New-York tribune., 1921-06-15
C,ll,inan Fails
Into Captivity
As Tree Breaks
Daylight Hold-Up in Bronx
Il Followed by Shots and
Chase Which Ends i'm
Plunge FROM ''I'' Tracks
$1,000 Loot Recovered
Robber Mounts Store Col
Iector's Auto and Seizes
Cash at Point of Pistol

John NJ Garry. OF $50 Lexington
Avenue, was arrested yesterday morn
ing after a daylight hold-up and
chase through Jerome Avenue. just be-
yond Featherbed Lane. The chase be-
gar after Garry is alleged to have re-
lisved Stephen Flsnnery, of 1925 Cres-
ton Avenue, collector for the Daniel
Reeves grocery concern, of 81 200 at
the point of pistol. r ended, and
the money WAS recovered, when group
cf trackwalkers forced Garry TO jump
sronl the elevated portion of the Lex
ington Avenue subway, south of 1T6th
Street.
Though Garry landed on branch of
tree gorwing by the side of the
elevated structure, he was seriously in
3u-ed when the branch broke and he
fell TO the street He was removed to
Fordham Hospital.
Upper Jerome Avenue is sparsely pop
ulatsd and the Lexington Avenue sub
way line, starting at 161st Street, rum
eles northward through q lane OF tall
trees beyond ./hich are rocky, uncultiv-
sted fields OF green. Except for laborera,
some baby carriages and their occu-
pants, and the few neighborhood shop
keepers, the district is deserted, esps-
eially at mid-rorning, the hour chosen
FOR the gun play and hold-up yesterday.
Bandit Boards Auto
Flannery. who visits the chain of
grocery stores IN an automobile to col
lsct the days receipts, departed from
s store az 1850 Jerome Avenue at
about 1880 and drove south.
Fifteen minutes later, as he was
nearing Featherbed Lsne, man dashed
TO the running board of the car and
then stepped in.
Drive north,' he ordered Flannery.
But I'm driving south" Flannery
responded. "and I'll be glad TO give you
lift If you're going that way"
The man was insistent and a gun
cleaned in his hand. Flannery glanced
at the pistol, heard the robber direct
him to drive into Stafford Street, a
quiet road nearby, and then made his
plans. Flannery knew the neighbor-
hood. The other did not, and that
proved his undoing.
Flsnnery swung the car around rap
idly and drove to within a few feet of
a group of iaborers. On the street
corner nearby. he knew, was q police
booth. But he made no outcry, for the
robber still held the revolver in his
hand. Flannery kept away from Stat
ford Street.
'You know what I want" the pas
senger said IN staccato tones to Flan-
merry, pressing his revolver close.
= guess / do,' Flannery answered
cheerfully
We'll, then. do it and do it quick!"
tlannery handed over several pack
ages of bills, about $1,000 in all. and
the robber jumped from the car, di-
recting Flannery toe drive south. In
stead, Flannery drove to the police
booth, picked up Patrolman Lorber and
started. on the chase. By this time the
robber had reached the station at 176th
street and Jerome Avenue and was
mounting the steps. Flannery and
Patrolman Lorber caught sight Of him
aad, abandoning the automobile, fol-
lowed after him.
The hold-up man just missed a
rorthoound train and when Flannery
and Patrolman Lorber came up he
threw his pistol to the platform and
Jumped to the tracks, heading south.
F!annery picked up the pistol and
Lcrber, following the fugitive, hred
several shots into the air.
Flannery then ran to the street and
Jumped into his automobile. He planned
TO drive TO the next station and there
capture his assailant with his own
weapon.
Garry never reached the Belmont
Street station. Trackwalkers and
crew OF train mechanics closed in on
him and he made a leap into space,
grasping a limb Of tree which swayed
and then split, throwing him forty feet
to the ground. Flannery, in his auto
mobile, drew up and recovered the
money. Al ambulance was summoned
from Fordham Hospital and Garry was
taken away, suffering from contusons
or the back and left knee and possible
broken back. At the hospital it was
also said that he may have sustained
internal injuries. His condition is crit
icsl. He is a prisoner charged with
assault and robbery.
According to the police records Gar
ry is g. carpenter and twenty-six years
old. The address given is a rooming
house. 1t was said there that he had
mot been seen for several days and that
hls rent was overdue.
Fiannery returned to the Office Of the
grocery company and told the story of
his experiences there