,
cidents preceding the time they placed
tho men under arrest. They had watched
the group for some time, and had seen
two men whom they identified at the
hearing as London and Berctsky try
inc the doors< and windows Of several
different establishments.
There were three barrels Of whisky,
valued at $4,000, in the basement of
Wcisberg's establishment Weisberg
was asleep on the third floor over the
| store.