Prisoners Keefe and Horgan Say Companion Shot Patrolman Gonya When Cornered After Chase Through Hyde Park in Early Morning
“Red” McCann Is Sought – Donnell Takes Pair Single Handed
CHARLES R. DONNELL, Norwood Police Officer Who Captured Harts and Keefe. Drives Captives a Mile to Station
An orgy of banditry, that included one murder, ended early yesterday morning when a Norwood police officer, single-handedly, arrested two of a trio of Cambridge and Somerville alleged gunmen. The pair at Station 18, Hyde Park, admitted they had been in the murder car, but said their pal, who is missing, shot and killed patrolman Joseph E. Gonya, whose home was at Mansfield, early yesterday morning in Hyde Park.
Two holdups, one in Somerville and one in Mattapan, and the murder of the officer, in order to make their getaway when held up for having a stolen auto, are charged to Henry T. Keefe, 25, of 130 Broadway, Somerville. and Jeremiah J. Horgan, 23. of 242 Elm st, Cambridge.
They first gave other names and addresses, but finally declared the above were true ones. “Joe,” alias “Red,” McCann, said to live in Cambridge, is being sought by the police. Keefe and Horgan both claim that they did not do the shooting; that it was done by the man who was driving the auto. A 32-Raliber automatic containing bullets of the type that killed Officer Gonya was found on Keefe. Horgan had a holster that the weapon fitted.
Donnell Police Hero
Patrolman Charles R. (“Nubby”) Donnell of the Norwood department is the police hero of the hour be cause of his nervy capture. He not only jumped both men in the long grass near the estate of Allan Forbes, ex-Governor General of the Philippines, but he drove one-handed a mile to the station with his prisoners on the front seat beside him.
Unknown to Donnell, Keefe had the flat automatic hidden inside the waistband of his trousers. Both prisoners made the mile ride with hands up and Donnell’s revolver pointed at them. Keefe and Horgan passed last night in the care of Capt Harriman of Station 13, where, they were booked on charges of murder.
During the day two men who had been held up Saturday night positively Identified the two prisoners. The latter will be arraigned this morning. The Police have not yet been able to trace the movements of the two men prior to midnight, but from that hour to 1:20 a m their trail apparently was a lurid one. About midnight Charles Nelson, 26, colored, of 108 Kendall st, Roxbury, was held up in a Webster-av, Somerville, garage and after being robbed of $8 his assailants made him ride to the West Boston Bridge, where they told him to get out and walk.
Apparently, the men then headed for Mattapan, for shortly afterward Samuel Davidoss of 8 Sutton at, Dorchester, reported that when near hit, home a large touring car drove alongside and one man with a pistol boarded his car and told him to “roll on.” The bandits made him drive to the parkway, where they relieved him of his watch and chain, $70 in cash, and a pin set with eight diamonds. According to the Norwood police, they gave him a dime and told him to take the Elevated home.
Gonya New Patrolman
Patrolman Gonya had been on the force only since July 27, having resigned similar Job in Mansfield. Friday tight, at rollcall, he heard read off the list of stolen cars to watch for. One was a big touring speedster No. 894,302, and shortly after 1 o’clock yesterday morning, while on duty at Cleary sq, Hyde Park, he saw the car roll through, going in the direction of Readvllle. Gonya tried to stop the car, but the driver escaped after almost knocking the officer down. George Taylor of 163 Dana Ave, Hyde Park, was in the square at the time and Gonya asked Mr. Taylor’s assistance. Taylor started his car, and with Gonya on the running board went after the speeding auto. The chase continued at 65 miles an hour. Taylor’s car was too fast for the other car and In front of the barn of John F. Mahoney at 264 East Milton st, Taylor overhauled and passed the other machine. He then blocked the road with his car.
CHARLES NELSON, Victim of SomerviIle Holdup. Who Identified Prisoner as Men Who Robbed Him.
Gonya leaped from the Taylor car and, stepping into the headlights of the other auto, ordered the men to “put them up” and get out of the auto. He was within four feet of the left side of the car when the automatic barked. Gonya whipped out his regulation revolver, fired four shots, and then, before the startled eyes of Mr. Taylor, collapsed. One bullet hit the left side of the hood and one almost penerated the left foredoor. It is possible that he hit the man who was driving the car, but Horgan and Keefe decline to tell where their partner is, or if they abandoned him because he was wounded. Mr. Taylor lifted the officer Into his car while the murder machine made a quick getaway.
He drove Gonya to the office of Dr C. E. Winslow of 1166 River St, who pronounced him dead. One shot killed the officer. It was from a short .32 caliber bullet. In the clip in the automatic found on Keefe were long and short .32s, three each. On the ground near the scene was an almost full box of cartridges just opposite the front gate leading into the estate of Ex-Gov Forbes. The officer knew his ground, and not waiting to get out of the car, he steered it off the road and Into the deep grass, where the strangers had taken refuge. The two separated and then Donnell, weapon in hand, jumped from the machine, and rounded up the pair. Their clothes were wet and torn, the latter from wire fences they had climbed in going across country after abandoning their car. Donnell gave the pair a quick “frisking,”‘ but found no weapon in their pockets. He ordered the pair into the front seat and, with their hands up, they were covered on the ride back to the station house.
At the station one of the men asked for a drink of water and Donnell, suspecting it was a trick, called fireman Fred White. He gave White the police revolver and told him to shoot the pair if they made a move.
Auto Found Abandoned
Station 18, Hyde Park, was immediately notified and Capt Robert E. Grant, in charge of the station, left his bed and began the Investigation that did not end until the men were locked up at Station 13, Jamaica Plain. Capt Grant quickly left headquarters and a general alarm was sent out to all surrounding towns to be on the lookout, it was that alarm that gave notice to “Nubby” Donnell, who had the beat in the central part of Norwood. He received word about 3:30 a.m.
Donnell got the police car and after notifying Officer Coyne to watch the central beat, he cruised around in all directions, keeping an eye out for the automobile, which was later found abandoned.
About 6 o’clock yesterday morning Donnell was poking along on Upland Road. It was Just about daylight and his headlights were on. In the glare he saw two men coming along, but before he reached them they Jumped from the road Into the deep grass at a point Just opposite the front pate leading into the estate of Ex-Gov Forbes.
The officer knew his ground, and not waiting to get out of the car, he steered it off the road and into the deep grass, where the strangers had taken refuge. The two separated and then Donnell, weapon in hand, jumped from the machine and rounded up the pair. Their clothes were wet and torn, the latter from wire fences they had climbed in going across country after abandoning their car.
Donnell gave the pair a quick “frisking’ but found no weapon in their pockets. He ordered the pair Into the front seat and, with their hands up, they were covered on the ride back to the station house. At the station one of the men asked for a drink of water and Donnell, suspecting It was a trick, called fireman Fred White. He gave White the police revolver and ordered White to shoot the men if they made a move.
Weapon Is Found
On his return with the water he nor ticed Keefe fussing with his belt buckle. He watched him for a few seconds and became suspicious. Donnell jumped Keefe and his wrestling knowledge came in handy, for Keefe put up a tight. It was short. Donnell floored him and Inside the waistband and close to the belt buckle was nestled a 32-caliber automatic.
Chief of Police Kindelan was notified and he joined Donnell at the Norwood station. Capt Grant and Sergts Horton and Keyes and a squad of Hyde Park officers who had been hunting all night were glad to receive the message from their associate at Norwood that he had two men.
The Hyde Park officers went to Norwood and took the two men to Station 18. At Norwood, Keefe had given his name as “James (McNamara, 22, no home, no occupation and torn In Arlington.” The other said he was “James Marley, 25, of 79 Norfolk St, Cambridge.” He said he was a teamster employed in Maiden.
Inspector James Denessy of the Boston homicide squad went to Hyde Park where the two men were questioned. They stuck to the original names they gave and in the afternoon were taken to Police Headquarters for fingerprinting and photographing. There Inspector Joseph Rollins of the Bertll-lon department told McNamara that he had his measure, that his name was Henry T. Keefe and that he had been arrested previously In the West End.
Inspector Steve Flaherty got busy on “Marley,” who soon acknowledged that his name is Horgan, and that he is wanted in Cambridge. He insisted that he did not fire any shots; that when the shots were fired he Jumped from the auto and ran into the woods. Asked who fired the shots, he replied that if any of the party fired it must have been the missing member.
Holster on Horgan
According to the prisoners they were introduced to McCann in a Cambridge “near beer” saloon last Wednesday.
On Horgan was found the holster that the weapon in Keefe’s possession fitted.
The auto bringing the prisoners from Hyde Park encountered part of the Elks parade forming in Pemberton Square and a crowd quickly gathered. The prisoners were very bashful regarding having their photographs taken and resisted all efforts while the cameramen in front of headquarters tried to “shoot” them. The commotion attracted those waiting for the parade and the line for a time was disorganized.
Lieut Damery of the Somerville (police department was notified of the arrest and he accompanied Charles Nelson the night man of the Webster Ave garage to headquarters. Nelson positively identified Keefe as the man who held him up. He also identified Horgan and said that the third man who was driving the car was rather stout.
After the fingerprinting, the prisoners were taken to Station 13, and a Statewide Bearch began for the third man In the party.
The stolen car the men were riding In at the time they were stopped by Officer Gonya was registered to Mrs. Ida Hurwita of 15 Wolcott St, Dorchester. According to the police a man giving the name of “William Herbitz” went to Station 16 on Friday night and said that the car had been stolen. He said his home was in Somerville. but according to the police, that he had been boarding at the Walcott st address.
It is said the police called up Mrs. Hurwitz and told her that the car had been stolen. The authorities say that the answer they received was that the car was in the possession of her husband, who was out riding in it. That was the last heard of the machine until the ill-fated officer saw it passing through Hyde Park at 1:20 yesterday morning.
The body of Gonya will be sent to his home at Mansfield for burial with full military honors. The dead officer served in the Navy during the war.
Cambridge Horgan’s Home
Jeremiah J. Horgan is 23, unmarried, and a son of Michael J. Horgan, a laborer living at 242 Kim st, Cambridge. He was employed as a wiper in the Boston & Maine Railroad roundhouse in East Cambridge, having been In the employ of the road for several years. According to his parents, he left home Saturday afternoon shortly before supper and has not been heard from since. Keefe gave his address as 1308 Broadway. West Somerville. At that address, it was said yesterday afternoon that no one of that name now lives there, but that a family named Keefe did live there three years ago, having formerly lived in Cambridge, and that they had moved to 186 Holland st, West Somerville.
The Keefe family found at the latter address consists of a widow, two sons and three daughters. One of the daughters stated that there is a third son, named Henry, age 25, but that he has not lived with the rest of the family for the last year and that the last she heard or him, some months ago, he was in New York.