New-York tribune., 1922-08-09
POlicemanStubs
oe,Lays Down
Brick Barrage
Rivington Street Area Is
Held by Iratc Officer,
Who Hurls His Missiles
at All Who Challenge
Boy Obtains His Pistol
Pile of Building Materials
Angered Pairolmnn, ON
Duty; Held To BE Drunk

Police reserves from Headquarters
and the Clinton Street station an
swerfng a hurry call 70 put down
disturbance in Rivington street. be-
tween Norfolk ard Suffolk streets.
about noon yesterday rushed 20 the
place 10 find Patro,man George K Iay-
lor, Of the Clinton Street station. hoid-
ing his own ngAinst oil comers from
the top OF a pile Of bricks, trying 20
bounce bits OF his fortress on the
heads Of such denizens Of tho neiehbor-
hood as dared 10 threaten his point OF
vantage. -Four laborers AZ safe dis
tnnce were having their heads ban
daged up, and most OF the attacking
force had retired for a conference on
the safest way to dislodge the patrol
man.
TAYLOR was in plain clothes. of duty.
and. according 10 subsequent police
fndings. intoxicated. But he was on
his own beat and was apparently ami
mated with a high moral sense that he
was performing his duty heroieAlly as
he wound up for another volley and
glared defiance both front and back.
When arrested his face was covered
with blood from a deep cash under his
right eye, his collar and neektie were
missing. his shirt was torn. his eloth-
ing was in shreds.
After the disturbance began Taylor
was glad enough 70 take advantage OF
the pile Of bricks as n stronghold. but
his earlier objection 20 the heap OF
building materials was what started
all the trouble. Having been OF duty
for four hours he was not aware that
BENJAMIN and Anna Munter had op-
tanned a permit 20 leave the bricks on
the Sidewalk during repairs 20 their
Turkish bath house and was not 90
particular as 10 how he went about
checking up on the situation. especially
as he had stubbed his own toe against
the heap as he rolled up the street
What In hell do you mean BY block
ing the sidewalk with this stuff" was
his opening-remArk, addressed rather
loosely 10 Mrs. Munter and the work
men hired for the repairs.
Mrs. Munter shifted twice and then
took 10 cover, but the laborers ven
tured reply. Taylor answered with
a brick, which struck a bearded on
locker on the cheek and put him out
OF action. And then the fight was on.
so hidden behind a cloud Of flying
bricks that no accurate account OF It's
progress could be obtained afterward.
The outstanding feature was the sue
cess OF a twelve year-old boy in sneak
ing the patrolmAns revolver out Of its
holster before IL could be brought into
action.
Tho reserves finally landed Taylor
in Clinton Street station, where
brief medical examination brought
verdict Of unfit for duty because OF
drinking" lie was held ut the station
for two hours and then allowed 20 90
home in the absence Of any civilian
complaint. An investigation into the
affair was started at once by Acting
Inspector Shaw Of the lst District,
who added that Taylor will eventually
be brought % trial ~ Police Head
quarters and that until then he is sus-
pended from the force.
When Mrs. Munter emerged from
her retreat che declared that two
weeks ago Taylor entered the Turkish
bath establishment in n condition ap-
parently similar 70 that revealed by
the medical findings yesterday. He
threatened her with arrest because
smoke from the water-heating plant
was escaping from the rear Of the
building. but finally went OF sulkily
without taking any action.