New-York tribune., 1921-06-15
NJ all Robbers
Risk Death to
Accuses Tim
& Postal Clerk aud
Prison pal of Murphy
Say ChicagoLa Carried
Cunmen i'm $35O,OOO Job
Bank Employee Sought
Hid Trunk Full of Cash for
Poor Devils and Won't
'Squawk, Union HeadSavs
Special DispatcJ. to The Tribune


CHICAGO, Juno 14.-Despite three
complete confessions made in the face
of death threats if they talked to gov
ernment inspectors, Big Tim" Muir
ply, labor czar, to-day repudated some
of his statements of last night, when
postal inspectors seized $4,000 hid
den in trunks and mattresses at the
home of Murphy's father-in-law. This
money is said to be part of s350,000
stolen in recent mail robberies.
The thre& confessions name "Big
Tim" as the brains and leader Of the
Dearborn Street mail hoid-up. Ed
ward Goirun, Murphy's aid and per-
sonal chauffeur, has admitted driving
the bandit automobile on the night of
the robbery. Ralph Teter, a govern
ment mail clerk, confessed that under
the domination of Murphy ne tipped
off the shipment of money and bonds
and told the gang the proper moment
to strike. George Bradford. alias
hecker,. g. former prison pal of Muir
phys, made the third confession The
postal authorities say they have a
fourth confession and that their case
viii be complete and absolutely air.
tight when they find the employee in
the Federal Reserve Bank who was
keeping Murphy's gang posted on the
shipments OF currency This is the
individual who Informed Teter. the
government mail clerk, just when the
$350,000 would be sent over to the
Dearborn Street station.
Murphy admits having the trunk
containing the stolen money moved to
the home OF his father-in-law, William
Diggs. II did it to help out couple
of friends" he said, Gust like I'd do
for any poor devil. Teter and Brad
ford asked me to do it. They were
starving around here, and I'm always
helping somebody when he needs help.
Me squawk? Big Tim squeal? Z?
hasn't made any confession and that
ne never will squeal What do they
think | am, cockroach 2"
The men who have confessed say all
details Of the robbery were framed in
Murphy's office in the headquarters Of
the Gas Workers Union. Daily con-
ferences, they say, were held for three
weeks, presided over by Murphy. Vim
cenzo Cosmano, Murphy's right hand
man, just before the robbery was COM
mitted, issued orders to all concerned
to "shoot to kill" if necessary. Under
no circumstances were they to permit
themselves to be captured
Teter says Murphy took command OF
the raiding gunner at the railway sta
tion and gave the signal to hold up
the mail truck. According to the con
LESSONS, Big Tim" issued the dictum
that any member of the gang who
"squawked" was to be killed on sight
A week ago, is is said, Cohmano
learned that the government agents
were picking up the trail, end he
urged that the chief witness of he
government be murdered. ''T think
that guy is going to squeal," said
Cosmano; Tets bump him off" How
ever. for some reason not yet ex-
planned, the killing was postponed and
the government was able to complete
its case and locate much of the stolen
money.
Events moved rapidly in he unravel-
ing of the mail robbery, following the
discovery last night of the loot in the
Diggs home. BY noon Goirun had
added his confession to those already
made by Teter and Bradford. A little
later, men from the detective bureau
swooped down on the grocery of Paul
Bolanti, close personal friend OF
Murphy's at 2525 Wallace Street, ar
rested Bolanti and found $1,000 Of the
stolen currency in a strong box Under