New-York tribune., 1921-10-11
Bandit Shoots
Pal and Kills
Cafe w alter
Opens Fire or Patrons
Of Italian Restaurant in
Brooklyn and Stray Shot
Hits Companion in Head
Knocks Down Woman
Escapes as Customers Dash
for the Doors After Hold
Up and Midnight Battle

Two armed bandits entered the base
ment restaurant Of Frank Odjuce, at
146 Degraw Street. in the heart OF the
Italian colony OF Brooklyn, shortly be
fore midnight last night and in AL at
tempt to hold up patrons and the pro
prietor Of the place shot one of the
walters dead and knocked Odjuce' s
wife unconscious with water pitcher.
IN the melee which followed the
firing of the first shot one OF the al
legged bandits, who was identified as
Giuseppe Palermo, Of $50 Henri. Street.
Brooklyn, was struck in the head with 2
bullet said to have been fired by his
companion in the hold-up, who escaped
Palermo was later removed to the Long
Island College Hospital, where it was
reported that he probably would not
recover.
Palermo and his companion, on en-
tering the restaurant, nodded in a
friendly fashion to Odjuce, who was
standing behind the cigar counter
talking with his wife, and took seas
at table in the front Of the res
taurant.
Lawrence Casesta, who lived on sum
mltt Street, in Brooklyn, and who was
the only waiter on duty IL the rcstau-
rant at the time, came forward to take
the order Of the Two men. Palermo.
aftev comforting with his unidentified
friend, ordered two bottles of root beer
Casesta then turned and walked to the
rear OF the restaurant and out through
door which opened into a tiny yard.
In this yard Odjuce kept a large refrig-
orator in which his bottled goods wcrc
stored.
Locks Door and Draws Gun
Casesta had no sooner closed tho
door behind him than one OF the two
men at the front table got up, walked
over and locked it, He then drew a ra-
volver and ordered everybody in TIE
place to stand up and put up their
hands.
The two men took three watches and
some small change from the patrons Of
Odjuce's place before Casesta, who
weighs nearly 200 pounds, succeeded
IN breaking in the door. Without wait
ing to set down the two bottles which
he carried, the waiter rushed on Pa
lermo whose back was turned He cid
not reach him, however. The sudden
report OF pistol echoed in the tiny
basement restaurant and Casesta
pitched forward on his face, bullet
IN MS heart. tie was Killed instantly
AS the waiter fell Mrs Odjuce be
gan to scream. To still her. the man
who is alleged to have fired -hc fatal
shot snatched an empty water pitcher
from the table at his side and brought
Il down on her head The woman col
lapsed
Diners Rush for Doors
Az THIS second attack the few diners
in the place started to rusn for me
doors The man who is alleged TO have
struck Mrs. Odjuce then levcied MS pis-
tol and fired Two shots. Ore LOGGED in
the rear wall OF the dining room. bat
the second struck Palermo behind the
right ear. He doubled up and toppled
against table.
Patrolman Lyons. of the Butter
Street station. rushed in the front door
Of the restaurant q moment later But
Pale-mo's companion had escaped
through the rear entrance, out into the
yard and over 4 high fence.
A call was sent 10 the Long lslsnd
College Hospital and Casests was
pronounced dead by an ambulance sur
geon. Mrs. Odjuce was treated for lac
erations Of the scalp. She WAS not re-
moved TO the hospital.
The District Attorneys Oaice was
notified and an investigation Of the
holdup and double shooting begun at
bNor