New-York tribune., 1922-09-04
One G.. ards Chauffeur
and 2 Others Seize and
Beat Pair as They En-
ter Home i'm Flatbush
800, 900 Gems Are
Left as Men Flee
Three Nephews of Neigh
Dor Arrested; Released
When an Alibi Is Given


i turned from the theater to Mrs.
Sweeney's pink and white stripe avn
inged stucco home, at 1916 Avenue N,
Flatbush. The burglars took money
and jewels valued at $1,000, but were
frightened away before they could
strip Mrs. Sweeney of diamonds and
other precious stones worth $4,000.
Through an unfortunate coincidence
the police Of the Sheepshead Bay pre-
cinct arrested thu three nephews Of
Mrs. sweeney's neighbor, Max Wal
nicker, of 1914 Avenue N, and locked
them up on the charge suspicion of
burglary" in spite Of an impressive
alibi.
Mrs. Sweeney, widow, forty-three
| years old, is the owner and executive
head Of Thomas F. Meehan & Sons
Lumber Company, of 43 Van Brunt
Street, Brooklyn. With her lives her
bobbed and blonde haired niece, Mrs.
/ McNaught, and Wilhelm, German po-
lice dog, expensively educated to deal
1 with the criminal classes.
/ Had Been to Theater
! 1t was about o'clock Sunday morn
ing, according to Mrs. McNaught, when
they returned from the theater, and
Mrs. Sweeney's chauffeur, Michael
Fein, of sos Prospect Avenue, the
Bronx, opened the door.
| planned Mrs. McNaught yesterday be-
tween trips to her aunt's boudoir up
/ stairs. "It was so late when we got
home that my aunt, Mrs. Sweeney, told
the chauffeur, Fein he had better re-
main all night instead of going home
to the Bronx. The other servants
/ were away. He came in ahead of
! usn'------
II had got up to the second floor,
turning on the lights as | went" in
| terrupted Fein, "when masked fellow
word outta you. Up against the wall
/ or I'll fill you full Of Lead What could
do? Two others wearing white hand
kerchiefs over their faces came out
of room and then hustled down stairs.
The first one told them I'll take care
| of this guy meaning me-"
"My aunt" continued Mrs. McNaught,
twas half way UP the stairs that rise
from the reception hall when the rob-
ran down yelling. We both rushed out
of the reception hall into the sun par
lor and that's where they grabbed us.
1 One OF them said Give us that laval
! liere' and reached for Mrs. Sweeney s
/ throat. We were screaming and the
men began to hit us with Nblackjacks.
My aunt was knocked down. ! pushed
my hand through the panel of glass be-
side the door of the sun parlor and the
~ - IL %o frtrx 20, thn
men. guess they thought the police
4 had come. They rushed back into the
house, upsetting furniture as they
went into the kitchen, down to the base
/ ment and out the cellar door. They
had gotten in that way"
Chauffeur Goes for Police
| Fein, ~ jumped into the car and drove
| to the police booth at Kings Highway
/ and East Twelfth Street. It's about a
quarter of mile. | brought a
/ policeman back with me and he arrested
| the three fellows they got locked up.
One of 'em might be the fellow that
held me up in the hall, but I'm not
sure"
1t was Policeman James Quiglcy, of
the Sheepshead Bay precinct, who re-
turned with Fein. After hurried sur
vey Of the scene he directed that an
ambulance be called to look after the
4 look for the burglars. When he re-
! turned not long afterward he had with
/ him several other policemen, who were
assisting to guard Herman, twenty
years old, and Harry Simon, twenty
/ four, brothers, Of 302 Madison Street,
| Brooklyn, and their cousin, Harry c..
Simon, 97s Myrtle Avenue, All of the
young men are clerks. They are
nephews of Max Walnicker.
Look what they got In their
pockets" commanded Policeman Quig-
| ley, and held up for inspection a
whisky glass. The burglars" had taken
Mrs. Sweeney's sideboard.
"What of that?" cried Herman and
| Harry. "We just come from our home,
where our sister Amelia got married.
"My cousin Amelia" amended
Harry.
Says He Drove Uncle Home
al drove Uncle Max home in his car, !"
explained Herman "It was decided
when the party was over that for one
reason and another should. Harry,
my brother, and Harry, my cousin, fol-
| lowed in the coupe SO they could bring
me back home. IL you hadn't been IN
| such hurry you'd have been able to
ask Uncle Max He's out there in his
garage now
The three Simons were taken to
the Sheepshead Bay station and ques-
| toned further. Before long they
had gained the distinction Of being
questioned by acting Chief Inspector
| Cornelius CaIahane, who came from
Headquarters. Mrs. Sweeney, it seems,
lis a friend of Commissioners Richard
Enright.
4 Uncle Max Walnicker added his pro-
tests to those of his nephew when they
were arraigned later in the morning in
Coney Island court, and Magistrate
| Giesmar was SO impressed with their
story that he agreed to their being re-
/ leased In $1,000 bail and forbade the
1 police TO fngerprint them.
/ When all Of the excitement had sub
sided in Avenue N the chauffeur,
| Michael Fein, unlocked the garage to
/ put the car away, and when he did out
4 dashedv Wilhelm, the German police
/ dog, barking furiousiy because he had
been deprived Of his first opportunity
IN darn rsy1 70 IN synffh ftf hfs ad,.rp.