The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-21
MYSTERY ENTERS ART GALLERIES.
Dealer MurderOusIy Is As- sailed; Partner Commits
 Suicide After Attack
BY EARL B. STEELE United Press Staff COErespOndent)

United Press Staff CoFrespondent)
 New York, Feb. 21.-(UP)-A murderous assault on an art dealer and the suicide of his wealthy partner, both of whom had been charged with defrauding clients and their relationship with a news dealer, the cousin of Q gangster, were involved today in the mySteri- ous affairs of the American Art Association Anderson Galleries, Inc.
 Once this was the most famous art house in the country, doing 8 9,OO0 900 a year business in the worlds masterpieces.
 Today. Milton B. Logan, its for- mer president, was in a hospital with a fractured skull and John T.. Geery, former secretary treasurer, was a suicide.
 A news dealer, John (Red) Poggi, cousin of Louis (the Lump Poggl, notorious killer of prohibition days, had been identified by Logan as the man who hit him on the head with an iron pipe but Logan said he didn't know how Poggi figured in the case or why Poggi assaulted him. Poggi said he hadn't assaulted him and he had an alibi.
 Before Geery killed himself he said the same man who assaulted Logan also assaulted him for some unknown reason, while the three were in an automobile. He said the aSsailant was someone Logan had brought to the car. Logan said Geery. had brought the assailant to the car, and that he Oogan) had never seen the man before.
 The story goes back to 1885 when Cortland Field Bishop, owner of the Anderson galleries, died leaving them to his widow and secretary. Logan, a building superintendent had handled real estate matters for Bishop and was retained by the heirs to handle the estate. He gave the insurance business on the valu- able art objects to Geery. In 1887. Logan and Geery acquired the gal- leries reportedly agreeing to pay s185 GOO. It was said that they had used all their cash for down pay ment and thereafter were hard pressed.
 were indicted on charges of having defrauded clients who left art on- iects with the galleries to be sold. It was alleged that they had mis- appropriated $65,0O0.
 Monday evening Geery and Lo- gan met for the first time in two weeks, to discuss with Herbert Plaut, their attorney, plan for try ing to obtain dismissal of the ii1- dictments on which trial was sched- uled in two weeks. Shortly before 6 D. m. the conference ended and Geery and Logan left together. In the street they were hailed by a man driving car. Police said that man was Poggi.
 Logan and Geery got into the car. From that point all versions conflicted.
 Geery's version, as told by his wife and Plaut, was soon after they got into the car he heard Logan gasp and turning, saw that Logan had been srtuck on the head. Then something hit Geery on the head and he sprang from the car and ran. His face bloody. he joined his wife and son later at hotel, where they had planned to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary.
 After dinner at the hotel Geery and his family went to their 15- room home on Long Island. A servant told Geery that police had called to ask about an attack on Logan. Geery went to the base ment and shot himself.
 Logan's version was that when he and Geery entered the car, the stranger at the wheel said he didn't like to drive, so Geery drove and the man got in the back seat. A few minutes later Logan was struck from behind. The assailant tried to hit him a second time and as they struggled, the bludgeon flew out the window. Then Logan fell from the car and police found him wandering in the street. Logan gave police the license number of the car in which he said the assault occurred. The number was that of Poggi's car. Poggi was. taken to the hospital where Logan Identified him.