The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-13
"THE PICKLE ROBBERY"

THE vEsEY STREET MysTERY-ELLEN KINai
HARD EARNED DOLLARS STILL MISSING
CLEws THAT WERE NOT FOLLOWED.
little over year ago the attention Of the publ.
and especially OF the police of this city drawn t.
q robbery that has come to be known "the Pickle
Robbery" This not given because pickles
stolen. but because the people who robbed
10 brother and sister, kept pickle store veses
street. The attention of the HERALD has been drawn
to the case as one which illustrates the opacity OF
the police if nothing worse In remarkable degree
and pains have been taken to learn the particulars
The robbery itself. fully reported in the HERALD o.
the time, was remarkable one and according to al
accounts the circumstances attending the so-called
search for the thieves not less remarkable. Ellen
and John King. two hard working persons whose
reputation among their neighbors of the very hest
keep what is known the vesey Street Pickle Store
Doing good cash business, their earnings had been
laid together until they reached the handsome sun
OF $4,000. They had saved more than this but
they had kept it in savings banks before the weah
in the city failed. and of 1t lost by the
failure of the Bond Street Bank The was drawn
out, and It became o problem what to do with It.
After many anxious consultations they determined
invest portion in government bonds. and accord
ingy Ellen purchased. through Messrs Hatch Il
Foote. ten United states four per coupon bonds
numbered 5.745 STAG. SITS, 5779, $780, SO94 1920
1871. $3.50 and 1880 They were not registered,
although Ellen had been advised to buy registered
bonds The dstrust they had learned of the savings
banks made them still doubtful of the safety any
place Of deposit outside their own dwelling and the
$4,000 in bonds and $4,000 in bills kept for
time in small leather portmanteau. This they con.
ceaed in the bottom Of barrel in dark closet Oh
THE poRTMANTEAu RIF1ED. -Sa
On Friday. August 3. 1878. this portman teau was
when. at ten p M. small addition was made to the
treasures. The bills were pinned together by hum
dreds and these small packages were tied togetherby
thousands. There was $4,000 and few fve-dollar
bills over. besides the bonds which kept the
envelopes in which they had from the brokers.
and It was not until Ialf.past eleven P. M N.
that the discovery was made that the closet
portmanteau taken out. The latter was found in n
room the third story broken open and rfod OF
its contents. The alarm was given to the police.
and they ut once made thorough search OF the
premises. They found that the closet door, which
was kept fastened with hasp and paddock had been
burst open and that the portmanteau itself had
been torn open, apparently by the handles No
false keys or other burglars tools had been used.
been left behind They found that the house. which
Is one Of the many very old around Washington
Market stood among similar old buildings. and that
its windows were easily accessible from the windows
of the next house to it which is and then
tenement house. They found that the suit Of rooms
nearest to the Kings rooms was rented by an old
pensioner. VINO lived there with his daughter. and
that he had rented Of his rooms about week
DeIOro
clear and definite description of his looks which
Tailed with the knowledge they had of the appear
ance of o well known criminal This man was never
seen in the neighborhood after the robbery.
THE POLICE ACT AS USUAL.
After the usual programme pursued by the police
in cases of robbery they at first refused to believe
that there had been any robbery declaring it highly
improbable that there had been $40 900 in the poorly
furnished house. and pointing to the fact that sew
eral watches and number of pieces of very hand
some jewelry lay exposed to view in the room from
" m MA QEan undf hat nnnA Aff hta
had been touched. They said that poor people did
not have $4,000 in their houses. overlooking the
watches ana diamonds. They speedily ridi-
culed out of this first position by the Kings many
intimate friends and neghbors, who knew that they
had been making money for years and not spending
it. Then they declared that Ellen had taken the
money, and told other hbellous stories about her.
While the police have made arrests and have
secured the return of none OF the stolen properly
is certain that they were placed in possession Of
facts that might be expected to lead to full know
edge OF the 'job" and OF the persons who put Il
up" Miss King herself has told the circumstances
to q HERALD reporter. drawing her own conclusions
evidently. but leaving her auditor to draw his al
had one regularvistor before the robbery said Miss
King. 'lt was woman who used to come to my
store two or three or four times week, and sit for
hours. never invited her up stairs and she
went there. but she mas been in the back yard. and
saw her there examining the windows OF our house
and OF the next. Since the robbery she has been
here only once. though nothing has happened to
make her stay away that know OF, unless it the
robbery Itself. She is a poiceman's wife, Her
character-well, suppose, she il good enough ba
apolicemans wife, l never told her u word about
my having money, but she saw me have OF the
bonds and she used to try to get me to talk about
how much We had. always told her We were poor.
but she knew better. have received message from
her once since the robbery. 1t not exactly
message either; but friend OF mine spoke to her
about our loss aud she said. Ellen would have got
those bonds back before now II she hadn't talked so
about me-. Now 1 haven't said word about hers
sir. excepting to you."
There Is no doubt" she continued. "about thu
old pensioners lodgor answering the description Of
rested him. and SO far know they have never
looked for him. DO they know all the circun-
cepting about the woman. Incver told that for
afraid to, and dare not tell you who IL Is, IL you
going to publish it. But we thought there was o
clew In the pnhoies In the bills. used very largo
pins indeed much larger than are commonly used.
One day detective came here aud said he would
show me that the pinholes were no cews. He took
out big roll of bills aud showed me that all had
pinholes like mine. Was II my money? 1 didn't
s Say SO; 6 put have examined great many bills sine
What was his name? cant tell you any names.
The detectives who first worked up the case. they
would make an arrest and then they dropped Il.
Then another man. private detective. took hold OF
man and the who looks like the PEN
sioners ledger. and thought he was going
to arrest somebody. And then he dropped IL.
And thon another man. government detectiyo came
here and told me he had the bonds and that IL
he could not get the holder to part with them for
reward he would make an arrest told him what
reward We would give and no went away. Then ho
came back and wanted bigger reward, and we
offered it, and he went away aud came back.
I've been to soc him number of times, but he says
he eau do nothing. Then there is convict in the
State Prison who says that certain man had tho
bonds In February. trying TO sell them. That man
In known to be CROOKED. but could never get the
authorities to arrest him. Trys Indeed did try:
There one very curious thing about II all. said
tho woman I'm conclusion; 'that IL. that everybody
who has anything to 40 with the case follows IL
eagerly enough until we think hc knows Something;
then he drops IL. IL seems TO us though tina
police might. have done something. but they never
have done thing ~
PRESIDENT GARRTSON'S REFUSAL.
Mayor Cooper yesterday received communicA-
tion from tho secretary OF the BOARD of Ranid