The New York herald., 1922-05-07
Bank Teller and Policeman
Cut Out of Blazing Vehicle
By Rescue Squad.
CRUSHED BY STREET CARS
Sailor Suspected of Trying to
Pass Bad Checks Is Only
One of Five Unhurt,

Mario Assilini. paying teller of the
and 116th street, was injured severely
yesterday. and Patrolman Frank Won
Hole of the East 126th street station
was painfully cut and burned when
the taxicab in which they were riding
with a prisoner was jammed between
two Third avenue surface cars and
demolished.
James j. Kane, a special watch
was slightly cut and sent to his home
at 1885 Southern Boulevard, Bronx In
the excitement and accident, which
necessitated the calling of the rescue
squad, two ambulances and the po-
lice reserves, the prisoner escaped un-
hurt.
The man being taken by Kane, Won
HOLE and Assilini to the station house
said that his name was August Smith
and that he was a sailor. He had APP
peared at the bank about noon with two
checks, one for $4,000 and the other for
$40 and asked that they be honored
The check for $4,000, according to A. A.
Pinto. manager of the bank. was made
payable to the order OF II. L. Wagner
and was signed and certified by the
same person. The smaller check was
drawn In favor of Cd T.. Stefano San
tore" and was signed "Johnne Foglia."
Caught In Fleeing Bank.
Assilini, believing that the checks were
forged, began to question Smith" about
them and the latter started to run from
the bank. AS he passed the desk of Mr..
Pinto the latter ran at him and caught
him as he was about to turn into 10th
street. The man made little resistance
and was taken in charge by Kane and
Patrolman Won HOLE. They questioned
the suspect, who said strange man.
had given them to him to get cashed.
and he did not know where this man
could be found.
The patrolman then called the taxi
cab, driven by Louis Greenwald Of 2s1
st. AIMS avenue. The Bronx, and the
party started for the station house.
AS the taxicab approached Third ave-
nue. at 1921 street the traffic was mo-
mentarily blocked. and according to per-
sons who saw the accident the driver of
the cab turned into Third avenue and
started north on the southbound car
track. AS he did this a northbound sur
face car sounded its bell for him to get
on the proper side of the tracks. and at
the same moment the southbound sur
face car bore down on him. Unable to
make the turn to the right side of the
street, the taxicab was jammed between
the two cars with tremendous force. the
impact exploding the gasoline tank of
the cab and shattering the window glass
in both surface cars. The passengers in
these cars ran screaming to the street
as the smoke and flames from the burn
ing taxicab spread.
Mig Crowds See Accident.
Greenwald and Smith were thrown
clear of the wreck and both 81 ghtly cut.
Assiini. Kane and Won Hole were
pinned inside the taxicab. the rear part
Of which had been badly crushed be-
tween the two surface cars. Quickly
crowd Of several thousand persons
gathered, as the section was fllled with
persons doing their week end marketing,
and a fire alarm was turned in from
several nearby boxes. Several bystand-
ers made efforts to extricate the men
from within the burning cab. but not
until the arrival of the rescue squad,
who chopped n hole I'm the wreckagc.
were they able to escape what appeared
to be certain death in the blazing cab.
When Patrolman Kane and the paying
teller had been rescued from the re
mains of the taxicab and the men OF
Hook and Ladder IA were putting out
the blaze, which spread TO the sides OF
both surface cars. II was found that
Smith" had disappeared
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