New-York tribune., 1922-04-01
Bandit Trap
Nets 4 After
Pistol Battle

4OVO1 RI&& ~ 6AS
CONTINUED from page ons)
look after my wife and baby. That's
all I want"
The promise was given. Brady and
Gotelli started out Mt the usual hour,
brady carrying the bag. Wing was be-
hind them. In the near vicinity were
Detective Sergeant Patrick Sheridan, Of
the strong arm squad, and detectives
Francis Wing, brother Of the leader:
Vincent Tiernan, Thomas Dolan, Jack
Smith, John Cronin, Charles Noye,
Christian Jorn, Rocco Brindizi and
Thomas Dugan, all concealed In door
ways, alleyways and wherever they
could find cover.
Brady and Gotelli had gone about
hundred feet on Forty first Street from
Park Avenue when John McGratn. thir-
ty, Of AL East Ninety-frst Street,
sauntered casually across the side
walk, stuck a revolver into Brady's
face and ordered him to stop. Brady
two feet from his chest. Behind Nc
Grath we're Charles Gallagher, twenty
! three, Of 203 East Seventy fourth
Street, and John Metz, thirty, Of 229
East Eighty ghth Street both Of them
pointing guns at Brady. 1t was neat
job, complete stick-up.
But as McGratn growled his order
at Brady Wing stepped forward and
shouted an even more imperative COM
mand to the bandit. "Throw up your
hands |" he yelled, and at the same mo-
ment fired.
A singing bullet diverted McGrath's
attention from his prospective victim;
he turned on the detective and fired
twice, missing with each shot. Then
Wing fired again, and McGrath crum-
pied on the sidewalk The policeman's
| second shot had found its mark
With Wings first shot swarm of de-
tectives broke cover from the surround
ing buildings and swept down on the
group, shooting as they ran. One bull
let shattered the plate glass window of
store. Pedestrians dropped instinct
| lively to the wet sidewalks, sacrificing
clothing to the urge for self-preserva-
/ tion. Women shrieked from windows
of apartments, and patrolmen came on
the run from all directions.
While this pandemonium ragged
around them the members of Wings
| posse were scientifically cleaning up
the bandit gang. McGrath, sobbing on
| the sidewalk, was smothered by the
bulky form of Wing. Two men boarded
! the Buick car which was standing at
the curb a dozen feet away, its motor
running, and Christopher Peppler,
Street, at The wheel. Pcppler was un-
armed, and made no resistance.
The other detectives fell on the es-
Gaping figures of Gallagher and Metz,
and brought them to the ground, fight
ing and struggling. In five minutes
the battle was over, and the detectives
had made what is regarded at Police
Headquarters as one of the most i'm
portant coups of the year.
Charles R. Brady, Of Bullville, N
j., turned back to the building where
he had left his employer. He was pale,
but entirely self-possessed.
"Well, Mr.. Masten," he said eve
sure put that one over
The hold-up, the police say, was
planned in an uptown restaurant more
than week ago, exactly as the police
tip had revealed. 1t was the intention
of the four men to return to this res
taurant in the automobile, which had
been stolen from Michael j. Dunno, of
2422 Webster Avenue, the Bronx, on
Thursday night. There they were to
divide the loot and separate. The
bandits told the police that another
Masten company, had planned most of
the setting, and had told them that
Brady would have anywhere from
$4,000 to $4,000 in the bag.
McGrath was to hold up Brady, COW
cred by Gallagher and Metz, who were
to protect him until he had returned
to the car, when he in turn WAS to
protect their escape to the automobile.
Peppler was then to step on the gas
and make the getaway by way of
Forty-frst Street and Second Avenue.
McGrath Not Seriously Hurt
The shot fired by Wing which
~ injure the man. A medical exam
ination revealed only scratch. along
his back. All four men were treated
at Police Headquarters for bruises and
esh wounds received in their rough and
tumble fight with the detectives.
The men all have records, the police
say. 1t was declared at Headquarters
after they had been finger-printed that
McGrath had been previously arrested
for burglary and drug pedd1ing; Pep
pier for burglary and for grand lar
ceny, on which latter charge he is now
out on bail, the police allege, and Gal
Metz, according to the records, was
twice arrested for disorderly conduct
in cases the disposition Of which does
not appear.
| After the excitement had somewhat
subsided and pedestrians In Forty-hrst
Street had achieved an approximate
understanding of the significance of
the battle which was raging around
] them the detective squad was heartily
/ cheered, while women threw kisses
from the windows from which they had
moment before shrieked "Murder!"
| There was no applause for the incon-
spicuous Brady. but what Masten said
to him and what Mrs. Brady said to
him after he got home to Bullvi!le last
evening is as much praise as is good
| for any man to hear.
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