New Britain herald., 1929-05-10
B()LD HOLDUP MAN LOSES HIS NERVE
 AND TAKES FLIGHT
Youth Conlronts North Street Barber With Pistol, Demands
 Money, Changes Mind
MELETTI REMAINS CALM
 AS HE LOOKS INTO GUN

Police Find 20 Youths Answering
 Description Of Fugitivcs as They
 Hunt Through Streets in North
 End.
 William Meletti of 59 North street was in his barbershop at Ss North street, just around the cor ner from Main street. about S:S" this forenoon when young man entered and called for attention. Mcletti. who was in a rear room' answered, and to his surprise, foun'l himself looking down the barrel of . nickel plated revolver.
 .I want your money" the gum man told him, but Meletti saw ms hand shaking and at once realized that the only danger was from 2 wild shot, which in all probability would not be fired at all if he put Jp stiff front. ,
 "Whatcha trying to do, kid me!'' the barber threw at him with et- fective nonchalance.
 nonchalance.
 No. I'm not. I'll plug you,' the gunman answered.
 Well, I've never been plugged yet, but if you start plugging you'll do it only once," Meletti countered. still keeping his eye on the waver- ing gun.
 "I'll come back" the gunman de- clared as he made dash for the door. with Meletti in pursuit.
 Has Acx,0mpIice Outside
 Edward Keller of 102 Lasalle street was on the street when Mel etti rushed out and called to him to stop the fleeing youth. A second young man, believed to be con- federate of the gunman, was across the street as though on watch. and he ran over North street and through Beaver street near the Fal- con clubhouse, while the gunmap kept on through Broad street.
 The police were notified and Cap tain George J. Kelly detastst&fesr- geant T. J/Feeney and Officers James M. McCue and James H. Mo- Cabe with the service car. to inves- tigate. At the barber shop they picked up Keller, who told them one of the pair appeared to he about 25 years of age. and the gunman seem.- ed to be several years younger. They were wearing gray caps and blue shirts. Keller said he could rot recall ever having seen them before.
 20 Answer Description
 Circling about Broad street. Grove. Beaver, Washington and other streets in the vicinity, the police saw fully 20 young men wearing gray caps and blue suits but Keller was certain none of them were the pair the police wanted. On Broad street, Sergeant Feeney notified Officer Fred Wagner of the automobile squad and Officers J. NJ. Liebler and F.. B. kiely of the liquor squad, but no trace of the young men was found.
 Returning to the barber shop, Sergeant Feeney obtained graphic description of the attempted hold-up from Meletti. If the young gunman though the barber was unnerved or frightened in any way at the sight of the revolver. he was sadly mistak- en, for Meletti might have been completing the most commonplace task so far as his boise was con- cerned.
 Gun shook Like Anything"
 II tell you Tom, never see any, thing like it," he told the sergeant between dabs of father on his chin aK he prepared to shave himself. 'I hear the door slam and l knew some one was coming in and then I hear scmeone call and I tell him will be out right away and when I come out here he is. Pm sorry now I didn't grab hold of him. He was only a kid, maybe Is years old. The gun was shaking like anything and it seemed to be all rusty. When he go out the door. he told me he'd be back later and l holler sure, come