The New York herald., 1920-12-29
CONFESSION OF CRIME
Both Served Terms in Leaven-
worth for Army Offences
One Suspected in An
drews Murder Case.


| Jerome B. Chaffee and Harry Bitz-
burger. dishonorably discharged sol
diers, were arrested yesterday after
noon at Broadway and Seventy second
street after fight with detectives in
an automobile in which revolvers and
blackjacks figured. They were ac-
completes in the robbery of the First
National Bank at Midtown, y. j.. on
the night of December 90.
Inspector John d. Coughlin. head Of
night that the two men have made
statements concerning their part in
the crime. Securities valued at $4,000.
being part of the $4,000 loot in the
bank robbery have been recovered by
the police.
Hundreds Of persons we're passing
the st. Andrew Hotel, at the north
west corner of Broadway and Seventy
second street, when three detectives
drew pistols and jumped into tour
ing car that contained two men be-
sides the chauffeur and that stood at
the Broadway curb. At the same tina
two other detectives leaped ipto tas'-
cab that stood just around me cor..S.
in front of the hotel entrance.
| Battle I'm the Car.
Two women who occupied the latter
machine screamed, attracting the at
tention of persons in the street The
touring car In Broadway swayed as
the passengers in it gave blow for
blow in a rough and tumble fight with
the police. The flourish of pistols was
seen and then there was a series OF
| thuds as the blackjacks OF the detec-
tives descended on the heads Of the
men in the machine. The chauffeur
OF the automobile sat as though spell
bound.
The touring car and the taxi, with
detectiv. standing on the running board
Of each. then started down Broadway
turned into West Sixty-eighth street
and stopped in front of the station house
Three men and two women. the latter
fashlonably dressed. were marched into
the station. Two Of the men bore marks
Of the beating they had suffered IN the
fight with the detectives. Bltzburge.
the larger of the two, held his hand over
his right eye. which was closed com
pletely, and his mouth was bleeding IN
three places.
Soon after the five persons were
placed in patrol wagon along with two
suit cases the women had been carrying
and they were taken to Police Head
quarters. There the story Of who thev
were and the reason for the display o.
olackJacks and firearms at Broadway
and Seventy-second street was made
known. The third man was Chester J
Levine. who owns a taxicab and has
been doing hacking along Broadway
The women, both OF whom are youns
and attractive, were the wives OF Chat
Zee and Bltzburger. In the suitcases the
detectives found two fully loaded weap-
ons, one an automatic and the other a
3S revolver. There also was a quantity
OF Canadian money
Detectives Joseph Allies. Manning. Ne
ringo. Lawless and Kiernan explained
that the two couples we're about 70 leave
the city when arrested. Bitzourger had
been living at 23s West seventy-third
street. just west Of Broadway, and he
and Chaffee. so the latter told Inspector
Coughlin, had agreed New York was
getting too hot for them. They had
decided TO 20 TO New Orleans. they told
the detectives. but Plttsburg later was
indicated as their destination, according
to what they told Inspector Coughlin.
Planned TO Leave City.
The detectives and Pinkerton man
mad been watching the Seyenty-third
street house for several days IL was
not until noon yesterday. however. thai
their efforts were rewarded. At that
hour taxicab drew up 10 the door With
Chaffee and the two women. who en-
tered the house and reappeared a few
minutes later carrying two heavy sui.
cases. The women with the suitcases
got back into the machine. Chaffee gave
certain orders TO the chauffeur and the
machine started off toward Broadwav.
Chaffee walking after Il.
AZ Sevonty-second street the taxlcab
turned west and stopped IN front OF the
So. Andrew Hotel. Chaffee had n few
more words with the women and then
hurried into a cigar store at the corner.
Detective Allies followed and when Chef
fee entered one telephone booth Allies er.
tered the adjoining one. The conversa-
ton that followed. the detective said.
had 20 do with the borrowing Of 800
II was the detectives belief that Chaffes
was talking 70 Devine.
Soon after Chaffeo left the store a
touring car drew up at the Broadway
curb. almost in front OF branch OF ,he
New York Telephone Company. A sig
nal passed between Chaffee and the mas
In the rear seat. who later proved TO b.
Bitzburger. Chaffee then had a brief
conversation with tho women efter
which he walked back to the machine
In Broadway. 10 was at this point that
the five detectives jumped into the two
machines.
Detective Allies and kiernan entered
the taxi in which the women were AZ
ting. The women became indtgnals- DE-