The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-27
MAD killer
OF SUBWAY
IS TRAPPED
Maniac Bares Irresistible
Urge to Push Victims
to Their Death.
DETECTIVES SAVE GIRL
Funny Feeling Forces Him
to Commit Murders,
Prisoner Says.
DETECTIVES SAVE GIRL
BY SAM LOVE
United Press stan Correspondents

NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-Death--
always inches away on an elevated
or subway platform-visited James
Tucker, As, wealthy Brooklyn man
ufacturer Thursday, and today
brushed an unidentified woman so
lightly that she never was aware
of it.
At the moment when the young
woman seemed destined to fall" in
front OF train, three detectives ar
rested a self-admitted maniac who
had crept up behind her.
No thriller" of the Broadway
stage equals in potential horror the
confession which the detectives said
David Bernstein, As, tailor out Of
work, freely gave to them. Every
New Yorker is aware-sometimes
painfully conscious-of the fact that
when he is standing on a subway or
elevated platform, his life hinges
entirely on the goodwill and sanity
of the other members of the throng
1t is as easy to kill an elevated
rider as it would be to push tour
ist over the edge Of the Grand can
yon.
Killer Tells Story
In fact, 1t is easier, as Bernstein
one Of the most insignificant an
pearing Of all the city insignia
cants-described it after his arrest.
With his first admission that he
killed Tucker Wednesday, detectives
Immediately began checking the list
Of recent inexpIcahle subway and
IL" Suicides" in an effort to trace
others.
Bernstein's story was without
point except
He said he left his wife and four
children at his home in BROOKLYN
wednesday morning to seek a Job
in Jamaica.
"A funny feeling comes over me
sometimes" he interjected, "and
when it comes I want to push people
OF the platform. When it happens.
I don't care whether it Is man.
woman or child"
Bernstein said the funny feeling"
struck him at Lorimer street and he
became nervous and left the train.
He walked awhile, then climbed an
elevated stairway and boarded an
other train. He rode ainlessly.
watching the people and not caring
for their appearance.
Shoves Man to Death
About 4 p. m. he found himself
on the platform at Broadway and
Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn. He saw a
proSperous-appearing man of about
his own age-Tucker-Leave a train
and slowly pace the platform as
though waiting for another. Bern
stein approached him causally. He
was near the edge of the platform.
He gave Tucker little push.
Without even crying out, Tucker
fell to the tracks, slid between the
ties and fell forty-flve feet to the
paving below. No one had noticed
the push.
Bernstein and another man ran
down the steps to the street. They
picked up Tucker and carried him
to a store. Bernstein waited with
the dying man while the other tele-
phoned to the police. An ambulance
gong made him shiver and he edged
away through the crowd In the
store. He went home.
Spotted Prey
Thursday night, he said, he
couldn't sleep because of the funny
feeling" and he returned as quickly
as he could today to the Myrtle ave-
nue. station. Among those who wait
ed was a young woman, carrying a
handbag, evidently bound for work.
She was impatient, near the edge
Of the platform, eagerly watching
for her train. But only Bernstein
singlej her out.
He moved toward her slowly. The
roar Of an approaching train now
could be heard. Suddenly the little
tailor lurched, but the young woman,
all unconscious, moved slightly
aside and three pairs OF hands
grabbed Bernstein.
The hands belonged TO Detective
Lieutenant George Gassman and
two detectives. The train ground
TO stop in front of them, paused
and pulled away while Bernstein
silently.
The detectives looked around FOR
the young woman. But she calmly
had boarded the train, unaware of
except that she probably
would be a.moment late at "the Of
Sne -