The New York herald., 1922-03-16
Stays POLICEMAN
AND IS shot in DUEL
Husky Bandit With Four Guns
Felled by Little Man Amid
Tombstones.
CROWD IN SWIFT CHASE
Patrolman John Fl. McMail,
Killed Without Warning,
Avenged by Cohen.

Another policeman-the ninth in
fiftee2 months of crime activity in
New York city-was slain yesterday
by a bandit caught in the act of rob-
berry. In this case the mills of the
gods ground quickly. for three min
utes after the shooting of the police
man the bandit himself lay stretched
across the slab of tombstone in a
marble cutters yard with a bullet
through his neck.
Hundreds cf people in the Browns
vile section of Brooklyn witnessed the
shooting of the policeman and the
capture of the holdup man, as well
as an attack on an elderly woman
by two men in desperate need of
funds. which led to the shootings.
The victim was Patrolman John II.
lyn, who had been seven years on the
force, without blemish on his record.
He was married and leaves a wife
and two children, both girls, 10 and Z
and nerve and skill in craftsmanship
is due the capture, and perhaps the
death. of the bandit is slight, wiry
tundersized man. Samuel Cohen, who
docs a good business in the Browns
vile section with a private burglar
patrol bureau for the benefit of the
storekeepers of the neghborhood.
Enters to Tackle Bandit.
Cohen was making his semi
monthly round OF collections when he
saw a man turn into Rockaway ave-
nue. from Suffer avenue. followed by a
large crowd. He heard the people cay
the man had killed policeman. He
saw that the desperado was brandishing
a revolver toward his pursuers. but
Cohen kept in the lead. When the gum
man turned into the Hattayer Marble
Yard at 44S Rockaway avenue Cohen
followed.
While the crowd stood outside OF The
gate. shielded from the shots by fence.
Cohen and Tony Rabasovich, the bandit,
ex-convict and former soldier in the
Canadian army, fought revolver duel
The gunman intrenced himself behind a
thick marble slab. Cohen, only eight
feet behind him. ducked behind an up
right tombstone. The men fired three
shots each at close range. On the
third shot Cohen winged the gunman
on the left side OF the neck, fraction
OF an inch from the jugular vein.
Rabasovich had thrown himself, army
fashion, on the ground and was shoot
ing around the corner of the granite
block For this reason the bullet, i'm.
stead Of passing through the neck, took
downward course and penetrated the
left lung. He is man OF powerful
physique and unless pneumonia sets I'm
the surgeons believe he has a good
chance to live.
Policeman DcfenscIcss
The bullet that killed McMail also
was shot with marvellous accuracy
proving that the ex-soldier was no mean
marksman. The patrolman was stand
ing at Osborne street and Sutter ave-
nue. serving a summons on a street
vender for a minor infraction when he
heard shouts. Rabasovich and a com
panion turned the corner
Before he had a chance TO size m
the situation, or even draw his revolver.
the gunman shot from half way across
the street. the bullet striking the ra-
trolman directly in the center or the
forehead. The shot penetrated the skull
at point just over the cap visor and
directly under the police insignia and
came out at the back OF the head.
When Gohen's bullet put the gunman
temporarily out Of commission the latter
had Colt army revolver In one hand
a ly,,tf 4. a..
belt and pockets were three other re-
yolvers. One was German Tuger og
10 caliber and the other two were auto
matics OF .32 caliber. All were loaded
TO capacity. Cohen had only five shots
in his revolver.
Rabasovich's complete outfit consisted
Of four revolverS, one new hunting knife
with six inch blade, a pair OF handouts.
blackjack and a bottle OF chloraI IL
was the most complete 'sticlSup" outfit
that has been found on the person OF a
single prisoner In several years the po-
lice said.
"Happy Jack'sv Family In Need.
The death Of McMail cast gloom over
tho Brownsville station because he was
one Of the most popular men there. He
was known as Happy Jack" McMaIl
one OF his companions said no had a
smile for every one and was always
ready for a joke. "As clean as a whis-
tle," was the way his sergeant summed
mp his character after having had him
as "A subordinate for two years.
McMail died at Trinity Hospital Few
moments before his wife. Frleda, ar
rived One Of the children. gladys.
recently has had several operations. and
the family is none too well of flnan-