The New York herald., 1922-03-11
1000 Bottles of Whisky
Found-Band Had Three
Trucks to Canada.
KILLED LEAVING A SHIP
Engineer of Vessel Thought
Booze Runners Had Not Paid
for Their Two Cases.


two detectives were visiting early last
night on suspicion of bootlegging ac-
tivities, led to a running pistol battle
from the basement to the roof, in
which Detective Vance L. Lavendar
was shot through the shoulder, and
reserves were called to break into
room where two armed women barri-
caded themselves and defied the police.
One man and the two women were
arrested. Bottles of whisky were
found hidden in almost every room of
tEe house, which was luxuriously fur
nished The liquor seized amounted
to about 1000 bottles, bearing the
labels Of White Horse, Haig & Haig
and Johnny Walker.
Detective Lavendar received his
wound from Mollie Perselli aged 80,
the alleged accomplice of gang of
Canadian bootleggers who are believed
to have made the Charlton street
house their headquarters. Frank
Celano, the one man arrested, said he
lived at 1347 Forty-seventh street,
Brooklyn, and admitted, according TO
the police that he worked as chauffeur
for the gang, which keeps three big
cars busy carrying liquor across tie
border into New York.
Woman Keeps Bootleg Door.
Acting on tip received by Inspector
Underhill, Detectives Lavendar and
Herman Guran went to the Charlton
street house last evening, rang the base
ment bell and told the woman who came
TO the door that they wanted to see
Eddie" She told them Eddie was
not in, and was not expected until late
at night. They pushed past her and
started up the stairs to the first uoor.
The woman who let them in quickly
gathered what was up and tried TO
block their way.
she shouted at them, 'If / had gun
here Id blow your insides out" and
then screamed up the stairs as they
pushed her aside, shoot. Mollie, shoot"
The detectives had not reached the
first floor when Mollie opened fire. Two
men appeared beside her and general
interchange of shots began. Lavendar
felt a singing sensation in his shoulder
and at the same time noticed that one
of the men dropped his revoIver and ran.
One Man Escapes House.
MoIlie. the detectives said. ran into
room on the first floor. where she was
followed by the other woman, who said
later that she was Mrs. Marie Pamero.
Lavendar and Guran ran on upstairs
after the two men. One got out through
a window and down a rear fire escape.
Celano surrendered.
The detectives then went back to the
first floor and ordered the two women to
come out. They found the door heavily
barricaded so that they could moi push
II In. and one OF the women called out:
We've got plenty of guns in here.
Why don't you come on ing
I.avendar stayed on guard while
Guran went out and telephoned TO St.
vincent's Hospital and called FOR the
Charles street reserves.
When the reserves arrived the women
did no more shooting. but gave them
selves up only when the door to their
room was broken through.
Each bottle Made Into Three.
On the top floor of the house the po-
lice say they found quantity or White
Horse whisky labels and Canadian Gov
ernment stamps bearing the imprint Of
the Quebec Liauor Commission. They
also found a bottle of rum flavoring, an
alcohol gauge and some essence OF gin.
Celano told the police that all the liquor
he brought In over the border was di.
luted three times before II was sold 70
the patrons OF the gang.
The detectives said bank books were
found in the house which showed de-
posits amounting to about $s0.OO0 made
within the last six months. They would
not say In what banks the deposits were
made or to whom the books belonged.
A loaded .3S calibre revolver was found
in the breadbox In the kitchen. The
gun used by the woman known as Mollie
Perselli could not be located
The bullet that struck Lavendars
shoulder passed through his overcoat
and suit and through the strap Of his
suspenders. making slight flesh wound.
The detectives were certain that the man
who escaped was struck by one of their
bullets.
Boy, wounded. Is Suspected.
Later In the evening Detective Laven-
dar went TO ST. Vincent's Hospital and
talked to n boy who said he was jerry
Perrella of 43 Macdougal street and who
was seriously injured with bullet
wound In the chest. Lavendar said he
resembled the man who dropped the re-
voIver during the battle In the Charlton
street house. PeTela, however, said
he had been wounded In his fathers
butcher shop at 1876 West Houston
street when man brought In re-
volver he was trying to sell. He said
II was accidentally discharged and re-
fused to give the other mans name to
the police.
The three prisoners were taken to the
Continued on Page Six.
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