HELD AS HIGHWAYMAN AFTER FRIEND IS SLAIN

The New York Times
December 28, 1922

Companion of Carberry, Killed by Auto, Faces Investigators as Man Tells of Hold-Up.

Sixteen witnesses will be examined today at Roslyn, L. I., by Assistant District Attorney Alvin N. Edwards of Nassau County in regard to circumstances which led to the killing of Paul Carberry, an automobile salesman, in the belief that he was a highwayman.  Carberry's bruised body was found late on Christmas night on the Glen Cove Road near the estate of Clarence H. Mackay.  Lester J. Gillen admitted that he drove an automobile, a headlight of which struck Carberry when he, Gillen, sped forward thinking a man who blocked his path was bent on robbery.  He has been ordered to produce his car.

Thomas Hartnett, a companion of Gillen on the ride, who has corroborated Gillen's story before District Attorney Charles R. Weeks, also will be examined formally.  After the killing Gillen and his friends notified Constable Smith, who found Chester Blekichi, Carberry's brother-in-law, standing near the dead man's body.  Blekichi, at first charged with manslaughter, is now held without bail on a charge of attempted highway robbery.

Mr. Edwards said yesterday that he was convinced that Carberry and Blekichi were engaged in "suspicious activities" when Carberry was killed and that both men were under the influence of liquor.  Harry W. Moore, counsel for Blekichi, insists that the two men themselves, who were in a Ford automobile, had been attacked by four men, who, after beating Carberry and Blekichi, disappeared, leaving Carberry in the road to be struck by the approaching car.

C. W. Heckler, superintendent of the Mackay estate, told the authorities that Leon Jamkowski, a fireman on the estate, had told him late on Christmas night that he had been held up.  The condition of Jamkowski's face and his clothing bore out his story, Heckler said.

According to Mr. Edwards, Jamkowski was an enemy of John Takula, a relative of both Carberry and Blekichi.  Takula will be asked if he knows what happened before the alleged hold-up of Jamkowski, when, it is believed, Carberry and Blekichi visited Takula at his home.

Carberry had worked as criminal investigator for Nassau County authorities in two cases.