The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-27
Capitol Theater Robbery Is
Confessed by Two Men
Caught in Raid.
MANY HOLDUPS CLEARED
Man, Accused as Forgcr. Torn
From Wife and Daughters
Arriving From England.


nue.. between Seventh and Eighth
streets, in the Park Slope section of
Brooklyn. He is feet inches in
height and weighs las pounds, mostly
muscle and bone.
About o'clock Saturday afternoon
during a lull in business Mr.. Kramer
behind the counter was sharpening q
meat cleaver. Mrs. Kramer was in
the small cashiers cage and a man
assistant was putting a razor edge on
butcher knife. -Four young men.
al well dressed, drove up In an auto
mobile. Three alighted while the
dIver sat at the wheel with Tie en-
CINE running.
II am an inspector and want to look
over your store said one of the men to
Mr.. Kramer. as he displayed badge.
II guess about the only thing you
want to inspect is our cash register
said Mr.. Kramer. looking the "inspec-
tor" in the eye. Just then woman Gus
toner entered and the man reached for
his right hip pocket.
Gunman Runs From CIeavcr.
Don't you pull gun or III chop your
head off with this cleaver," said Mr..
Kramer. The woman screamed and the
inspector ran to the sidewalk. Mr..
Kramer and his helper Ieaped the
counter with the cleaver and butcher
knife ready for business.
The three men had jumped into the
automobile and started down Seventh
tpeT-e when Mr.. Kramer reached the
sidewalk. He threw the cleaver with all
Ills SIT myth. striking and puncturing a
ear re. But the automobile gained
speed and disappeared on Seventh
stfrsr The till held about $500 at the
time
me Capitol Theater holdup and five
otNfr -ecent robberies were mentioned
IN ements made yesterday by five
ati re- arrested here and in Newark
NJ Three of the men were gathered
fu 4 roundup personally directed by
lntra tor John y. Coughlin. head of the
I've Bureau, as result of the
v'rg Saturday night of Richard j..
q 2, manager of the Atlantic and
F* + Tea Company store at 735 Third
sty 4.
hes VI. McReel. Deputy Police
@ha and twelve motorcycle policemen
=
~ ! Tenth street. They entered the
Ing with drawn pistols and found
fc men playing cards in front room
of the men bolted for the rear
a- reached fire escape before they
overtaken. A fifth man. Timothy
G pvan of $50 West Fifty-third street,
" haitian, was found hiding in a
hes closet.
he five men were questioned at New
Police Headquarters by Chief Me-
= for more than six hours. Thomas
Donovan, brother OF Timothy Don
b.. finally broke down. McRcel said.
and confessed he was one OF the men
who had participated in the Capitol The
alter holdup OF several weeks ago.
Thomas J. Buckley. third prisoner
also admitted he was involved in the
robbery. Donovan and Buckley said
they and a negro named Singleton. who
is under arrest in Manhattan. and an
other white man planned and carried
out the theater robbery.
The negro. they said, was once a
porter in the theater and the night be-
fore the robbery they went there and
watched the auditor and ticket taker
leave the box office and start upstairs
block away while tho trio went 10 the
Capitol
Chief McRcel said the robbers then
rushed into the t1cater office and forced
three men and girl to stand against
the wall. Donovan. he said, admitted he
grabbed the valise containing $500
They escaped by back window and
went to Donovan's home, where the
r.oney was split four ways. the negro
III ~ s-I.fA % =
each. Donovan and Buckley went "a
New Haven and then on TO Newark two
weeks ago. When arrested Donovan
had sixty cents and Buckley about 81
Tho statements OF two OF three mer
caught in the East Side roundup clear
ip. the police say, the robbing OF a
Sheffield Farms. Inc. milk driver al
Broadway and 107th street holdup In
which Nicholas Dempsey. messenger
for Hornthal & Co, funeral supplies. q
ha7 Lexington avenue lost $2,i00. d
holdup in a United Cigar Store a.
First avenue and Ninety-second street
and n holdup at Second avenue and
Nineteenth street.
One Youth Makes Denial.
The three prisoners described them.
selves as Richard O'Donncll. aged 20
of s4s East Forty-frst street: Francis
Boyce, 20. OF 4oi East Nineteenth street
and Thomas Sheridan. 20. Of 500 Thirc
avenue. They were arrested simulta
neously at their homes and taken TO th'
East Fffty-first street station.
In O'Donneil's room IN Fest Nine.
teenth street the police found n holster
three boxes Of cartridges and two black
masks. O'Dohnell shared this room. tho
police say. with George Mccarthy
awaiting trial on a larceny charge.
Ralph Edmund Sneyd, age 2S. OF OF
iewa, ont. was arrested by detectives
from Washington on Pier 81. Nortl
River. as his wife, Mrs. Katherine
Sneyd. and her children. Catherine and
Robert. were descending tho gangplanl
from the Albania after q visit to Eng
land. Sncyd pleaded TO greet his fsmil,
hut the detectives hurried him off (,
Police Headquarters.
Detectives Hughes and Culhanc of I'll,
East F'ifty-frst street station. who have
been investigating the murder OF Rich
ard y. O'Shea, manager or the Atlantic
and Pacific Tea Company's store at 73l
Third avenue, who was shot by bandit
late Saturday night detained seyera
persons last night in connection With thu
crime.
THE suspects wore talicn 70 roiic,
Tfradouaf{ re. wnt~e They wetc ontN
Itioned. NO Charge have Deon made.