New-York tribune., 1921-02-19
Davis Denies He
Shot Detective
Without Cause
WI Manufacturer Held for
killing Bridgetts Flatlv
Refuses, s'on Advice of
Counsel" to Give Motive
Cleared of Auto Theft
Mix-Up in Numbers Of Cars
Revealed; Two Wounded
Mem Unable to Testify

While the motive that led Charles
T. Davis, rich Brooklyn manufacturer
to shoot and kill Detective Sergeant
Joseph Bridget Thursday afternoon
remained deep mystery last night
Davis was exonerated of the suspicion
Of having defrauded nm automobile in
surance company Of $1,000, Bridget
went to Davis's office Thursday to
question him about the automobile
transaction.
Whether he slew the policeman in q
flare of rage because Bridget walked
into his private office after Davis had
refused to see hia, or resorted to vio-
lence in sudden paroxysm of indig-
nant fear that he was to be arrested
on charge of which he was innocent;
whether the manufacturer temporarily
lost his reason or fired at the detective
in self-defense were questions the au-
thorities were not yet ready to answer.
Davis refused flatly to discuss the
shooting further than to hint that rev.
elations yet to be made will clear him
Of willful murder.
Two Victims Operated On
"They will find before they are
through that I am not as black as I've
been painted" was all he would say.
Davis's counsel, former County
Judge Howard p Nash, declared after
two-hour consultation. with his client
in his cell at the Raymond Street Jail
that he still knew nothing of what had
transpired between Davis and Bridgetts
during the short period they were alone
in the manufacturers office.
Detective Edward j. McGlone and
George w. Horan, on insurance ad-
luster, who accompanied Bridgetts to
Davis's Office. and each of whom was
shot in the foot whe. they responded
to Bridgetts's cry for help, were both
operated on at Brooklyn Hospital yes
terday and were unable to supplem ent
their original statements of what they
knew and saw.
Captain John McCloskey, command
ing the Brooklyn detectives. explained
how misunderstanding due to Da-
vis's' Observation-Disclosures, had caused
Bridgetts to suspect him of having de-
frauded the insurance company.
"A sedan, belonging to Davis" said
Captain McCloskey, "was stolen De-
cember 16, 1919. It's engine number
was 3,511 ,008. Davis recovered insur-
ance on this car, and on January ID,
1920, bought another sedan with the
ei.gine number 3,6o7,293. Su5seouent-
ly Davis traded in this car in purchas-
ing larger one, but at the time he
gave the engine number of the stolen
car by mistake and it was never
| checked up.
Meanwhile the police came across
the traded-in machine, which had been
purchased for his own use by Charles
Ges, an employee OF an autom obie
agency, and learned it had been pur-
chased from Davis. The engine num-
Der coincided with that Of the stolen
| car. Detective Sergeant Bridgetts con-
| cluded crime had been committed. :"
Went to Interview Davis
1t was to interview Davis about The
automobile transaction and to see if
Horan could identify him as the man
to whom the insurance money was paid
that McClone and Horan say they
accompanied Bridgetts to the manu-
facturer's office.
Bridgetts first talked to Davis about
| the matter last Tuesday, it is said.
The police point out that if Davis had
eXonerated himself Of suspicion then.
the tragedy two days later would have
been avoided. Thursday night Davis
told Mr.. Caldwell that he diQn't under
stand what Bridgetts was. talking
| about Tuesday.
Gels, who bought the car Davis
Wednesday and asked to bring the ma
chine to Brooklyn Thursday. so that
Che, engine number might be verified
and that Gels might look ut Davis
tor the purpose of Identification.
( 1t Is surmised that Bridgetts in
tended, in the event that Horan and
Gels identified Davis and the car turned
out TO be the one upon which the in
surance had been paid, to place Davis
under arrest on Horan's complaint.
4his IL horne out by an incident in
morning, where Bridgetts appeared
against an alien charged with burglary
who was acquitted. but who Judge
iartin suggested should be taken tn
Manhattan by Bridgetts and turned
over to the immigration authorities =
Tor possible deportation
1 Wlsh you would relieve me of that
task'' said Bridgetts to the Judge. ~
nave an investigation to complete this
AFTERNOON that will rattle the walls"
Office Boy Gives Story
Early Thursday AFTERNOON Gels tele.
phoned to Bridgetts that his. wife was
using the car and asked if it would
60 Tor him to go TO Brooklyn the fol-
lowing day. Bridgetts consented to
the delay, Gels made a statement TO
M: Caldwell yesterday, relating these
Incidents. 'i'''e
Geis's inability to keep his appoint
ment with Bridgetts Thursday did not
aeter the detective sergeant from call
ing on Davis with McGlone and Koran
according to statement made to M
Caldwell by the office boy who guarded
the entrance to Davis's private office on
the fifth, floor of 217 Dufield Street
this is what happened:
The two police officers and the ad-
Juster asked to see Mr.. Davis.
Tell them don't want to see then, D
Davis told the boy. "I'm too busy"
The lad delivered this message tn
Brldgetts, who replied.
Go back and tell Mr.. Davis me must
see him on important police business. .
Il don't give a damn! | won't see
them,' Davis is quoted as exclaiming
when his employee again entered his
The boy did not appear again and
the three callers waited quite Ettle
while. Then Bridgetts pushed Davis
door open and burst in without cere-
mony.
McGlone's Statement
In about three minutes. McGlope md
Horan say, they heard Bridgetts crv.
Eddie, Eddie, he's killing mel" Thev
rushed into the inner office. The only
~ q p1 % ftuA rF ,1yl,