New-York tribune., 1922-01-18
Detectives, Lying in Wait
at West 29th St. Store.
Shoots Bandits Lead
er, Who Flces in Auto
Pals Taken i'm Gun
Battle i'm 5th Ave,
Arrests, 1t Is Believed,
Will Clear Up Thefts
of 100000 in Furs

ono man was shot to death and six
cfhcrs were captured last night when
detectives Of the safe and loft squad
in command of Captain John Stapleton,
surprised a robbcr band known as the
"f've Minute Gang" in the act of loot
INg the Import Fur Company's store.
1915 West Twenty Street.
The dead man was Francis Nc
Ardle, twenty-five years DID, who was
said to have lived at 258 West Twenti-
eth Street. McArdlc was shot through
the lungs. When placed on the opcr-
at'ng table at New York Hospital it
was found his wounds were mortal. He
died an hour later.
The policemen, acting under Captain
Stapleton, including Detectives Hoff-
man, Moriarty, Schauss, DAILY and
Reilly, had trailed McArdle and his
companions for more than eight hours
when the burglary attempt was made
at 9:l5 o'clock. The police acted on
information that came into their pos
session when an attempt was made two
" ~ h' oSo W NfiPtulS Lut Si!uc gang.
The gang captured, according to the
police, is one of the most expert ever
organized in carrying out burglares
involving property worth thousands of
dollars during the five minutes sup
posed to elapse between release of an
automatic burglar alarm and arrival
of the special detective squad main
tanned by burglary insurance concerns.
The average time taken for patrol
to reach given point in it's area is
said to be five minutes. For that rca-
son this particular band became known
to the police as "the five minute
gang
Detectives Lay in Wait
McArdle and his companions drove
to the fur store in q closed automobile.
When the car drew up few doors from
tective Reilly was in ambush across
the street and the other detectives
vera guarding thorvicinity, prepared to
head off an escape.
Immediately on the arrival Of the
robber car. McArdle emerged and went
to the basement door Of the fur house,
where he began work with ratchet
drill on the steel plates round patent
lock,
The automobile contining two of Nc
Ardle's companions swung into n side
street and stopped. The two men got
out and posted themselves on corners
as lookouts. Another car, containing
three of the robbers, was stopped half
disposed to watch for interference, the
police say.
Twenty Shots Exchanged
Two minutes after McArdle began
work Detective Reilly dashed across
Twenty ninth Street revolver in hand.
He was instantly recognized and the
alarm given. Before he could reach
the other side of the street McArdlc
dashed out Of the basement, entered
the automobile and was driven away at
high speed. Detectives Reilly and
Schass, in the police car gave chase,
firing as they went. Twenty shots were
fired, six of which perforated the body
of the car. One bullet hit McArdle,
whose companions at once drove him
TO New York Hospital.
After leaving their wounded COM
panion in care of surgeons, who de-
clared an immediate operation neces-
sary, the other occupants Of the car
drove away. They were later captured
in detachments. All were placed under
arrest before II o'clock.
Six Captured by Police
The prisoners gave their names as
John J. O'Mara, twenty-four years old,
363 West Thirty-sixth Street; Timothy
O'Mara, twenty-seven Ala West Twen-
ty-ninth Street; John Donnelly, twen-
ty-one, Ais West Twenty-ninth Street;
John Carrie, twenty, 456 West Eigh-
tecnth Street; William Butler, twenty
two, 4O1 West Thirtyfourth Street,
and Charles Boylan, twenty-seven, 454
West Thirty-third Street
All the prisoners were locked up at
West Thirtieth Street station after
questioning that lasted until after mid
night According to the police, in
formation was obtained that will GO
far toward breaking up the fur rob
berries which have caused losses of
more than $3,OOO,O00 within the last
year. All the men are held on charges
of attempted burglary.
The capture of McArdle's compan-
ions is due to the distribution of forces
directed by Captain Stapleton, whose
men were in position to use armed
detachmcnts in pursuit of the gang
which divided into pairs and fled in
three directions.
Butler, one of the men under arrest
is said by the police to be son of
Richard Butler, former Assemblyman
whose name was associated with the
escape from Matteawan of Harry Thaw
following the latter's incarceration in
CONTINUED on page four)