The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-29
shot STOPS DRIVER
IN TWO MILE CHASE
AFTER He HITS BOY
Policeman i'm Fast Chase
From East Harlem Up
Across Bronx.
SHOOTS TWO IN ARMS
Fugitive Tries to Ram
Bechtele's Motor in
Ngzag Race.
POLICE :SHOOFLIES' OUT
Merchandise Worth $4,000
Taken in Three Robberies
Newly Revealed.
POLICE .sHoOFLIEs' OUT

Patrolman William C. Bechtele Of
his own automobile. set out in pursuit
of Joseph O'Connor OF II East 12sth
street yesterday afternoon after OCon-
nor, driving truck, had run down
Edward Mason. IA. of 90 West 122d
street, at Lexington avenue and 129th
street. OConnor had not stopped after
the accident and the shouts of the
crowd that had gathered attracted the
attention Of the patrolman, who was
off duty but in uniform.
The policeman chased OConnor's
machine across the Willis avenue
bridge into The Bronx. and at Alexan-
der avenue and East 135th street fired
shot after, it is said O'Connor hal
the two motor cars. The bullet hit
Edward Grady, 10, OF 373 East 135ta
street, in the left arm.
While other policemen sent Grady
TO Lincoln Hospital the chase was con-
tinued back across Willis avenue east
into Southern Boulevard. a. total dis
tance of approximately two miles.
Truck Tries to Buck Him.
Patrolman Bechtele said later that
several times during the chase. which
caused considerable excitement, O'Con-
nor tried to swing his truck around
and run 1t against the touring ear
driven by the policeman. Bechte:e
managed 10 dodge each time, how
ever, and kept UP the pursuit AS
O'Connor swung back into the roadway
and went on. BecntcIe chased the truck
into Southern Boulevard. and at East
1880 street. when OConnor still refused
to stop, he fired another shot.
This bullet struck OConnor in the left
arm. He dropped the steering wheel and
the truck ran wild for a few yards,
until Bechtele ran his own machine
alongside and stopped IL. O'Connor was
arrested and taken 10 the East 1s6th
street station. charged with leaving the
scene of an accident. The only expla:a-
tion he would offer was that he was
nervous and didn't realize what he was
doing. After he had been booked; O'Con-
Young Mason was sent to Harlem Hos
nital. where surgeons said that he was
only bruised.
Hirb Powered Cars Ordere.
The twelve police flivver runabouts
that started out Monday night are to
be used mainly for ordinary police duty,
Il was learned yesterday. From the
secretary to Police Commissioner En-
right II was learned that the eighty run
abouts the department has ordered Ut
orally are 10 be used 10 take the SER
geants off their feet" They are not
designed TO take the place OF the motor
cycles equipped with side cars, which
came 10 be known iii the department as
the "bathtubs.' The department mas
ordered twenty high powered motor cars
which are TO be assigned to the Traffic
nnd Detective divisions. The latter will
get the most Of them, and these VIII pc
used for criminal rolndups.
Tho details OF three robberles in which
the thieves obtained merchandise valued
ac more than $4,000 became known
Yesterday. Furs valued at $4,000 we're
stolen from Schaffer Brothers at 13b
west Twenty-sixth street Saturday
right. and the same night robbers en-
tered the loft of the keystone Dress
Company in the same building and stole
dresses valued at $4,000. The Engei
Costume Company. Inc, at 81 Eas.
Thirty third street. was entered last Fri
day night by robbers, who stole gowns
yalued at $4,000. The bulkiness OF the
loot In this latter robbery has led TO the
belief that robbers used q large auto
mobile truck.