Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-07-19
TRIAL
FOR ROBBERY IS
STARTED TODAY
Local Man is Charged With
Robbery of Store of FiShkin
Bros. on May |
BOY TELLS OF ROBBERY
Frank Flowers. Gives Prose-
Cut0r Information on Case
Say Shanko Was Leader
SHOPKEEPER ON STAND
$1,000 Worth of Goods TAX
en- and Disposed of in N. Y,
Prosecutor Contends
BOY TELLS OF ROBBERY
SHOPKEEPER ON STAND

[By Evening News Staff Correspondent
NEW BRUNSWICK. July 10
The trial of John Monroe, alias
Shanko, is in progress today in the
criminal court. Monroe is under an
indictment charging him with break
ing into the store of Fishkin Bros.
in South street. Perth Amboy. on
May /, at which time goods to the
value of $1,700 were taken. Monroe
is represented by Harry Golenbock.
Frank Flowers, the young boy who
was with Monroe. or Shanko. as he
is known here, has given the prosecu-
tor information on the case, and the
state will try to prove that Shanko
was the prime mover in the robbery
and directed the prying loose of the
bars in the skylight. superintended
the robbery, and had the stolen goods
removed to his home, pending dispo-
sition in New York.
On the witness sand this morn
ing, Samuel Fishkin, one of the
owners of the store, told of locking
the store securely on the night of
! the robbery and of returning on
Monday morning to find that the
cash register had been opened and
rifled: the stock in the store picked
over and the bars over the skylight
| forced Included in the missing
articles were careras, thermos bot
ties, sweaters, watches and sporting
goods of all descriptions. according
to the witness. Fishkin testified to
identifying some of the stolen goods
in New York by the sales marks
placed on them by him and also said
that he had recovered close to
$1,000 worth of the material taken.
Lieutenant Joseph Gutowski of
the Perth Amboy Detective depart
ment, was next on the stand and
told of his connection with the case,
including account of the investiea-
tions conducted in Perth Amboy
and in New York.
Frank Flowers, an accomplice of
Shanko followed the detective on
the witness stand and gave an ac-
with the proposition to rob the
store and dispose of the loot in New
York. The witness described the
robbery and said that the goods
were taken to Shanko's home after
the occurrence.
There the two waited until the
following Thursday, when they took
the goods in two suitcaseS to New
York for disposal. While in New
York they met Morrison and Protz
now under indictments for receiving
the goods stolen.
The New York policeman who saw
| the two men selling the goods neal
the Bowery was next on the stand
! He testified that he had become sus-
| picious of the two and had question
| ed them concerning the goods they
had for sale and had stopped their
activities.
Shanko, on the stand in his OWE
defense, denied that he had anything
to do with breaking into the store
and lays all the blame on the young
boy, Flowers. He is ready to plead
guilty to receiving the stolen goods
but claims no connection with the
| actual robbery. Shanko also said
the meeting with Morrison and Prot2
in New York was the result OF
chance and that there had been nc
| prearranged plan. The witness ad-
mitted having been convicted on
similar charges in 1917 and 1918 and
said he had servedsa term at Rah-
| way
The case is still in progress and
will probably take the remainder OF
the day.