The New York herald., 1922-01-27
ESCAPE IN LIMOUSINE
Manager Mallon and Others
Pursue Fugitives, Who
Finally Disappear.
CROWDS MUCH EXCITED
Quick Action Spoils Plot, but
Throngs Prevent Shots at
Fleeing Robbers.

Three bandits armed with, revolvers
tried last night at 9 o'clock to rob
Anthony Schaeffer, collector for the
Shubert theatrical interests, of a
bundle containing $4,000 in front of
Jolsons Fifty-ninth Street Theatre at
Seventh avenue and Fifty ninth street.
Schaeffer lodged back into the lobby
of the theater, however, as soon as
one Of tie bandits jammed revolver
against his stomach, and the ringing
Of alarm gongs caused the bandits to
run. They escaped down Seventh ave-
nue. in big black limousine. pursued
by Benjamin Mallon, one of the thea
ter house managers, in taxicab.
Behind and alongside the taxicab
where Mallon perched on the running
beard, carrying revolver and blowing
police whistle. ran other taxicabs and
several private cars. But no one made
much offort excepting Mallon to get
very close to the limousine, because the
bandits had the windows Of their car
up and one man leaned from either side
Of the car with revolver in his hand.
AS soon as some energetic taxicab
driver or private chauffeur would get
his car close to the limousine one of the
tandits would order him back and
threaten to shoot. The bandits thus
made their way, to Forty-seventh street
without a shot being fired. There they
closed the windows Of their car, went
Gown Broadway and vanished In the
traffic. .ls
Alone in Car with Cash.
Schaeffcr. who makes nightly rounds
Of the Shubcrt theaters. collects the
days receipts and then deposits the
money in one of the all night bank
branches. drove up to the Fifty-ninth
street Theater soon after nine o'clock.
driving a small automobile delivery
wagon with a covered top. which looked
Ike anything but money car. He was
aione and in the car he had a package
containing about $4,000. the money he
bad collected from the other Shubert
theaters. the Fifty-ninth street house
being the last on his route.
Schaeffer said afterward that as he
drove along the avenue he noticed
Hack limousine with engine running
end a man at the wheel, standing in
Seventh avenue near F'ifty-eighth street,
hut did not pay much attention to 1t.
The collector went into the theatre
and saw Mallon, who handed him
bundle wrapped In newspaper and con-
tanning $4,000. the days receipts of AL
Jolson's playhouse. Schaeffer had left
the other money outside in the car, as
he had always done. Mallon went with
him to the door Of the lobby when
Schaeffer started to leave and opened
the door for the collector. throwing his
hand across Schaeffer's shoulder to do
so. Schaeffer stepped onto the side
walk through the doors first, however,
and Immediately a man who had been
waiting there jammed a revolver against
his stomach.
give me that bundle!" cried the
bandit.
Quick wit FoiIs Bandit.
Mallon was police sergeant for many
years before he went with the Shuberts
and he had been trained to think quickly
In such an emergency. He showed the
door open wider. shouted for Schacffer
TO run, and at the same time made a
motion as II he were going to draw a
gun from his pocket. Tho movement
disconnected the bandit. His gun wab-
bled and before he could fire Schaeffer
had drawn back. duclsed under Mallon's
arms and run into the lobby. Another
man sprang to assist the first bandit,
but Mallon slammed the door In their
faces and leaped back 20 the box office.
There the former policeman reached
behind the grill and touched two push
buttons. which set off the two alarm
gongs one on the Seventh avenue side
Of the house and the other on the
Ffty-ninth street side. Then he grabbed
an automatic pistol from drawer in
side the ticket office. and with this
in his hand he ran through the swing
ing doors onto the sidewalk just in
time TO see two of the bandits running
south in Seventh avenue toward their
car. Ife started after them. when he
heard woman who was passing shout
Lookout There's another oner'
Mallon turned in time TO see third
man jump out of the lobby of the the
alter, where he had evidently been hid
ing. although he had taken no part In
the attempted holdup. Mallon threw
his gun forward and shouted at the man
TO halt, but he kept running and
reached the limousine. jumped inside
and the car started off. Mallon could
not shoot on account OF the crowds, but
he started tho pursuit at once.