The New York herald., 1921-12-17
MASONIC BURGLAR
SEIZED IN GUN FIGHT
William Matelski Had Been
Paroled From Forty
Year Sentence.

A burglar shot by Detective Seckinger
early yesterday at the home of Nathan
Halperin. 1919 President street. Brook
lyn. was identified as william Matelski.
Masonic burglar" who was sentenced
TO forty years in Sing Sing for Brook
lyn robbery in 1906. and who is regarded
as one of few present day "two-gun"
deeperadoes. wnen arrested he gave the
name of William Martin.
Matelslli broke a glass in a rear door
OF the Halperin home. awakening Mr.
Halperin. who sent a telephone call to
the police. The burglar ransacked the
house. but when he slipped out the
Kitchen door two detectives started for
him. Matelski drew both of his revol-
vers but they failed to discharge. and
Detective Seckinger shot him over the
right eye and in the right sholder. The
wounds are not serious
Matelski was pardoned by Gov. Smith
after serving thirteen years.
The detectives believe Metelski may
have been one of the five men who stole
So,O0O from a safe in the home of John
j. Brady, at SIS st. Marks avenue, a
neighbor of Police Commissioner En-
right. William Altschauler now under
five years sentence in Sing Sing for this
robbery. had connected Metelski with the
crime.
Metelski gained the title Masonic
burglar, when he was convicted of rob-
bing the home OF George A. Gale, III
cambridge street, Brooklyn. Observing
Masonic ring on the finger Of Gale.
who awoke. -Metelski said he was n
Mason himself and would steal nothing
II allowed to escape. Gale acQuiesced,
but discovering some jewelry missing.
notified the police.
Three bandits held UP five men in an
office at "A Schiff Parkway late yester-
day. obtaining $1,000 in cash, $1,000
check and tewelry valued at about
$1,000. 1t was at the night rush hour
and Delaney street was jammed with
crowds. AS the bandits left Max Tan
Eenbaum, a bondsman, who was one Of
the victims, smashed q window and
yelled.
The bandits. who had descended to
the street. were showered by glass. Ac-
cording to Tannenbaum's report they
looked up coolly. asked whats the
matter with your" and slipped into the
crowd without suspicion being aroused
Among the victims was Jacob Cooper
a clerk, who had only 45 cents. Tam
nenbaum lost $1,000 in cash, a $1,000
check. his watch and a stickpin. Isadore
Rosenwasser thought to save an $500
diamond ring. and dropped 1t on the
floor. but one OF the bandits heard
the sound and slipped it in his pocket.
Israel Bell and Tannenbaum's son Sam
uel were the other victims.
A man who held one hand clenched
and his thumb pointed outward in his
side coat pocket. giving the appearance
OF a concealed revolver. held up Sigmund
Schwartz manager of a United Cigar
store at 30S Flatbush avenue. Brooklyn,
obtaining S146.50. In chase to Ster-
ling place and Seventh avenue a man
who said he was George Dixon. 1913 Post
avenue. Manhattan. was captured
A thief operating in the Federal
Courts Building stole a gold watch and
$3.50 in cash from David Spiro. lawyer,
OF 1880 Broadway, Brooklyn, while Mr..
Spiro was in a lavatory. The man seized
the watch from Spiro's vest and the
money from his coat and dashed out the
door
The police identified an automobile
found at 154 South Third street. Brook
lyn. as the one used by the five bandits
who on Thursday held up two messengers
of the Greenpoint National Bank, 14J
Greenpoint avenue, and stole the $17.-
675.45 payroll of the Eberhard Faber
Pencil Company. The automobile had
been stolen from Julius LoWenbein Of
S96 West 1S0th street.