The New York herald., 1921-11-25
POLICEMAN BATTLES
SIX MEN; KILLS ONE
He Knew Five Pals Lurked
Near When He Tackled
Gangster.
BATTERED TO GROUND
Gains Feet Many Times,
Lays Out One Assailant
With Fists.
CLUB GONE, USES PISTOL
w. E. BOstwick, Rookie, Drops
William Barratt-AnOther
of Gang Caught.
CLUB GONE, USES PISTOL

Patrolman William Z. Bostwick of the
Morrisania police station knew when
he arrested John Monahan early yes
terday morning at 152d street and
Wales avenue that five friends of Mon
ahan We're somewhere close by, and
that lie would be fortunate if he got
his prisoner away without trouble. But
he arrested the man just the same, and
when the other five men came to his
rescue Patrolman Bostwick fought
them all.
He fought them with his fists after
they had jerked his nightstick from his
hand, and he continued to fight even
after they had knocked him down
three times with his own club. And
finally when Richard Barratt of 1922
East Hath street stood over him ready
to crush his skull with the nightstick,
Patrolman Bostwick drew his gun and
through Barratt's heart and killed him,
as told in late editions of the NEW YORK
HERALD yesterday.
The policeman fell back unconscious
as soon as he had fired. and the revolver
slipped from his hands, so he would
have been an easy victim for the others
OF the gang. But with Barratt dead, and
with Monahan staggering about almost
unconscious from the battering he had
received from the policen1an's fists, the
ing. They ran. Two hours later Mona
han was found unconscious in a hallway
on the third floor of an apartment
house IN 1853 linton avenue. The Bronx,
and was arrested. A man alleged to
have been a third member of the gang,
Albert Nevins Of SIS Courtlandt avenue,
The Bronx. was arrested when he visited
the Lincoln Hospital to inquire about
Monahan's condition.
Patrolman Bostwick, unconscious and
thought at the time to have been
seriously hurt, was also taken to the
Lincoln Hospital, and had reganed con-
sciousness when Nevins called to ask
about Monahan.
Arrested in Hospital.
A hospital attendant who had heard
the story Of the policeman's fight against
the six men and who knew Monahan
had been one of the gang. took Nevins
into the accident ward where the police
man lay. Nevins went close to the bed. !
because he thought the man lying there |
was Monahan and he did not know any |
different until Patrolman Boetwick |
reached out and grabbed him, telling !
him he was under arrest
Patroman Bostwick, who is %, lives !
in 4oS East 143d street, The Bronx. with |
his wife and five months old son. He is
probationary policeman and was ap- |
pointed TO the force on June 30 of this |
year. Hc told reporter for THE New |
York HERALD in the hospital last night |
that he was patroIiing his beat in West
chester avenue when a man came up |
and said he had seen several men smash
ing the window of bakery in 7S0 West
chester avenue owned by Abraham |
Bleishoss and that the men had gone
toward Wales avenue.
The policeman followed the man. who |
pointed out Monahan, who was on one |
side of the street. and on the other side |
were five other men. his friends, who !
are said by the police to have been con-
cerned IN the attempted robbery of the |
bakery. Bostvick told Monahan he was |
under arrest and started to take him To !
the police station. He had got not more |
than ten. feet when his arms were Din !
icned from behind by Barratt. while
Ncvins ran In front OF him and kicked
at his shns and Monahan struck him IN
the jaw.
Five Men Close In.
Bostwick was hit and kicked several
times before he could break Barratt's
hold. but finally he did break It. He
hit Barrett in the face and knocked hin,
down. but tho other five men closed in
on hin, and Barratt managed to wrench
his club from his hand. He immedi-
ately struck Bostwick on the head with
IL, and Bostwicls was knocked down. He
got up again. but he had gotten only
20 his knees when Barrett hit him again.
This blow, however, was glsncing and
Bostwick was only staggered He
wrenched himself loose and struggled 10
regain his feet. lie had not yet straight
ened up when he saw Barratt standing
over him. swinging the club above his
head. ready to crash II downward Bost-
wick jumped lnck. the club swished
through the DIR and then the policeman
drew his gun as all six OF the men
rushed at him. He sired twice and the
men stopped when they saw Barratt drop
the club and plunge to the pavement
Patrolman Timothy J. Sheehan OF 1905
Third avenue. also a rookie. but at
tached to the West Twentieth street ]
station. fought three men In "A hallway
in 445 West Twenty-sixth street last
night and captured one OF them even
though he was knocked down several
times with an iron bar. The man ar
rested gave his name as Ralph De Bari
of III Eighth street. long Island City
The policeman said Dc Bari and the
other two men set upon him when he
went into the hallway in response TO a
complaint.