New-York tribune., 1922-03-16
Brooklyn Officer Is Slain
at Post by Bandit i'm
Flight After Woman
Foiled Hold.UpAttempt
Seized After Battle
Among Tombstones
Vatchman. Joining in the
Chase, Shoots War Vet
eran; Accomplice Flees

JOAN T. NcMail, patrolmsu at.
.sched TO the Liberty Avenue station.
Brooklyn. w&s shot aud fatally
vourded about : O'Clock yesterday
afternoon by hold-up man
Tony Rabasovich, believed to be the
nan who SHOT McMail without giving
him chance to reach for his revolver,
was shot through the neck by Samuel
Cohen. 8 watchman. in q battle few
minutes later among the tonlbstones of
a stonecutter's yard at Rockaway Ave
rue and Osborn Street.
Rabasovich, veteran Of the
Canadian overseas forces and the Rus
sian contingent of the French army.
Nas fully equipped for last stand
fght. He had five pistols, three Of
them automatics, q hunting knife. a
blackjack and pair Of handouts Al
though his wound is serious ono. he
probably will recover.
The episode. whose closing scenes
were seen by hundreds Of persons and
which gave the Brownsville section Of
Brooklyn thrill Of fear and thrill
Of pride, had its humble beginning in
the dark and narrow hallway leading
to the flats above dclicatessen store
at 26o Watkins Street.
"oman's Blow Staggcrs Bandit
A litt'e before O'Clock Mrs. Anna
Moshck, who lives above the store.
entered the hallway with a mesh bag
containing cabbage and numerous
lsss hardy vegetables and a handbag
containing about 81. Two men cor
fronted her as she opened the door.
One OF them was Tony Rabasovich and
ire other she knows also, che says.
Both lad rovolvers. but Mrs Moishek's
conviction that they were buns en-
sbied her to disregard the weapons.
Hand over your money! demanded
Tony.
tired Mrs. Moishek Indignantly. u
sorS for my money!"
Tory grabbed for her handbag.
which Mrs. Moishek had in her left
Send. Mrs. Moishek swung her right
and smote Tony on the left ear with
the bag. He staggered against the
vi. ard Mrs. Moishek walked out.
AaMmins the door behind her. She
made for a drug store OF the corner
With q wrath that was potent and
ngtteous. She was gcins to complain
bout this TO the police.
Alta ked on Return Home
Size informed the proprietor of the
drug store Of her purpose as soon as
she was inside.
u want you to cali up the police"
said Mrs. Moishek firmly. Tell them
there are two buns in my hallway"
Waiting Only to sec. the proprietor
move toward the telephone, Mrs. Moi
a nf ltA Il
started home. While the cabbage held
together she had no fear Of Tony
Rsbasovich or any Of his friends
Tony and his friend were waiting for
Ter, and their temper was not I'M
proved by their experience. Mrs. Moi
shek had scant opportunity to swing
her cabbage One seized her by the
throat. The other felled her with q
blow IN the face.
She fell fighting. She scratched and
nlt and screamed and always she held
close TO her side the handbag contain
ng the 81. Such din Of fighting arose
up men gave UP and took to their heels.
Mrs Moishek in hot pursuit, screaming
as she ran.
One Hundred Neighbors Give Chase
Her neighbors rallied to her aid. a
lundred or moro went pelting down
Watkins Street behind Tony and his
friend, who turned into Sutter Avenue
and ran toward Osborn Street, block
away.
Patrolman McMail was standing
mere, his back to the chase. He had
Iust Scribbled summons and handed
~ 10 pushcart peddler. The two fusi-
yves were within fifty feet of him be-
1pre McMaiPs ears caught the tumult.
ne wheeled, stufing his summons back
'1to MS pocket as he did so.
AZ the same moment Rabasovich and
ms pal caught sight of the blue uni
.orni. One of the pair--no one could
remember afterward which it was
stopped IN his tracks and levelled his
Continued on pese fcur)
IT