New-York tribune., 1921-12-23
Negro .Marksman Halls &
Who Rob Woman Al
sache of San Juan Hill
TcnementOfiice of$8OO
Olice i'm Pursuit
Wound Another
Taxi Breaks Down. but A
Escape With Loot After
Chase Covering Blocks

SIX young men, who are said to be-
long to Red" Flannigaus gang over
on Second Avenue, undertook Yesterday
afternoon TO hold UP two women in
the superintendent office of the
Phipps model tenements at 243 West
SiSty-third Street. In the resulting
gun fight, which ranged over the negro
belt known as San Juan Hill from West
Sixty-third Street to Fifty-sixth
Street. one OF the hold-up men was
killed and another wounded. The four
ether, escaped With the spoils-SsOo
in cash.
The actual hold-up was success.
1t was accomplished quickly, neatly
and with an air Of politeness - the
robbers disdaining to take the gray
haired superintendent land bag.
Then Charles David entered tho pic
tura and hold~up men began to get
hurt.
Negro Defender a Marksman
David is tall, powerful negro. He
IS the night watclnan at the Phipps
model tenements. The memory of
years Of service with the George
town, British Guiana, police is fresh
in him and he retains a military bear
ing. In those days he was a marks
man among marksmcn. He can still
shoot
The dead man was identified by his
hngerprints as James Breen, boiler
maker, of Buffalo The wounded one
described himself as John Little,
twenty four years old, chauffeur, Of
20S East Forty-fourth Street
1t was nearly o'clock. Miss Maria
Stockingcr, forty years old, supern-
tendent of the group of eight tene-
ments, was sitting in her Office on the
ground floor of No. 243, counting
money. One of her duties is to collect
called to take the payments from her
and there was $500 in cash in the small
safe III the office. With Miss Stock
niger was Mrs. May Trimm, The negro
caretaker.
They were talking when Il youns
man entered and stood respectfully
outside the hve-foot wire screen which
divides the room. He asked for infor-
nation concerning a family he said he
believed to be living in one of the tene-
ments. Miss Stockinger told him she
knew no one of the name and he went
out. She recalled that, while asking
for information, he paid little attention
to her answers and devoted himself to
looking over the room.
A few minutes after o'clock five
men entered the Office. Handkerchiefs
covered the lower parts of their faces.
Caps were pulled low over their eyes
revolver. Mrs. Trimm screamed family.
"None O. thati" warned one of the
gunner. "We won't hurt yuh."
Three Guard Two Women
One of the robbers pocketed his re-
volver and climbed nimbly over the
screen. Then, weapon in hand again,
he told Miss Stockinger to open the
gate. She did so. Another man came
other three held the attention Of the
two women.
The two IN the Office went to the
open safe and took out what cash was
there. They pulled out the compart-
ments Of the desk. Miss Stockingcr's
handbag was III one OF these.
Don't worry. madam said one OF
the men. eve don't want your money.
We only want to rob the rich. They
can afford it,"
And he dropped the bag back in the
drawer.
"All set?" asked one of the bandits.
Lets GO"
And they went.
The Office door had barely closed
upon them before Miss Stockinger was
at the telephone calling frantically but
clearly: Spring 31O0! Oh, Operator,
Police Headquartersl Police Headquar-
ters."
AS the five men walked out they
passed Charles David.
The big watchman had been wonder
ing what brown and white taxicab
was doing in front of tenement house
and why the engine had been left run
ming. He wondered, too, what the pur-
pose was of the man who was pacing
nervously to and fro in front Of the
house, looking always up or down the
street.
The FIVE men were in the cab before
David went into action. The look -out
Continued pags tour)