Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-04
Detective Killed |
|. IN GAMBLING RAID
Joseph Mcoinn Shot by Gun
man as Raid interrupts
Hold-up
FIRES IN VAIN AT BANDIT

A detectiye is dead and a gunman may
n. os the result of revolver battle
,hot resulted when detectives raided a
gambling den just as band OF masked
bandits was holding it up.
The dead man is Joseph McGinnS
torty.six years old, 239 Mcntrose
.treet He Is survived by his wife,
mother and three year old son, Andrew.
Tho wounded bandit is Christopher Mo-
rapo. twenty two years old, OF New
York.
Admits Firing Shot.
Norano. according to Detective Bel
.,aw of the murder squad. confessed
tbis morning that he had fired the shot
thot caused McGinn's death. The con
tesson. Belshaw said, was made IN
thc nresence of Superintendent OF 70
lice Mills and Captain Noon.
The revolver fight was staged in the
roar Of a restaurant at S10 Passyunk
avenue yesterday morning. DOC
Cutch. boxing promoter and manager,
uas arrested as the alleged proprietor.
Ten thousand dollars is the stake for
,,bicb the bandits made their play.
This amount Is said to have been dis-
tributcd among tho patrons of the house.
Ten plnmen comprised the band.
McGinn Leads Raid
NIcGinn was the first of police
rsid,nr party to enter the place, fol-
lowiny orders to raid IL by Lieutenant
Graham. of the Second and Christian
streets station. His entrance was
greeted by an order of Hands up!'
Instead of obeying the order and
taking his place alongside the gamblers,
lined along the wall while the bandits
searched them, McGinn drew his re-
yolyer. aimed and pulled the trigger.
The gun missed fire.
The next instant the detective crum-
pled to the floor, a bullet in his brain.
Then the gamblers and gunner started
a mad rush to get out OF the place. all
fighting to reach the rear door into
Webster street.
Morano was the first to reach the
door. As he ran out he collided with
Detective Comdeco, another Of the raid
ing party. Morano and Comdeco grap-
pled. the detective drawing his revolver
and shooting his assailant in the stom.
ach.
Morano Captured
Morano managed to break Comdeco's
hold and the detective allowed him to
escape so he could go to the assistance
Of McC;inn. Marano was caught later
at Eighth and Christian streets by De.
tectvcs Curcio and Capolini. He
capitulated after desperate fight.
Detectives Comdeco, Walker ano
Lieutenant Graham. who with McGinn
constituted the raiding party, made the
ten arrests despite the excitement fol-
lowing the double shooting and the
other shots fired. -
They had to send riot call to the
station house for assistance to help
them, as angered residents Of the neigh
bUrhood began stoning them and their
prisoners when they learned that two
men had been shot.
Gamblers Aid Detectives
Many of the men who had been play
ing craps stayed with the police and
helped them retain their prisoners.
During the melee the gunner were
severely beaten. Salvatore Battaglia,
twenty eight years old, New York. said
to be gunman, had his arm broken.
McGinn, Morano and Battaglia were
taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital.
The latter's injuries were dressed and
be was sent to the station house. Me-
finn died last night. His wife was at
his bedside having kept a constant vigil
from the time she was notified. Mo-
ramos injuries are very serious,
McGinn and Murano were placed near
each other in the hospital in the hope
that McGinn might regain conscious
ness long enough to identify Murano as
the man who shot him, but this proved
In vain.
The house at S16 Passyunk ave-
nue. Is known to Philadelphia gamblers
rs the White House." and has been
raided several times, the police said.
The police believe it was reopcned
week ago. 1t has rear entrance from
webster street through dark, L.
shaped alleyway. Through this, ac-
,ording to neighbors, the gamblers were
carefully admitted each night.
All From New York
The alleged bandits who are being
neld on charges of murder and robbery
are Murano, Louis Colo. Battaglia
Ind Salvatore Spanelli, all of whom
ave New York addresses. They said
hey came to Philadelphia "a few nights
lso. Michael Falcone, alias Micky
5rltt' a local pugilist, also is held ON
'uspcion. They were held without
,ail. 'o''
Two other prisoners, John Scopel-
ette e and Burke Curcio, also known as
DOC Clutch, were held in $500 bail
rHharged with keeping a gambling house.
tnsee ,,a E other defendants, Eddie Levine,
rH n" oouth Fourth street, and Louis
nohpsoh and Eddie Anon, both of