No Parking

May 9, 2026
1939


New York Times, May 9, 1939, p.25

Detail Carrying Out Valentine
Order Finds Good Hunting
Near Headquarters

The squad cars of several detectives, parked in Center Market Place, immediately behind Police Headquarters, were caught yesterday in the net of Commissioner Valentine’s drive against overtime parking, as were the automobiles of Mr. Valentine’s own confidential secretary and a patrolman in ɩne Bureau of Information whose job is giving information on license numbers.

The latter two got summonses. The detectives, having a better excuse for parking more than one hour behind headquarters, merely had their license numbers checked so reports may be sent to their commanders to see if they really had to park there that long.

While Patrolman Peter Coyle, the information bureau man, was busy checking the numbers of the automobiles standing in a solid phalanx along the east side of Center Market Place, which might be more accurately described as an alley, some one came in and informed him about a piece of paper that was stuck on his own windshield. Patrolman Frank Clancy, the commissioner’s confidential stenographer, got the news about the same time.

Although newspaper reporters assigned to headquarters have their offices just across the street, it turned out after the summons squad from Elizabeth Street had swept through the block that no reporters’ cars had been tagged. One press photographer received a summons- Arthur Fellig, a freelance.

The drive is an outgrowth of the blocking of Commissioner Valentine’s automobile last week on Center Street south of headquarters by a double-parked truck. Ten patrolmen with summons books covered the entire area for several blocks around headquarters yesterday. A total of thirty summonses was said to have been issued.
New York Times, May 9, 1939, p.25

“…Valor”

April 19, 2026
1943


New York Times, April 19, 1943, p.12

20 MEDALS WILL GO TO POLICE HEROES; Valentine Announces Names of Members of Department to Be Honored for Bravery…

Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Medal for Valor

Patrolman ELIGIO SARRO, Seventy-first Precinct-On Feb. 2, 1942, while off duty and in civilian clothes, encountered four men holding up a Broome Street store. While the victims were being searched Patrolman Sarro fired at the bandit standing guard near the door. The holdup men fled and the patrolman pursued. During an exchange of shots the armed bandit fell, mortally wounded. Both he and an accomplice taken into custody later had criminal records. The accomplice was convicted and was sentenced to a long term in State prison.

“…covered with newspapers …”

April 17, 2026
1942

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NY Daily News, April 17, 1942 (All NEWS fotos by Engels and Amy)

1. Stanely Sandler, 23, and Francis Whelan, 32, both of Astoria, lie on pavement of Third Ave., near 42d St., after car driven by Whelan crashed into El pillar. Sandler is dead.
2. After recovering from first shock of accident, Whelan went berserk, battled with police. Bystander fans him with newspaper as police hold the struggling driver
3. Clothes torn and his face covered with blood, Whelan gains his feet, continues his struggles with cops, who hold him firmly.
4. His face covered with newspapers, the dead Sandler receives last rites from Father Thomas McNulty. Sandler was riding in rear seat. Another passenger, Joseph Mahoney, was injured.
5. Whelan lies on floor of ambulance, still held by police. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital for observation.
6. After caroming off two El pillars the car came to a stop and burst into flames. Driver of car escaped death miraculously in accident, which occurred at 5 o’clock yesterday morning.
7. The fire’s been put out and here’s all that remains of the car. It hit pillars between 41st and 42d Sts. while making U-turn.
8. Carmine DeNote and Pvt. Arthur Hayden examine axle and wheel which landed 40 feet from where car hit. Technical charge of homicide was lodged against Whelan.
New York Daily News, April 17, 1942

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New York Herald Tribune, April 17, 1942 (Herald Tribune – Acme)

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PM, April 17, 1942, p.7 (No photo credit)

1. Few minutes before photo, this car was going north on Third Ave., near 42d St. It smashed into L pillar, burned to this wreck.
2. Wheel of car rammed curb 40 feet from car body. Stanley Stanley, Astoria, died in wreck. Car was driven by Frank Whalen, Astoria.
3. Whalen, injured, battled with cops after recovering from shock of crash. He was handcuffed, forced into ambulance by officers.
4. Under double-bill movie marquee, body of Stanley was covered with newspapers and coats by policeman. Technical charge of homicide was lodged against Whalen, who was taken to Bellevue Hospital for observation. Another passenger, Joseph Mahoney, also was hurt.
PM, April 17, 1942, p.7

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Weegee, Naked City, 1945, p.89

This man covered up with newspapers was killed in an auto accident. The driver of the car was arrested, but he put up such a terrific battle… cops had to put handcuffs on him.
Weegee, Naked City, 1945, p.89

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Weegee, Weegee’s Secrets, 1953, p.32


Weegee’s World, p.61 (Joy of Living, 1942)

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Not the Naked City, p.89, 2015

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April 16, 2015

“…afraid of the consequences…”

April 16, 2026
1932


New York Times, April 16, 1932, p.16

6 IN COUNTERFEIT GANG SENTENCED TO PRISON

Leader of Group That Printed $40,000 Bogus Money Gets 12 Years, Others Lesser Terms.

Six men, five of whom pleaded guilty to connection with a counterfeiting ring, while the other, who was tried in his absence and found guilty by a jury, were sentenced yesterday by Judge Grover M. Moscowitz in United States District Court in Brooklyn.

Louis Riggione of 174 Thompson Street, Manhattan, head of the ring, which printed more than $40,000 in spurious Federal Reserve $5 notes and which conspired to print a total of more than $1,000,000 in bogus money, was sentenced to twelve years in prison and to pay a fine of $10,000.

Riggione disappeared a week ago Thursday, a day after the trial began. The trial was continued as to him despite his absence. Riggione was in court yesterday and told Judge Moscowitz he had failed to appear because he was afraid of the consequences if convicted.

Four of the defendants pleaded guilty while the trial was in progress. Judge Moscowitz took this into consideration when he sentenced Peter Busch, an engraver, of 483 Willis Avenue, the Bronx, to four years in prison and a fine of $1,000; Quirino Constantino of 56-120 134th Street, Flushing, Queens, to two years; Joseph Mare of 66-17 Fifty-third Street, Maspeth, to two years and a fine of $10,000, and Louis Freda of 574 Warburton Avenue, Hastings, N. Y., to four months.

Charles Stern of 611 West 180th Street, the Bronx, pleaded guilty before the start of the trial and was used as a government witness. He was sentenced to eighteen months in jail and placed on probation for five years.

Caesar Contino of 1,525 Benson Avenue, Brooklyn, became mentally deranged during the trial and is still in the observation ward of Bellevue Hospital. The indictment was severed as to him and he will be brought to trial when he recovers his mental balance.
New York Times, April 16, 1932, p.16