The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-27
new YORK Bath
SCENE OF THEFT
Seven Men Stage Daring
Raid On Coney Island
Boardwalk

NEW YORK, Jan. 90 W.P -
Seven men, armed and masked.
held up a Coney Island Turkish
bath to the tune of S1S, 900 Satur-
day, handing a new headache to
New York's finest" a police force
1900 strong battling with its back
to the wall against a three-month-
old crime wave.
The seven men, all practiced
professionals by the way they did
their work, escaped iii two cars,
which waited at the curb with mo-
tors running and drivers at the
wheels. It was just before dawn,
and upstairs the patrons slept
peacefully, unaware their watches,
cash, rings and other valuable
were gone with the night.
Police, likewise, were unaware
that crime was stalking the Coney
Island boardwalk until the still
scared night manager of the bath
house telephoned. Minutes later,
the beach neighborhood was alive
with policemen.
But the nine-man gang already
was as elusive as the thugs who
battered Joseph Scottoriggio to
his death last election day. in the
Staying that started the crime
wave. Since the Republican work
err was killed in East Harlem the
Police department has been shaken
UP from top to bottom. Old hands
have been retired; detectives have
been sent back to pounding beats:
young, alert patrolmen have been
made detectives. In one instance,
the staff of an entire police station
was changed.
But also since the Scottoriggio
Staying the crimes have continued,
virtually unchecked = new rob-
berries, more Sayings, a big jail
break. today's Coney Island rob-
berry was the latest of a long line,
similar in many respects to the
$40, 900 payroll holdup of the Brook
lyn Eagle yesterday. In both rob-
berries, the gang worked fast and
with assurance.
It was shortly before 4 a. m.
when the seven men, all with guns
in their hands and handkerchiefs
over their faces, walked into the
si1vers' baths. Two of the men
covered Bernie. Hellman, the night
manager.
keep your mouth shut. If you
make a sound you'll get hurt!"
They told Hellman.
"Don't shoot" he pleadei
"Okay, we won't hurt you. if
you're a good boy" one of the gang
promised.
They made Hellman open a steel
cabinet containing strong boxes,
where the patrons sleeping upstairs
had checked their valuab1es. Then
they tied Hellman to a chair. Four
men guarded the. stairways to the
rooms above. The others began
carrying out the boxes. There were
$50, and it took a number of trips,
All this was accomplished silent
Iy. except for a minor interruption
when Jack Liebowitz. a porter,
started down the stairs. He took
a look, did a double-take, and
started up again.
CAL right, Dopey," said the man
guarding that stairway. "Get
downstairs. Don't make a sound"
Liebowitz was trussed up beside
Hellman. After the gunment left,
the pair was freed by a third EN-
ployee, and they called police.
The patrons, who had slept
soundly after their Friday night
steam baths and rubdowns, were
reused to list their missing valu,
ables. They made claims totallng
nearly $18, ENTHUSIASTICALLY less
than the $50, 900 first estimated.
IN HOSPITAL
The many friends of Dor
othy Bagwell. 109 Perry Ave,
will regret to learn she is a
patient at James Walker
hospital where she "- -erwent
a minor operation Sunday.
Her condition a reported
as good" last night.