The New York herald., 1922-06-28
Laundryman Driving Wag-
on Struck by Stray Buk
let During Fight.
NEGRO BEATEN TO DEATH
Attempts to Kill Detective in
Police Station When He
Is Pounced Upon.

Detectives under Capt. John E. Nc
Grath of The Bronx Detective Bureau
announced last night that four young
men arrested in Mount Vernon had
confessed they were the bandits who
held up two messengers of the Bronx
National Bank at Willow avenue and
18th street yesterday morning and
stole payroll amounting to $500.
Alfred Costino. aged Al, of 2055 Second
avenue, driver of a laundry wagon,
was killed in pistol fight between
the bandits and the messengers
Adam Brede, aged Ga, or 1174 Forest
avenue, and James McClarey, 80, Of
531 East 150th street, the messengers,
picked the youths out of a lineup, the
detectives said. After this the con-
fessed bandits made conflicting state
ments, in which they swore that the
money had been hidden in a Mount
Vernon lunch room, changing the
story later by saying it had been
placed behind tree near the Boston
Post road. Capt. McGrath went to
Mount Vernon late last night with one
of the prisoners in an effort to re-
cover the money.
| Brede and McClarey were making
their way from the bank to the plant
OF the International Handkerchief Com
pany, at Willow avenue and 18th street,
when they were set upon by the robbers.
There followed deserate struggle. in
1 which Rrada yvhn bad baa
good fight despite his advanced years,
was felled by blow over the head.
The four robbers then attacked Nc
Clarey. overpowered him and grabbed a
satchel containing the money AS the
bandits fled toward an automobile stand
ing at the curb, with engine running.
McClarey pulled out pistol and fired
three shots in the air and two direct
at the fleeing machine.
stray Shot Kills Innocent Mnn.
The robbers returned the fire. In this
fusillade Costno, who had been driving
his wagon through the street, was
wounded. He died later in Lincoln Hos
pital.
McClarey and score Of witnesses
gave the police description of the rob-
bers and the number of the bandit car
This was sent out in a general alarm
About two hours afterward a traffic
policeman in Mount Vernon stopped a
machine that followed closely the de-
scription of the bandit car Four men
were in It, He took them to Police
Headquarters, where Lieut.. Michael Sill
verstein recognized one of the suspects
as an ex-Sonvict. The New York police
were notified and a squad of Bronx de-
tectives went to Mount Vernon.
| The four desCrihed tbau,ealvac Por-
! raciero Tuello. aged "a, a chauffeur, of
AL East 117th street; Tildo Bruno, "a,
a student. of 40 East 101st street John
Citro, 90. of 242 East 117th street, and
Tony De Lucca, %, of GIG East 161st
street, The Bronx. De Lucca, the police
said. was released recently from Sing
Sing prison. where he had served term
for picking pockets.
Alfredo May, who said she was De
Luccas sweetheart was arrested at the
16lst street address and held as a ma
terial witness. Charges OF homicide. as
sault and robbery were entered against
the four. McClarey also was held on
technical charge of homicide. the de-
tectives not being able to determine who
fired the shot that killed Costino.
Hubert Dent, aged 21. q negro OF 529
Lenox avenue. who had been arrested
on warrant in connection with a rob-
berry In the Harlem black belt" on April
{, was being finger printed by Detective
Redding OF the West 135th street station
the precinct In which three policemen
have lost their lives SO far this year
when he pulled the detectives pistol
from its holster and tried to shoot Red
ding. who is a light skinned negro. The
detective caught hold of Dents arm
and tried to force the pistol point toward
the floor. at the same time screaming
for help.
POunce On and XIII Negro
A half dozen policemen were in the
station at the time. They rushed in and
caught hold OF Dent. who was fighting
like "a madman. The experience 81
Policeman Motz-who was killed with
his own pistol by a prisoner in the back
room of the station--was still fresh In
the minds OF the policemen and detec-
tives, SO they took no chances and began
welding their blackjacks. Dent was
knocked out and was taken to Harlem
Hospital. where he died short time
later.
John r. Hennis, Assistant District At
torncy, who conducted an investigation.
said no one would be prosecuted for tho
killing. Dent was known as Tin Can"
and had given the police considera BILE
trouble. Mr.. Hennis said he had not de
termined whether Dent had been beaten
to death or II his death was due TO
alcoholism, coupled with the struggle
with Detective Redding.
E..ward Hamilton, an Erie Railroad
detective. was wounded in the leg in n
pistol battle with eight bandits who
tried to hold UP n freight train near
Hohokus. N. j. Hamilton was in the
caboose when an air hose between two
cars was cut, stopping the train. He
climbed to the top Of car and was
confronted by two robbers, who opene /
fire at him. Five others jumped out of a
clump of bushes and made for the train
while an eighth man, on bridge, fired
at the detective. A bullet from the lat
ter's pistol felled the detective. The
crew. hearing the shots, ran back and
the bandits fled II is believed the rob-
bers were after $4,000 worth Of whisky
which they believed was aboard the