New-York tribune., 1921-01-04
u. S. Dry Agent
Admits KILLING
Monk Eastman
]. ". Bohan Surrenders. Say
ing He Shot Cangsser in
Sclf.Defersc After Quar-
rel Over Tips to Waiter
Escaped i'm a Taxicab
Asserts Victim Threatened
Him; Tells Of Drinking
Party Preceding Shooting

Jeremiah W. Bohan, an internal reve-
Charles J. O'Connor, Prohibition Direc-
tor Of New York, admitted yesterday
t. It he killed "Monk" Eastman, former
-ngster and alleged whisky runner, at
Fourth Avenue and Fourteenth Street,
the morning of December rs.
In formal statement made TO As
sistant District Attorney John Il. Hen
mis- few hours after he had walked
into Clymer Street police station, in
Brooklyn, and surrendered himself to
Captain Daniel Carey, Bohan declare j
he had shot in the belief that Eastman
was reaching for revolver with which
to kill him. The confessed slayer said
the former gang leader had previously
drawn gun and threntcned his life
during d row in e cafe in Brooklyn.
Bohan denied that he had been in
hiding since the murder and declared
that he had attended to his business as
an internal revenue inspector regularly
until last Saturday.
Dr. Carleton 4. Simon. special Depu-
ty Police Commissioner in charge Of
the narcotic squad, said it had been es-
tahlished to his satisfaction that East
man. for some weeks prior to his death,
nad engaged not only in whisky run
ming. but had been used by higher ups
in the drug traffic TO dispose Of mar
cotics among addicts.
Booked OH Homicide Charge
In m~ling public Bohan's statement
yesterday, Hennis SAID the slayer had
not been questioned concerning his pos
sihle connection with the dead ea7gster r
IN whisky transactions. The statement,
he said, was formal, submitted volun-
tarily, and &n7 cross-exam1nation,, un-
der tie circumstances, would not have
been proper He intimated that Bohan
would he questioned further IN the
near future, after other members Of
the party which dincd in the Blue Bird
Cats on Fourteenth Street. ncsr Fourth
Avenue, just prior to the shooting, had
been questioned 20 substan tiate mate
rial points in the statement.
Sohan was booked on homicide
charge at The Mercer Street static :
last night, and will be arraigned in the
Jefferson Market court this morning.
Peter Kowalewski, known as Joe the
K HOlaCh, SuLEGuucIeu iAiHoSIl Wltil VIC
confessed slayer and was held as a
material witness in bail of $4,000 by
Judge Eosalsky. He was me.nbor of
the Eastman Bohan party that pre-
cedod the killing, and is the fifth to be
taken into CUSTODY One other member
is still being sought.
Acquitted Once on Murder Charge
r,astmans slayer, according to his
otot 70 dpV y a
years ago for the murder of Josepn
Falkner, known as "Joe the Bear" who
was killed IN the Palace Cafe, in Brook
lyn. He WIS acquitted. he told Mr..
Hennis. Bohan admitted having been
arrested several times since on charges
ranging from disturbance Of the peace
to picking pockets, but declared he
never had been convicted.
Bohan, who is thirty seven years old,
lives with his wife and family at i76
South Third Street, near the home Of
not set forth, however. that he had
ever been member OF tho Eastman
gang. though he said the two had been
friends for some time.
Substantially. Bohans statement, as
made public, is that he ard the stain
man had an alteration in the Spatz
Cafe, Havemeycr and South Fifth
streets, Brooklyn, eight months ago, to
which most Of the members OF the
Chri istmas night party we're witnesses.
On that occasion Eastman vilifed him
and, drawing q revolver, said ~ an
going to kill you" Bohan told him
10 go ahead and shoot but Eastman
put his gun in his pocekt saying "Ili
t Kill ou now, but I'll get you some
time when there is a better onpcr-
tunity"
Had Drinks in Brooklyn Cafe
Subsequently, Bohan told Mr. Hennis,
Eastman made an apology for his Ian
gaage and threats, saying he had been
drunk at the time. The two became
friendly again and had 40 more word :
until short while before the killing.
Or Christmas night, Bohnn said, he
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