"He must have done something. They don't kill you for nothing." - Chicago Gangster Ted Newberry. Rubbed out January 7, 1933

Saturday, April 3, 2010

The Bowery Boys

In the wee hours of the morning on this date in 1920, three burglars were in the process of robbing a jewelry store at 134 Bowery when they set off an alarm. The alarm was hooked up to a private protective agency and some guards were sent out. They called the cops and a total of eleven men showed up at the building.

The store was located on the second floor of the building and the proprietor lived on the third with his family. The cops woke up the owner and he through down the key so they could get in.

The cops and guards broke up into three groups. One was sent around the block to Christie street to cut off any retreat and one was stationed in front of the building. The third group ran into the building and headed for the courtyard but heard the bandits above so changed the plan and headed upstairs. When they got to the top a burglar was waiting and fired a number of shots in their direction. The cops went for cover while the bandits slid down the drain pipe and hopped a fence and disappeared.

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