New-York tribune., 1920-12-25
Police Shut Central Paris at Midnight;
X. L. Ireland Fights Burglar in Hotel

d. Central Park was closed at midnight
last night to pedestrians and vehicles
by order of Police Commissioner En-
edght "for the protection of the puD-
BIC" The park will remain barred to
ssrollers and motorists from midnight
10 o'clock in the morning until the
crime wave abates. The transvers.
roads, which, says the commissioned,
will be 'well policed,' are to remain
open to traffic.
Central Park Mr.. Enright said, has
been q favorte stamping ground for
Ao,d-up men, not to mention an odd
murderer or so. Close study of the
police statistics also led him to the
conclusion that park desperadocs
Showed a partially for the hours be-
tween midnight and daylight.
The following order was issued:
ITO members of the department, par
ticularly to the police in the Arsenal
station, the SD Precinct:
"For the protection of the public the
Commissioner Of Parks, Francis D.
Gallatin, and Police Commissioner En-
right have directed that Central Park
,oe closed for pedestrians and vehicular
traffic from IL midnight to a. m until
--further orders.
~- "The transverse roads will be open
fer traffic and we'll policed."
Park Pedestrians Warned
Beginning at II o'clock last night, pa
frn1p,on of ha ArcapoJ c+ot;r, 1uorro 4
~ail persons they met on their rounds
THAT they must shake the dust of Cen
ftTal Park from their boots within the
hour.
- Any one found in the park after mid
night. it was announced, would be COM
PEELED to leave, and if he could not
satisfactorily account f>r himself would
.1ye taken to the station house.
Despite the increased activity Of
.she police more crimes were reported
in the city yesterday.
Struggle With Robber
Jose Dantes, twenty-eight years old
Il Portuguese, was stabbed to death
following a quarrel in a boarding
house at 325 Spring street.
Detectives Rocco and Cabone, of the
Twelfth Street station with Patroman
shooters car searching for possible
holdups, were notified Of the crime
ard arrested Emanuel Mello, twenty
seven years old, of 1923 Spring Street
who was found hiding in a cellar al
S2s Greenwich Street. The officers
searched the cellar twenty minutes be-
fore finding Mello, who carried g knife
I ,Fhcn arrested
The police say the stabbing followed
an alteration between John Pinto
thirty years old, O. 1925 Spring Street
and Jose CerQues, of 511 Greenwich
Street. 1t is claimed Dantes took VI
! she quarrel in behalf of Cerques, anc
y Mello went to the aid of Pinto, finall,
! drawing knife and stabbing Dante
just above the heart. Dantes was dea
when an ambulance arrived. Pinto an
cerques were held as material wit
nesses, and a charge of homicide wa
placed against Mello
Gordon OF police, which wa
thrown about the Murray Hill Hote
: carly yesterday morning, following q
emergency call from the managers O
The hotel, tried to close in Upon
ho.d-up man who had engaged in
desperate hand-to-hand tussle wit
Robert L. Ireland, guest and VIII
vas reported to be hiding somewhel
in the hotel. After thorough
searching the hotel from cellar to roo
throughout the afternoon and examil
ing guests and employees, the polio
last night had possession of ches
green cap bearing an out-of town Ia
makers trade mark and said to ha'
. been worn by the intruder. It's ownt
apparently had escaped
- Mr.. Ireland, who is form,
partner of the late Mark Ham
= suite on the fourth aoor p Of Of Il
hotel shortly before 8 O'Clock ye
rerday morning. His wife had insiste
that she had heard some one movin
about in another room Of their suit
Mr.. Ireland took water pistol fro
the bureau and sauntered into the Ii,
Ing room to give battle. At a desk
the living room he saw a man pryir
open Mrs. Ireland's Jewel case wit
screwdriver.
Chair Used as Weapon
Nr. Ireland leveled the gun and 0
dcred the intruder TO put up his hand
The man hestated and tie two ey,
each other closely. Mr.. Ireland sa
that the burglar was short, stocky al
swarthy, with a deep scar across h
cheek. While Mr.. Ireland was takir
IN these details the intruder caugl
up light chair and struck him in tt
pit OF the stomach The impact cause
Mr. Ireland to drop his pistol
The burglar pressed the advantat
which ne had gained. He was ju
about to bring the chair down uoo
SIR. Ireland's head when the latt,
managed to grasp one rung and
struggle began which lasted until II
chair was in pieces.
Mr.. Ireland still retained possessio
of the rung, though it was no long,
attached to the chair. II now possesst
d jagged, broken edge and made
weapon. He struck the man with
repeatedly until he had beaten his wa
., the place where his water pistol la
Picking it up, he leveied il threator
'ngiy at the burglar and backed for tt
telephone
/ AT this point Mrs. ireland ran inl
the sitting room screaming Tf
burglar backed to the door and OF
into the hall, dragging the woYna
backward after him. At the head Z
the back stairway he released Mrs Ir,
land and fed downstairs. pursued b
: Ir. Ireland, who lost tracy Of him ;
The second floor
Ar. Ireland then reported the aHa
ron<uft s~Jeet diterse.y ~ Esespe
Eafry fff youF ssaosF, spSt.f'r5F fa3l1
ne WAnt ~. ssisfDrs ~ 7 oe rrsADnes