New-York tribune., 1922-03-13
Samuel Hadas, Cashier in
Whittier Hall Dormitory
Pharmacy, Is Shot Dead
as He Springs at Thug
Robbers Escape in
Auto With Wosa,a,,
Feminine Patrons at Soda
Stand See Student Die;
Trio Flecs WithO,tLoot

n long. black touring car drew M
last night at the curb ut the northeast t
corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 120th
street and three men lcapcd out, cav-
ing woman and a man in the car.
The trio started for the brilliantly
lighted drug store Of Charles Fricdgen.
directly opposite the spot where the
car had stopped and located in Whit
tier Hall, ono Of the largest Of the
Columbia University dormtorics.
Three men fingered on the sidewalk
outside of the drug store for moment
and then walked swiftly in, drawing
rcvolvers as they entered. A moment
later shot was heard inside the
store, two women customers rushed
out screaming, and right after them
came the three men, each carrying A
revolver. On the floor Of the drug
incloscd cashiers cage, lay Samuel
Hadas, twenty nine year old Columbia
dental student, who had been working
part time as cashier Of the store.
Showed Fight to Bandits
The refusal Of Hadas and William
Carroll, a clerk, to allow the store to
be robbed had cost Hadas his life He
had been shot through the right chest
and killed instantly.
The gunmcn, upon reaching the side
walk, which was thronged with pedcs-
trians, the majority of whom were uni
versity students, fired five or six shots,
raced across Amsterdam Avenue to
their machine, and were driven away.
The car sped through l%0th Street to
Broadway, where it turned South. The
woman in The car was seen by many
persons. but no adequate description
was obtained.
The Fricdgen drug store is on the
ground floor Of the Whittier Hall dor
mitory. The building is opposite the
Columbia campus. which runs from
Amsterdam Avenue to Broadway. The
front vcranda Of the structure was
throngcd with young women students
at the time the bandits entered and
tho numerous tea rooms and rcstau-
rants along the avenue were filed. The
street itself was thronged with pc
dextrians. The store, however, was not
crowded The gunmen, it seemed, had
delayed their arrival until they thought
the store deserted by customers.
When they entered the two women
customers who rushed out q moment
later were at the soda fountain on
the 12Oth Street side. Others in the
store besides these two woman and
Hadas and Carroll the clerk were j.
P. Muller, the store manager, who was
in the rear filling prescription; a
delivery boy, who also was in the rear,
and the soda dispenser. Hadas was IN
his glass inclosed cage, which is on
the right of the store, near the en-
trance. Showcases, upon which are
candy and other articles, run through
the center of the store, similar TO par
tition, and it is believed that this OBJ
structed the view Of the bandits and
that thew were not aware of the
presence of the women. At any rate,
it made no apparent difference III their
plans.
Carroll and lIadas, the police learned,
caught sight of the revolvers carried
by the trio the instant they entered.
and without even so much as glance
at each other seemed to decide upon
their plan Of action. Carroll, behind
a counter which adioins the cashiers
cage. leaned over and grabbed the wrist
Of a bandit who had yelled Hands up!"
Hadas, ready to Join his fellow en-
ployee in the fight, darted from out of
his cage and sprang toward another Of
the intruders.
Robber on Guard Fires
The third robber, who had remained
at the front entrance, saw this. He
lcveled a As caliber revolver and fred
at the cashier. The bullet, after en-
terinr Hadas's chest, powed through
his body and imbedded itself in the
wall behind him. Hadas sank to the
floor.
The two women customers screamed
and ran toward the door They were
shrieking as they passed out. This
noise and the display OF courage on
the part Of the two store attaches ap-
narently unnerved the gunmen and
thev. too. started for the 'front.' door.
They rached the sidewalk, fired their
revo]vers to frighten off pursuers,
dashed across the street to the car and
As the shots were fired on the side
walk heads popped from windows OF
apartment houses, stores and tea rooms
along the avenue were rapidly emptied
anC Columbia girls swarmed down INTO
the street from the dormitory. Crowds
surged about the drug store until the
arrival of police reserves. Among the
FIRST of the police to arrive were Cap
tain Joseph Thompson. Detective
Stephen Love, Detective James Fltzpat-
rick and Patrolman George Mahoney.
Several assistant district attorneys
CONTINUED on page three)