The New York herald., 1921-05-02
MURDER CHARGED
TO ROOKIE COPS
Simon and Schich Accused At
ter Shooting Of Bartender
in Saloon.
NOT ON RAIDING DUTY
Demanded Drinks and Were
Refused, Is Story as
Learned by Police.
NOT ON RAIDING DUTY

/
| Mark Simon of 1873 Jerome street
and Valentine J. Schich of 2O4 Wood
bine street, both Brooklyn, and both
probationary patrolmen attached TO the
training school at Police Headquarters.
were held without bail yesterday by
Magistrate Dale in Gates avenue court
charged with homicide in the shoot
ing and killing OF Charles Hanson.
| bartender in the saloon OF Joseph
Zaengle. at 362 Sumner avenue, late
Saturday night
First reports had 1t that the murder
of Hanson was the result OF prohfpi-
ton raid by the police, but later 1t was
learned that neither Simon nor Schich
ever had been assigned to such duty
and were not to become full nedged
patrolmen until next Monday. when
they were to be graduated from the
training school.
| In the police investigation OF the Kill
ing there are many conflicting ana
rambling statements, but from facts
| gathered It seems that Simon. who is
known as Monk" former prize fight
er. Schich and another prohibition OH
Ger, Christopher Lowe. and two CIVIL
| ians entered Zaengles place shortly
after II o'clock Saturday night and
demanded whisSey.
| On being told by both bartender ana
proprietor that no booze had been sold
on the premises since prohibition went
| into effect Lowe and the two civilians,
II Is charged. expressed themselves as
satisfied there was no use to try TO puy
| drinks there and left the place. The
names OF the civilians are being with
held by the police pending investigation.
Caught by Patrolman.
Patrolman John j. Quaid or the Gates
avenue station was standing across the
| street from the saloon when he heard a
shot and saw Schich running through
the saloon door. He stopped Schich,
who told him he was a police officer and
showed him his shield
| The two entered the saloon and, ac-
cording to Patroiman Quaid. he found
| Simon with smoking police regulation
revolver In his right hand. Hanson
| groaning on the floor in front or the
Bar and Zaengle with his hands over his
4 head Hansou died an hour later IN
| st. Johns Hospital without recovering
consciousness.
According to Simon's story, told to
Police Captain Sullivan and McClosky,
and Assistant District Attorney Nicho-
las Selzagei. the bartender threatened
to attack him when he attempt d to
| go behind the bar to search the place
| for LIQUOR. and also that there were at
least fifteen customers In the place who
seemed ready to cause MIN serious
| trouble when he fired one shot.
Scored by Prosecutor.
After he had e eSkiaxned Simon for sew
eral hours Assistant District Attorney
SelzageI made the following statement :
cit is the most cowardly act that has
| come TO my attention in my six years
as an Assistant District Attorney In this
county. and is no more or less than an
| outrage. II Is the work of rookie
policeman and should not in any way
reflect on our splendid police force. In
this case the public should realize that
| IL II hadn't been for the quick work of
Patrolman Quad and other members
of the force the authorities might have
had puzzling murder on their hands.
! intend to present the facts to the
Grand Jury the first of this week and
II these men are indicted l will move
for a speedy trial"
In an interview with a reporter for
THE NEW YORK HERALp Zaengle gave
his version OF the shooting as follows:
II was In the rear room of my place
when the five men entered. and TO the
| best of my recollection there was no
one else In the saloon except Hanson
when Simon stepped up to the bar and
asked him to sell him half a pint of
whiskey.
Hanson told them that no whiskey
had been sold on the premises since
prohibition went into effect and for the
time Simon seemed to be satisfied The
nve then came into the back room.
where they were served with several
rounds of near beer.
Three Com pa mons Leave.
Three OF the men seemed to be dis
gusted at not being able TO buy real
liquor and left the place. Simon and
Schich remaining. Simon then came to
me In the rear room and asked me to
fix Il up either with the bartender or
sell him some whiskey myself. l told
him In firm language there was nothing
doing. There Is swinging door be-
tween the barroom and the rear room
and the two men went through this en-
closure. There was no one else In the
place at the time to the best OF my
memory.
1T seemed only a moment later that
shot was fired and l ran through the
ewlnging door into the bar and there
saw Hanson on the floor. Standing
within a few feet of him was Simon
with a revolver In his hand. | did not
, see Schich In the place. thought the
place was being robbed. 40 I threw my
hands over my head. moment later
Patrolman Quaid entered with Schich