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FIRE SET BY ROBBERSWHEN LOOT IS SMALLClothing Shop Proprietor in New York It Beaten and Tied in Hold-TTp.suci'orthh«orpcenkrhiofafrmtltoaiwreMWcalt;soWIMqtmofaialefeMstinHSpecial Dispatch to The Star.NEW YORK. February 16.—Enraged because their hold-up of a clothing shop at 216 East One Hundred and Sixty-fifth street, the Bronx, had netted them only $17, two bandits this morning bound and gagged Nathan Felmus, the proprietor, and set his place afire.Felmus told police later that after the hold-up men had made their escape through the rear, he arose and walked backward through the smoke until he reached the door. His feet, he said, had not been bound. After working at the handle for some time with his hands, which were tied at the wrists, he succeeded in opening the door and saving himself.The shop was destroyed by flames and Officials of the lire marshal’s office estimate the damage at $8,000.Felmus. who lives at 1270 Teller avenue, the Bronx, told police that he had opened his store at 7 a.m.Ten minutes later, he said, a swarthy ■ uj young man entered and asked for a i hipair of knickerbockers, Felmus said j nlt; that as he walked toward the rear, his supposed customer felled him with a blow from behind.A confederate hurried into the store,tied the proprietor’s hands behind his back and demanded money. Felmus asserted that neither of the men displayed a weapon.He told them that he had no money. The two men then beat him severely with their fists and renewed their demands, he told police. Failing to find any cash in his pockets, they tapped the cash register till and made their escape.vFelmus said that he was unaware that they had set the place afire, until he walked from the rear room, when he perceived that the flames were rapidly gaining headway.His cries for help as he fumbled at the door handle were heard by Max Schoenfeld, a taxicab driver, who was about to enter his home across the atreet, at 209 East One Hundred and Sixty-fifth street, the Bronx. Felmus had opened the door by this time, however, and Schoenfeld quickly cut the rope that bound his wrists together.Other passersby gathered, but It was I h several minutes before any of them throught of turning in a fire alarm. Before the firemen arrived, owing to the delayed alarm, the blaze had gained such headway that they could not save his store.Felmus, who is 51, was treated for contusions of the face at Lincoln Hospital. He told his story to Detectives llarra and Murphy oi Morrisania Station and Fire Marshals John Cashman and Herman de Malignon, who began an investigation.This is the second case of its kind Within a week. On February 13 four 11* men stole $95 from Philip Kangaro-witz in his store at 2413 First avenue, bound and gagged him. and set the place afire. Kangarowltz was saved by Battalion Chief William Ferry.3(hittP*gJ5wdiPireinins\inismkiinmmeioltlgiW'mdiP01h
Newspaper Details
Evening Star
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Sun, Feb 17, 1929
Page 65
Full Page
Clipped by
Linda E.
USA 20 Jun 2021
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