New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-22
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
ARREST OF A SUCCESSFUL THIEF.
AhhESl VI OOOCCSci VI ''h'''
RECOVERY OF THE CHECKS AND DRAFTS STOLEN
FROM THE MECHANICS NATIONAL BANK


RECOVERY OF THE CHECKS AND DRAFTS sroLhN
FROM THE MkCHANICS NATIONAL DNNA-
METHODS OF TIE THIEF.
John Woods, an Engishman. forty-f9ur years
old. arrested at noon yesterday by Inspector
Byrncs, and locked up at Police headquarters OH
the charge of stealing drafts checks ahu couPVi,s
belonging to the Mechanics National Bank. To the
amount OF S5l $50 2G. Some time ago messenger
boy, George Hoffman. was sent from the pauh, III
Wall-st with XjO.OSj IN drafts and CHECKS ana
81 900 in New-York Central Railroad coupons, To
be deposited in the German Exchange BANK az
Bond-st. and the Bowery. As the boy assembled the
steps of the,ater bank, helwas accosted Dy Wonan
ana while he talking with her, MS wallet CON
tanning the drafts and coupons snatched from Ills
pocket by man who came suddenly Dehlnd hlIl'
A day or two later William Eldridge ago nineteen,
a messenger in the employ OF Pierre LOr lard, had
a pOcketboOk containing $4,000 IN checks stolen
from him IN a similar way while on terryDOat
coming from Jersey City. Young Eldridge saw the
man who stole the wallet. and caused his arrest as
soon as the boat reached this side of the river ne
prisoner gave his name as John Woods. an English
man. age fOrty-fOur. Woods was put under bail Tor
trial but through the failure of Eldridge identify
him positively he was discharged from custody on
last " Wednesday.
Meanwhile Inspector Byrnes had been looking up
WoOds's history, and had learned that the man vas
an experienced English thief, of the order
known to the police as moli-Guzz ,L
who employ TO assist them
by engaging the proposed victim in conversation
until the " DuZzer" comes up ana robs him. NOOus,
alias FentOn, has served two terms IN England ior
plcklng pockets. Inc Inspector sdIlSlicu
that " Gods was the who In connection WITH
woman and another man had robbed Messenger
Hoffman on the steps of the German Exchange
Bank lie accordingly detailed Detectives Fink,
Mctirann and Lanthier to watch the suspected man,
and since he was discharged from custody they
have not lost sight OF him. On Saturday nght one
OF the de ectlves followed Woods into dlanshOp
and heard him say in a low tone to another man,
Tomorrow at Ii O'Clock, FOurteenth-st ana
Sixth.aya!p Acting OH this, Inspector Byrnes ana
Detectjy e Frink were hand yesterday In SIKH
ave. At II o'clock they saw Woods walking, near
Seventeenth-st in company with woman; nc
latter went into "a liquor shop nearby, wnle NOods
remained IN the street. lie then arrested ana
taken to Headquarters. He there searched, ana
on him was found nearly ali the property OF the
Mechanics National Bank winch had been stolen
the papers recovered were bill OF exchange IOI
- 900 checks for S3347, promlssoTy notes ior
$50 239 As, a consignment draft Tor $!OO, other
drafts to the amount of pS, 73S 10, aud New Ork
Central coupons worth SlOO, making total OF
S5O,4S5 rs. All that missing OF the stoleh
property was 800 III New-1Ork Central coupons.
The bank will therefore, lose very little. Payment on
the pauers was stopped Immediately after the THEFT
was committed. Ihe police regard Woods as
dangerous criminal. Although he has been only hve
months III thIs country ne has already been Twice
arrested, one charg being Tor tapping III " on
the West Side. lie was then discharged t0I lack ol
evidence. 1t is supposed that Woods had the
checks with him yesterday for delivery to some one
else because he feared the police were shadow
ing hllu too closely.