The New York herald., 1922-01-17
f. c. Brojer Tried to Shoot Him
in Dark Stairway, J. j.
O'COnnell Asserts.
SHOT ALSO AT CHAUFFEUR
Dead PatrOlman Was on RAM
page, According to Taxicab
Driver.

Patrolman Frank C. Brojer Of GIL
Cauldwell avenue, The Bronx, attached
to the Alexander avenue station, was
shot and killed at 10 o'clock last night
on the stairway Of tenement house
in 759 Columbus avenue. by Patrolman
James j. OConnell of the West Tooth
street station.
Patrolman O'Connell, who was
placed under arrest on a technical
charge of homicide, told his superior
officers that Brojer twice tried to kill
him but that each time his pistol
missed fire.
Patrolman OConnell said that about
ten o'clock he was patrolling his beat,
going north near Ninety seventh street
and Columbus avenue. when he heard a
police whistle. At first he could not
place the direction from which it came,
but he heard it again, and this time it
seemed to come from an upstairs win
dow of the house in No. 759. between
Ninety seventh and Ninety eighth
streets. He ran into the house and
started up the stairs, which were in
darkness.
In Darkcned Hallway.
The policeman had gone through the
hall and reached the stairs when he
heard one one coming down. softly
but hurriedly. He waited a. the foot OF
the stairs and when the figure came
down far enough so it was outlined In
the bit of light that filtered in from the
street through the half opened door
Patrolman OConneli saw the figure was
a man and that he had revolver in his
hand. O'Connell shouted to the man to
put his hands up, but instead the man
on the stairs threw his gun forward and
fired.
Patrolman O'Connell said he heard the
click as the firing pin of the pistol
snapped against the cartridge. but there
stairs cursed and pressed the trigger OF
his gun again. but again there was no
explosion. Before the man could try Il
the third time O'Connell fired one shot.
His bullet struck the man on the stairs
in the heart and he rolled down the
stairway into the hall. He was dead
when Dr. Martin of Knckerbocker Hos
pital examined him.
Brojer in Plain Clothes.
Brojer was not recognized as a po-
licemsn by Patrolman O'Connell, as he
was in plain clothes. O'Connell sent
word to the West Tooth street station
that he had killed man who had tried
to kill him. and detectives were sent 10
investigate by Capt. William j. Clark.
in command of the precinct.
Brojer was not recognized as a police
man by O'Connell as he was in plain
clothes. His identity was established
when detectives searched his body and
found his shield The reason for his
presence in the Columbus avenue house
was not known until detectives found
James Mccormick. taxicab chauffeur
of 106 Bradhurst avenue, who COM
planned to them that short time before
the killing of Brojer man who said
he was a policeman had fired two shots
at him. Mccormick went TO the police
station and identified Brojer as this
man.
The chauffeur said he was waiting In
front of the Reconstruction Hospital for
a fare when Brojer came from a sta
tionery store across the street He was
drunk, the chauffeur said. and ordered
Mccormick to drive him around"
threatening him when the chauffeur re-
fused on the ground he had fare
Finally Brojer got into the machine and
Mccormick started IL. He had gone but
few yards. he said, when Brojer fired
two shots through the Windshield from
inside the cab.
At the second shot Mccormick Jumped
to the street and the taxicab lurched for
ward to Ninety-ninth street and Central
Park West, where 1t struck a tree and
storped. Brojer got out. Mccormick
said. and ran into house in CentraE
Park West. II is believed he made his
way across the roofs TO Columbus ave-
nue. and jumped through the skylight OF
759. a woman Hving in the house heard
the crash of glass and leaning from the
window blew a police whistle, which at
rncted the attention of OC'onncil.