The New York herald., 1921-01-04
DRY AGENT ADMITS
HE SLEW EASTMAN
IN DRUNKEN FIGHT
Bohan Says Self-Defence
Prompted Shooting Monk
After Cafe Brawl.
QUARRELLED OVER TIP
Confession Follows Arrest
and Earlier Denial in
Brooklyn Station.
TELLS OF LIFE THREAT
Thought Former. Gsngster Was
Planning to Kill Him,
Slayer Insists.
TELLS OF LIFE THREAT


gpector of internal revenue ON the
staff of Charles r. O'Connor, State
Prohibition Director surrendered to
the police yesterday and admitted
himself to be the man who shot and
killed Monk Eastman at Fourth ave-
nue. and Fourteenth street early on
the morning of December 26 Bohan
made statements to the police and to
John r. Hennis, Assistant District At
torney. in which he said the shooting
was the result of drunken brawl
and that he shot in self-defence.
~ The story told by Bohan follows
rlosely that already obtained by Mr.
Hennis and Detective Lieut.. William
Funston from FIVE of the seven
vfriends" who attended the party in
the Blue Bird cafe in East Fourteenth
street, which preceded the shooting
Bohan's statement differs only in the
part where he pleads self-defence.
Bohan told both Inspector John d.
Eoughlin and Mr.. Hennis that the most
friendly relations existed between all
menbers OF the automobile party that
came over from williamsburg Christmas
night. 1t was not until after they en-
tered the Blue Bird and had several
rounds of drink that the quarrel started.
Eastman suggested that the gang
chip in and give John T. Bradley.
waiter in the cafe, little purse for
Christmas Bradley got his job in the
cafe through Eastman.
Bohan said he objected to Eastmans
suggestion because Bradley was not
waiting on their table, and an argument
followed In which heated words passed
between the two. The other members
Of the party firaIly settled the argument
by agreeing there should be no collec-
fion at all Bohan says that when they
left the Blue Bird he and Eastman
seemingly were on the best of terms.
Rode on in Taxicab.
Eastman ami Bohan were the first
ID reach the street. according to the
latter's statement, and they started to
walk toward Fourth avenue. Bohan
says that Eastman walked a few feet
ia back OF him and that when they
reached the corner the former gangster
caught hjfi by the shoulders and whirled
min, quickly around.
"Jerry. you've become a rat since you
got that prohibition job" Bohan quotes
Eastman as having said.
then reached for his right overcoat
pocket, and. thinking he was about to
pull gun. Bohan says that he drew
his pistol and fired. He said he did not
know how many shots he fired and that
he did not see Eastman drop to the
sidewalk Bohan them threw his pistol
into the subway entrance and Jumped
into n taxicab and rode up to Fifteenth
or Sixteenth street where he got out
and walked to Third avenue. There he |
hailed a second automobile and went
direct to his home. 176 South Third
street williamsburg. The agent said he
did not know the chauffeur Of the first |
taxicab, whom he ordered to keep
going"
Bohan told the police and Mr. Hennis
ne feared Eastman was going to shoot
him when the latter reached for his /
pocket. because OF n similar incident |
which he said occurred eight months ago /
IN the Spatz Cafe. Havemeyer and North
Fifth streets, Williamsburg. On that |
occasion. Bohan said he and the Monk !
had words and the former gangster an
ncunccd he was going to shoot him and
pulled a pistol from his back pocket
Bohan says he told Eastman to 10 ahead
and shoot but that the gangster said
ne would wait for a more favorable OPP
portunity. There was no witness to this
Incident. II is said.
station. Brooklyn yesterday morning
and told the desk lieutenant be under
stood the police were looking for him
Capt Daniel Carey. OF the Detective Di-
vision. was summoned and he placed the
pFohibition agents under arrest Bohan.
according 40 the police, denied at first
that he knew anything about the slaying
~ Eastman. but changed his mind when I
he got to Police Headquarters in Man
haitian. He was questioned there by In
spectpr Coughlin-and then was taken to
the District Attorneys office,
Had Been Friends for Years.
The agent said he and Eastman had
hccn friends for many years. but denied
thcy ever had been engaged in any
bootlcgglng or narcotic dispensing op-
rrations He admitted he was the one
who hired the automobile but said the
trip 20 the Blue Bird had been sug-
resfcd by Eastman. Several drinks were
obtained before the party, composed on
Eohan. Eastman and six others. five OF
whom now are under arrest as wiz
nesscs. started for Manhattan. II was
about A. NJ. he said when theS
reached the Blue Bird. and when the
tight started all were thoroughly
drunk" Bohan denied that he and the
six other men met In n Brooklyn restau-
rant an hour after the Monk was slain.
Or. Carlton Simon. Special Deputy Po-
lice Commissioning. in charge of narco-
fics said he has learned positively that
Eastman had been engaged In both boot
ieEging and narcotic dispensing for
many months before his death The
Commissioner said his Information came
from a source that could not be revealed.
and therefore probably will not he in
sroduccd at the trial OF Bohan Eastman.
according 20 Dr Simon, acted as a mid
dlcman. He Obtained 'the STUFF from
thc pig man and distributed II TO the
pcdlers IN the street
Nr. Honnis said he would present the
evidence against Bohan, who was locked
up M the Mercer street police station on
charge Of homicide. 10 the ,itrtti
Jury to-day. He declined to state what
would be the degree OF. The Indictment
he would request
~ STRIKE pIcKETs FINED.