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Three N.Y.P.D. Detetives wounded on Oct. 19, 1931. They are Det. James
DeFerraro, Det. Guido Pessagano, and Det. Edward Willi.
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Earlier this year I was able to "rescue" an old Newark Police Log Book from the garbage. The book was used originally as a Precinct Officers Log. Many of the original entries are still there, however the career memories, of Detective Morris Kerwyn, Newark N.J. Police, were pasted on the pages of the book.
As I searched this old book I was able to share the memories of Det. Kerwyn during the 1920's and 1930's. In between the pages I found, not pasted, an old photograph and an Associated Press Teletype. Considering their age they are in very good condition.
The teletype, along with the picture of three New York City Detectives, gives a quick summary of an incident that took place on Oct. 19, 1931. It reads as follows:
"THREE DETECTIVES WERE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AND A FORMER
CONVICT, SOUGHT FOR THE MURDER OF A POLICEMAN, WAS KILLED
IN A REVOLVER BATTLE IN A ROOMING HOUSE IN NEW YORK CITY
ON OCTOBER 19. THE WOUNDED DETECTIVES WERE EDWARD
WILLI, (RIGHT), GUIDO PESSAGANO, (CENTER), AND JAMES
DE FERRARO, (LEFT). THE SLAIN EX-CONVICT WAS ENRICO BATTAGLIA. TWO MEN WERE WITH BATTAGLIA WHEN THE POLICE WENT AFTER HIM FOUGHT THE DETECTIVES AND ESCAPED BY RUNNING OVER THE ROOFS OF ADJOINING HOUSES. ONE MAN WAS CAPTURED LATER AND WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE WOUNDED DETECTIVE AS ONE OF THE FUGITIVES."
What the teletype does not report is how this story unfolded. One could trace the beginning of the story back to 1928 when a Police Officer, Jeremiah Brosna was murdered. The face of the driver of the get away car was observed by Patrolman John Broderick.
Traveling forward in time to 1931 Officer Broderick was assigned to the 20th Precinct. On Oct 19, he was on patrol when, he saw an individual who he thought was the wanted criminal Enrico Battaglia. Broderick followed the suspect to a rooming house at 154 78th St. Once he saw Battaglia enter the building he called his Precinct's Detective Squad.
When Detectives Willi, Pessagano, and DeFerraro they were told by Broderick that , although it was five years since seeing Battaglia's face, he was sure it was the fugitive cop killer. All four officers went to the door of the rooming house.
The Landlady hearing the bell ring opened the door, buy blocked the entry. She loudly gave officers flack and demanded a warrant. The officers proceeded into the establishment, with the three Detectives heading for the stairs. The Landlady demanded that they shut the door, distracting Broderick. He shut the door and then headed up to the second floor. Two men bolted out of a room and ran up the stairs to the third floor. Broderick chased them, and was able to get off only a single shot. He stated later he believed he hit one of the fleeing men who escaped by running over roof tops.
Turning his attention to the room on the second floor, Broderick found three wounded Detectives and the fatally shot Enrico Battaglia. Detective Pessagano was shot five times. Detective Willi, and Detective DeFerraro were shot once each.
Detective Pessagano was transported to Roosevelt Hospital for treatment of his wounds. He died three days later on Oct. 22, 1931. He was a five year veteran of the N.Y.P.D. and only 26 years of age. Det. Willi and Det. DeFerraro both recovered from their wounds.
The following year, Mayor James "JIMMY" Walker posthumously awarded Detective Pessagano the N.Y.P.D. "Medal Of Honor." The award was presented to Mrs. Teresa Pessagano, the wife of the fallen officer. Now, nearly 100 years later, this story remains a sad reminder of the dangers facing officers on a daily basis.
Below is a picture of the original teletype from Associated Press showing the report and date at the bottom (10/19/31).
