The New York herald., 1922-02-26
SHOT AS HE CLINGS
TO$1,5OO PAYROLL
Meter Company Officer Dying
After Attack by Bandits at
Bush Terminal.
ARM BETRAYS A BURGLAR
Fordham University Thievery
Ends i'm Arrest-Doctor and
Girl Held Up in Park.

John f. Smith, vice-president of the
Superior Meter Company, was shot in
the abdomen at the entrance of the
Bush Terminal Building No 2. 254
Thirty-sixth street. Brooklyn, where.
his office is located. end robbed of
$3.50 yesterday by two bandits, one OF
whom struck down with revolver
butt Peter F. McEnnery of 50 Hancock
street. chief engineer of the meter COM
pany.
Two small boys saw the holdup and
shouted at the bandits as they dashed
for an automobile which was waiting
at the curb. The bandits turned and
leve1ed their revolvers at the boys. who
thereupon remained silent, and the car
was driven away. There was no pur-
suit.
Smith was taken to Norwegian Hos
pital where an operation was performed
directly for the removal of the bullet
There is small hope that he viii iiVe'
The money stolen constituted the pay
roll, and had been carried by Smith
and McEnnery from the branch OF the
Mechanics Bank at Third avenue and
Fifty-first street.
Shot when He Hesitates.
Smith was shot because he hesitated
to obey the command of the bandits TO
put UP his hands. He and McEnnery
were within a few steps Of the door
when the bandits stepped out of an auto
mobile which drew along the curb. smith
held under his arm the package con-
tanning the money. One of the oandlts
blocked his way with drawn revolver
Smith clutched the package still more
tightly, looked at the bandit and then
at the bandits accomplice. who stood
beside McEnnery with a drawn revolver
"Ouick. We're not fooling" the
bandit exclaimed.
Smith turned and made as II TO dash
for the door, when the bandit hred'
Smith crumpled to the sidewalk and at
the same moment the second oandlt
brought down the revolver butt with
heavy thwacl< on McEnnery's head.
When McEnnery recovered crowd had
gathered and Smith was unconscious
from his wound.
The boys. John de Tirro, -. and Tony
Romano. Q, both of $50 Twenty-ninth
street gave the police description OF
the men. Smiths home is at 334 East
Sixty-nirth street, Manhattan.
Couple Robbed In Crotona Park
Dr. David Leffler of 1912 Faile street
and Miss Cele Smolen of 1892 Intervale
avenue The Bronx, were walking
Though Crotona Park late last night
when three men approached them at
173d street, two of them brandishing
revolvers, and commanded them 10
throw up their hands.
Miss Smolen. before putting up her
hands, slipped diamond ring from her
finger and placed it in her mouth and
the bandits took no notice OF the move
ment. A small amount of money was
taken from the pockets of DR.. LETTER,
after which the bandit trio scattered,
warning their victims not to give an
alarm.
Later the police arrested three men in
the park. The men gave thcir names
as William Maltbe, 81, OF S2l9 Thlrd
avenue; Fred Cook. 80, of S53l Third
avenue, and Ernest Lassow, 70, or 2OS
Lenox street, Brooklyn. Loaded revolv-
ers were found on Maltbe and COOK,
and the former also had TWO gold
WatcneS. n C0dln anu a. hit'4CiiN hAf'o
In his possession. the police said.
Dr. Leffler and Miss Smol,a1 identi-
fled the three men as their assailants,
according to the police. but the prison
ers denied any knowledge Of the hold~
up. DR.. Leffler does not know Just how
much money1the bandits took from him.
College Students Preyed Upon.
Numerous petty robberies at Ford
ham University have caused consider
able excitement among the student body
during the last six weeks, and yesterday
Joseph Covelli. 23, OF 402 West 116th
street. was arrested in one OF the fac
ulty rooms Detectives Pickett and Fal-
Ion of the Bronx Park station said that
Covelli confessed the robberies. He was
taken TO Morrisana court and held by
Magistrate George w. Simpson in s1,50O
bail for examination tomorrow. Wear
ing apparel jewelry and saxaphone
were included among the stolen articles,
which altogether were valued at $500.
Coyelli was questioned after his cap
ture by Father Robb, project OF ais
clpline at the university and on being
searched, il was alleged, was FOUND TO
have a gold watch and some athletic
medals owned by Charles Randolph of
Boston. a resident student, which were
stolen on January "a. Covelli was not
a student.
Mrs. Nathan Rothier of S04 Bedford
avenue was awakened early yesterday
by a noise at her door, and sent her
husband to investigate. He saw a man
arm reaching through the door to un-
latch a chain by which 1t was fastened,
and seized the mans arm and wrist.
The man pulled away and ran down
stairs, and was followed by Rothier'
who called Patrolman John Mclaughlin.
The policeman arrested Lorenzo Reral-
dio of Eatontown, n. j. and in Bridge
Tlaza court the defendant was held
without bail for examination on charge
of burglary.
Milk drivers who have routes IN Har-
lem have been victimized lately by
negroes who waited for them in hall
ways and beat and robbed them De-
tectives Of the West 135th street sta
ton investigating these complaints ar
rested yesterday Robert Mundle of 6S
West 134th street and said that three
of the alleged victims identified him.