The New York herald., 1922-02-18
Policeman Fires at Fleeing
Thieves and Perhaps
Wounds One.
WOMAN ROBBED OF 1896
Three More Large Fur Hauls
Net $4,000 LOot-Arrests
in Old Theft Case.

Richard hahfS, 4 messenger OF the
Pacific Bank branch, Madison avenue
and Fifty-seventh street, accompanied
by guard. Joseph P. Hynes. failed to
get his revolver in action quick enough
yesterday at First avenue and Six
tieth street, almost under the Queens
borough Bridge. and seven bandits
stole the $4,000 payroll he was to de-
liver to the Gotham Silk Hosiery Com
pany, 430 East Fiftieth street. The
bandits leaped from an automobile
which drew alongside the curb, struck
the weapon from Kahrs's hand the
moment he drew it and shot him in
the back in the struggle for the pay
roll.
Hynes, who was at Kahrs's side.
was bowled over by one of the bandits
and was put out of the contest in the
first clash. The messenger and Hynes
had stopped to deliver some money to
the Economy laundry, at First avenue
and Sixty-second street, and were
walking south in First avenue when
the bandits appeared. The street was
crowded with vehicles and pedestrians.
Kahrs was carrying the leather bag
containing the money. -Four bandits
were in the automobile. Three others.
confederates. were lurking in a doorway
across the street. Hynes was nearest
the curb and was taken by surprise
xrtAo .fN H.
from the automobile. and the three
others dashed across the street to give
aid. Hynes was knocked down and
Kahrs had a moment of warning in
which he drew his revolver. One of
the bandits struck his arm a terrible
blow with reversed pistol, and Kahrs
dropped the weapon, but kept his hold
on the bag. Kahrs yeiIed for help and
Kept his hold. until one of the bandits
put pistol to his back and shot him,
Policeman Shoots Mt Things.
Three of the bandits sprang back to
the automobile. and the three others
stood on the running board as the car
dashed away. Capt Patrick Corcoran
OF the Queensborough Bridge police sta
tion arrived as the car was getting
away and fired three shots. He said he
saw one of the bandits fall into the
car and believes the man was wounded
Ihe car escaped at Sixty-first street
and Avenue A. Kahrs, who lives at II
West 1O6th street, was taken 10 Re-
ception Hospital.
An automobile with bullet hole
through the windshield and the rear cur-
tain. a bloody handkerchief and torn
slips OF paper, indicating that It was
used by the bandits. was found last
nlght In front OF 43 West Ninety-seventh
street py Patrolman John Reichle of the
west iOOtn street station. One OF the
DTS or paper was a deposit slim of tho
Pacific Bank and the other read
"Goth-.' evidently indicating the
Gotham silk Hosiery Company. There
were no Initials on the handkerchief
The blood stains were believed to bear
out Capt. Corcoran's statement that he
wounded one of the bandits.
Inc car had the license number 442O4
N. y, and inside was another license
plate with the number 1878 N. Y. The
latter number was said by the police To
represent an automobile owned by Harry
Muller of n Lamont avenue, EImhurst.
Queens. and believed to be stolen.
Janifress Robbed of S7es Cold.
The savings of Mrs. Antona Melen-
chuk. 40. and her husband. which
amounted to s795 all In gold pieces
were stolen from her yesterday at 1917
Washington avenue The Bronx. where
she is employed "a janitress. by two
men who bound and gagged her Mrs.
Melenchuk Kept the money in pouch
tied about her right leg.
The men escaped after the robbery
and Mrs. Melenchuk was found by Nor
ris Jarow, proprietor of n nearby store.
who had seen the woman's struggles
with the bandits through the window
and had hurried to her rescue
Mrs. Melenchuk said the robbers got
into the apartment on q pretext of in
quiring the address OF the landlord, and
while she was looking through Il note
book to get it drew revolvers and told
her to sit on n couch. When she did
so they wound a table cloth around her
head. tied her hands and feet and
searched for the money. The apartment
houses twenty-four families. but none
Of them heard her struggles or her cries
for help before the gag was applied.
Detectives OF the West Thirtieth street
station disclosed yesterday that three big
fur hauls have been made recently, the
loot amounting to $4,000
Thieves stole goods valued at 81, 900
from Wachtman & Greenhurg at 3i3
Seventh avenue. evadlng protective
wires, last Monday night. Tuesday
night or Wednesday morning furs val
ued at 80 800 were taken from the store
OF Wciuburg & witt. % West Thirty
stolen from b. Harris. % West Twenty-
Al. g.t.s - 4.