The New York herald., 1922-09-18
NEWS STAND IS TRAP
FOR ACCUSED SLAYER
Youths Habit Of Buying Balti-
more Paper Results in
Arrest Here.

Traced through his habit of buying
Baltimore newspaper each day. Walter
Socolow, 10 years DID, under indictment
In Baltimore for murder in the first
degree, was arrested near newsstand
at Sixth avenue and Forty-second street
yesterday by detectives of the bomb
squad and the Burns Detective Agency.
He was locked up at Police Head
quarers in connection with the payroll
robbery of Hicks Tase & Norris
Baltimore contractors, In which William
b. Norris. member OF the firm, was
gust IS.
Socolow had just bought copy Of a
Baltimore newspaper when he was seized
by the detectives. He at first denied
that his name was Socolow. giving the
name of Walter Marello, but when taken
to Police Headquarters and searched
number of clippings concerning Balti-
more events. together with time tables
of trains running to that city. were found.
On being further examined he finally
admitted that he was Socolow and not
Marello. the detectives said, but denied
he was In any way implicated in the
murder and robbery.
Got Payroll Of &7.2G3.
According 70 the detectives Socolow,
together with four other men who were
part OF gang of nine operating in Bal
timore. help up Norris and Fred Koethe
clerk. as the two men, carrying the
contracting firms payroll of $7.263.70.
were leaving a Baltimore bank. Socolow
and his accomplices attacked the two
men from the rear. Socolow drawing his
revolver and shooting Norris In the
back without warning. afterward send
ing three bullets into his body as he
lay writhing on the sidewalk. Koethe
was knocked unconscious by the other
men and the five bandits escaped in an
automobile.
Several days later three OF the men
who took part in the robbery were
ca ptured, together with two others of
the gang to which they belonged. One
Of the men. Alters confessed to the
robbery. naming Socolow as the man
who did the shooting. He also i'm
plicated James Connolly of New York.
alias James Hart. alias Jack Holt. as
the gang leader. A reward of $4,000
was Immediately offered by John J. San
dry, acting chief Inspector of the Bait!-
and Connolly. Connolly was arrested In
Washington. D. c.. Saturday night. Ac-
cording to the police he has New York
prison record, having been arrested here
in 1918 for a shooting affray which oc-
CURED in Thirty-ninth street. between
Sixth and Seventh avenues.
Police Had Photograph.
A photograph OF Socolow was sent to
the New York Police Department some
time ago. Day before yesterday the
police received a tip that a man had been
bryipg Baltimore papers each morning
from tho stand In Times square. De-
tective Lieut.. Geegan and Detectives
Kelley and Browne Of the bomb squad,
and Detectives Charles Robb and Daniel
Merritt Of the Burns agency. were as
sign d TO watch the stand at the corner
Of sixth avenue and Broadway.
About ten o'clock young man
answering the description given by the
Baltimore police, but wearing horn RIM
med spectacles. dropped off surface
car. walked ur to the stand and bought
q paper. He was Immediately seized py
the detectives who were expecting
apht. Socolow offered no resistance.
however. as, according TO the detectives.
he vas SO nervous and frightened he
could scarcely talk. He carried no
weapons.
SocoIow told the detectives he would
rot fight cxtradition. papers Tor which
were issued yesterday by Gov. Ritchie
OF Maryland.