The New York herald., 1876-02-22
A WELL PLANNED ROBBERY.
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now sNTIINd 10UE3 NAN 1FD CLERICAL
PARSONAGE ENGAGED MRS COOPER AND
ROBBED MRS. PoLHEMUs OF TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
Mrs. Ann PoInemus Is eccentric widow lady, seventy
years Stage who resides at No SS7 East 117th street.
Without immediate relatives and with but few friends,
she has for several lived alone In two rooms ON
the first noor Of the above mentioned house which Is
four story brick tenement To the neighbors and in
mates OF the house she has long been mystery That
she was possessed of no inconsiderable amount OF
money in her station Of life all believed, but
her mode OF living gave no Indication Of the
fact Her apartments scantily furnished, and
her food was of the most commonplace character.
Visitors welcome TO her. and when they
succeeded ntrudng upon her privacy she never lost
occasion to descant upon her poverty. She rarely e
her home and was never away moro than few hours
Three years ago her son, who was. for many years
telegraph operator the Central Department of Police
died. and soon afterward Mrs Polhemus disposed Of
two houses and lots which she owned receiving there
for $l2 900 in cash. This transaction kept close
secret by her and came to light only yesterday,
when she told the police Of IL She
first placed the money in downtown
savings bank Last summer she withdrew il from
there and deposited It with safe deposit company.
month ago, becoming as she explains, afraid that
she again drew the entire sum, amounting to little
$4,000 intending to keep IL in her own posses
sion ne sum was esch o nd wo oS o each
Whenever she left the house she carried with her,
concealed in her BOSOM her little fortune and every
night she slept with IL hidden In her bed. During the
daytime, while at home, she generally placed the
money in a drawer OF old dressing case that stood
In the front room.
ON saturday afternoon, at two O'Clock Mrs Pol
hemus left her house to make some purchases. BY a
careless oversight she omitted TO take with her the
precious bag which was in the dressing case drawer
This she says the only time she ever failed to
take II with her. Shortly before six O'Clock she re-
turned 0nentering the hallway she noticed the door
of the rear room, which she had locked previous 10
going out, open With scream
RAN TO HEN DRESSING CASE.
The money gone gold watch and chain, pair
OF gold bracelets pair OF jet earrings and pair ofgold
earrings valued in all at 1925 which were In the same
drawer were also gone. without losing q moment
she notified the officer post, who reported the
robbery TO Acting Captain Osborne OF the Twelfth pre-
cinct The latter officer took with him his detectives
and made examination OF the premises. They found
pane in the window Of the room looking out
upon the yard broken and the catch which secured the
window turned aside, showing plainly that tho
thief had entered by the window The inmates Of the
house closely questioned and soon the scheme by
which the robbery had been effected was disclosed
Mrs. Cooper aged widow lady, residing the floor
with Mrs Polhemus but the other side OF the halL
way told the following story
WILL LAID PLOT.
At about four O'Clock Saturday afternoon two
hours after Mrs Poihemus had left the house, well
dressed, genteel looking young Of about twenty
hand small book and carrying pencil behind his
ear. Knocking at the door Of Mrs Cooper he smi-
ngly said that he taking names Tor new direc-
tory and would thank her for the names OF the ten
ants She remarked that II was rather unusual
Of the year for directory men 70 be at work.
but the smiling young man satsted her that February
was bettor than May for such purpose Tho unsus-
pectng old lady thereupon recited the various
names. When she mentioned that OF Mrs. Pohemus
the young man was particularly anxious 70 know her
apartments He about to take his departure when
tall clerical looking person raped at the door and
man in the Ulster coat politely bowed himself out
pending her answer and disappeared al come, said
the clerical gentleman the representative Of the
Ladies' Ard Society TO render you pecuniary assist
ance" Mrs Cooper elevated her spectaces and bade
him take chair The conversation grew interesting
ing that he had relieved, and dwe with uncton upon
the grand virtues Of charity. Noticing that Mrs
Cooper appeared somewhat nrm he asked her to walk
up and down the few times, that he might judge
OF her physical condition, with . view to sending
her q physician II necessary This she did,
and all the while he continued talking
of the noble deeds OF charity he was
daily performing The interview lasted some twenty
minutes during which time the clerical gentleman sat
by the partially open door, keeping one eye on the
hallway. As he took his departure he shook Mrs.
Cooper warmly by the hand and assured her that she
should be well taken OF by the Ladies' Aid Society
hour later Mrs Cooper going into the hallway,
noticed door of Mrs Polhemus' ajar and sup
posed that that lady had returned
The victim OF the robbery is nearly crazy by her loss
She says the stolen from her is the result OF the
savings of her lifetime, and all she had In the world.
bty OF catching the thieves In their opinion the job
planned long before its execution, by adrot probes
sionals, who we're familiar with every movement OF
their victim.