New-York tribune., 1921-01-07
Detectives Take
Bitzberger by
Trailing Bride
Man Who Fled West Side
Jail After Arrest for Bank
Robbery i'll New Jersey
Is Seized in Providence
Was Embracing His Wife
Two Women Operatives Aid
Capture; Head Keeper
and 4 Others Discharged

Vary Bitsberger. wanted in connec-
sssn win . New Jersey bank robbc~y,
vho broke out of the West Side prison
last Monday. was locked up at Police
Headquarters last night after HE ar
rest earlier in the day at railway
station in Providence. Bitz5-rger WIS
arrested by Detective Sergeant Cor
ss,ius Manning as the former was en-
sr,cing mis- wife, bride Of three
seeks.
sne trail began at the door of Mrs
Bitzberger's home in West Ninety
Aeventh Street. early Wednesday night.
Detectives of the Pinkerton agency,
Who had been searching for Bitzberger
since his escape Monday, had founi
Mrs Bitzberger's residence, and In
spector Thornhill. of the Pinkerton's,
ssd two women operatives guarding
the apartment house.
Early Wednesday night Mrs. Bitz-
berger dressed in deep mourning, left
her apartment at 205 West 1l1th
Street. She carried two suit cases.
She was shadowed to the Grand Cen
tyal Station by one of the operatives
vho had been guarding the house,
while the other reported to Inspector
Thornhill. Operatives Foley and Craw-
ford, of the Pinkerton Office, were sent
10 Grand Central Station. Detective
Manning was also called from the
~
Buy Tickets for Boston
The woman operative who had
srailed the bank robbers wife re-
ported to the three men that Mrs Btz-
berger had been Joined at the Grand
Central Station by two men wearing
mourning bands. The three simu.at
ing funeral party, had purchased
tickets for Boston. Mrs. Bitzberger
and her two friends. Detective Man
ming and the two Pinkerton operatives
boarded the 1910 Shore Line express
for Boston
During the short stop in Providence
aman darted up to the car window op-
posite Mrs. Bitzberger's seat and
tapped three times on the pane. Biz
berger later told the police that this
was prearranged signal He s.id
that ne had intended to meet his wife
q: South Station in Boston, but that
while leaving a subway station there
he saw three men eyeing him closely.
These three men he mistook for de
tectives. He mmediately hurried to
Providence. where he met his wife IN
stead
on hearing the signal, Mrs. Bitzber-
ger rose from her seat and left the
car. Detective Manning and the two
Pinkerton operatives followed. Man
ming said as he was leaving the car he
saw man dart from behind a pillar in
the station and embrace Mrs. Bitz-
berger.
Then Manning drew his revolver and
walked Up to Bitzberger He said:
"Bitz, throw up your hands. One move
and III kill you" Bitzberger took
his arms from about his wife and
raised them slowly above his head. At
reached for pair of handouts in Man
n;ng's pocket
Mistaken for a Hold-Up
AT the very moment of success the
remarkably we'll executed capture
might have turned to failure but for
charce recognition A ticket agent
in the station saw the gleam Of Man
ning's gun, saw Bitzberger's hands
poked slowly above his head and saw
the Pinkerton operatives hasty search
for hidden arms. He believed that he
vas witnessing a frst-class hold-up.
De drew lis pistol and rushed at Man
ning. He said that he was about to
IRE when he recognized the Pinkerton
operative.
:, B,tz6erger was brought back to New
York on an afternoon train. He re-
FUSED To- make any comment on his
orea. or answer any questions put to
him by Inspector Coughlin.
announced yesterday that George An
son, head keeper Of the West Side
Prison. and four other keepers who are
aieged to have been responsible for
bitzoergers escape, had been sum
marty dismissed from the service bv
James A. Hamilton, Commissioner Of
Correction.