The New York herald., 1921-12-18
Metelski's Wife Says She
Didn't Know What Was
i'm Locked Room.
WAS OUT ON A PARDON
'Masonic Burglar Had Served
Thirteen Of a Forty Years
Sentence.


and jewelry valued at $4,000, which
Detectives Seclinger and Mclaughlin
found at the home of William Metelski
the Masonic burglar" who was CAP
tured Friday morning, was displayed
on tables yesterday at the Atlantic
avenue station house for the inspec-
ton o. persons whose homes have been
looted within a year.
Mctelski's wife, who was found at
the burglars home, 792 Rockaway
avenue. said she never suspected her
husbands profession, and did not know
of the contents of the private room
which Metelski kept always locked,
and which the detectives said was
packed with the loot. 1t contained,
among other things, thirty-eight even
ing gowns, six opera cloaks, table linen,
fifteen small clocks, thirty-two wrist
watches, fourteen womens diamond
pins, fifteen sets of table silver and
thirty vases.
Stolen Goods Identified.
Among the callers at the STATEN house
was Frank L. Patterson of 555 First
street, who identified slverware and
other articles, valued altogether at
5000. as stolen from the nome OF JUS
tice Isaac M. Kapper of the supreme
Court. 557 First street; Albert Glenn of
357 First street, who claimed property
valued at $500, and Mrs Ca a.herine
Mclaughlin of 361 First street, who said
three evening gowns and silverware
valued at s1,S00 were hers The robberies
at these homes were committed about
two months ago.
Other callers were from the Sterling
Heights. Crown Heights and Bedford
sections of Brooklyn. BY late afternoon
much of the loot had been identified.
The key to the room In which the treas
ure was found was taker from Metel-
skis pocket after his arrest.
An operation TO remove a bullet lodged
in Metelskis spinal column was per-
formed successfully yesterday at Kings
county Hospital He was shot twice at
the time of his capture one bullet graz
ing his right eve. Surgeons said after
the operation that he will be crippled
for life.
To detectives Seckinger and McLaugh-
lin, who called to see him after the op-
Grafton, Metelski sai.: TN sorry
didn't get you. Give me a gun and the
start and I'll let you get the drop on me,
and I'll take my chance"
Metelski was captured in the rear of
the home o" Nathan Halperin, 1919 Pres
ident street Brooklyn, the police allege,
after he had looted the house. He was
pardoned in 1919 after serving thirteen
years of a forty year term in Sing Sing.
After drawing revolvers and threaten
ing to fire. two men who summoned
Anthony Polowczyk to the door of his
cafe in Corinth avenue, Elmhurst,
Queens, just after midnight yesterday
morning, lost their nerve and fled. Pol
owczyk, who was closing the saloon,
opened the door when he heard the
knocking and was confronted by the
drawn revoisvrs.
Quit When Blur Was Called.
Throw up your hands or wen
shoot" said one of the men.
Go ahead and shoot" said Polowczyk
The men did not fire, but remained
silent few minutes, when they turned
and ran away.
When Arthur Graham of 3205 Park
avenue. The Bronx, stopped to light a
cigarette at the foot or the elevated
station OF the Jerome avenue subway
at 161st street yesterday morning he
was set upon by three negroes, who
roDDed MIN OF $3.50 In cash and a dia-
mond pin valued at $50 One Of the
negroes put revolver to his head and
another had a blackjack The approach
OF other passengers frightened the men
away. Graham managed to save his
watch.
Two men who walked into the United
Cigar store at Bowery and Broome
street we're followed in by Detectives
Gilbert Orlowsky and Kelly of head
quarters and searched. IL was alleged
they had revolvers. They said they
we're Anthony Figliolini, 2727 Harway
avenue Brooklyn, and Carman ].
Culoccs, 800 East Twenty-second street,
Manhattan. In Tombs court they were
held in $500 bail each for trial in
Special Sessions.
Revolvers were found on two of three
men arrested yesterday at South Fifth
street and D~iggs avenue, Brooklyn.
according TO th police, and one of the
armed men, said to be William Sleeps.
1872 Gravesend street, was charged with
the robbery last Sunday Of 1912 from
the restaurant of Reuben LbinslSy, 500
Grand street BROOKLYN. Sleeps and
Anthony Burdulis. 2li North Sixth
street. who was charged with violation
of the Sullivan law, were held in $4,000
bail each in Bridge Plaza Court. Adolf
Bisoguo, 1916 Gravesend avenue, was
held in $1,000 bail on a charge OF va
grancy. The three men were said TO
have been annoying passersby.