New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-27
TRICKED BY A WOMAN.
CAPTURING A THIEF AND STOLEN BONDS
A STATEN ISLAND BURGLARY RECALLED-THE PART
PLAYED BY MRS. ELLEN PECK.

STATEN ISLAND BURGLARY RECALLED-THE PART
PLAYED BY MRS. ELLEN PECK
Inspector Byrnes yesterday locked up at Police
Headquarters a burglar who had In his possession
stolen bonds valued at $4,000. The police had
been looking for the man for nearly two years.
Sixteen Richmond County bonds, for $1,000 each,
were stolen in September, 1882, from the house Of
Owen and Hngh McSorey, near West Brighton.
Staten Island Owen McSorley went out for adriye
with his family leaving the house in the care Of
an old man named Brian. A stranger ran
to the house half an hour later and said that Mr.
McSorley's carriage had broken down. lie cut a
piece Of clothes line handed it to Brian, and sent
the old man down the road in a vain search for ms
employer. Two cOnfederates joined the stranger
and they committed the robbery by breaking open
n safe in the house. They met Mr. Mcsorley a. they
were going away IN opposite direction from that
taken by Brian. Two of the burglars, TON"
Gardner and Frenchman named Jacques, wers
arrested months afterward for a robbery IN
Philadelphia. aud were sent to the Moyamensna
prison. but none of the stolen bonds were found
with them. Their leader in the McSOrley robbery
was not heard of until information concerning him
was brought to Inspector Byrnes by an unexpected
ally.
MRS PrCKs NEGOTIATIONS
Mrs. Ellen Peck, the notorious confidence swim
der who obtained many thousands OF dollars from
b. +. Babbitt. the soap manufacturer, by pre-
tending to aid him in his pursuit OF his
dishonest cashier, Beckwith; who after.
ward fraudulently obtained $4,000 from
Lyonce LANCER, the Fourth-ave diamond
broker and who has been engaged in so many other
peculiars transaction that she Is commonly spoken
of by the police as " the sawdust woman, was the
person chiefly instrumental in the capture of yes
terday. She advertised under an assumed name,
n ~ N diambnds.
received letter from Julius Columbane and met him
by appointment at the Astor House. He said that
he had not the So 900 which she wished to borrow,
but he offered TO sell ten Richmond County bonds
worth $4,000 for $4,000, and 10 take her dia-
monds as security until she could sell the bondss
The bonds were not given 10 her at the meeungs
but she took the numbers. broker at NO. q
Broad-st afterward informed her that the num-
bers were those of the bonds stolen from Mr.
Mcsorley Mrs. Peck then went TO Inspector
Byrnes. told him about the bonds and promised TO
act according to his instructions
Several interviews were held by Columbane and
Mrs Peck the woman taking care TO conceal her
identity and giving Detective-SeIgeants Dolan and
O'Connor opportunities to watch and follow the
burglar. On Thursday he gave her one of the
stolen bonds in exchange for $500 cash. and made
an agreement to sell her five mOre bonds at the
same price on the following day. She had ceased
to talk about diamonds, having told him
that she knew the bonds were stolen. He
met her on Friday in the Barclay Street ferry house
Sergeant Slevin was on the wateh IneIe anu DoIs9
that if Columbane had the bonds with him STs.
Peck was to give signal for his arrest, but the
y ESGlSa faa5 Rm % ace apo%
lie led her to Sixth-ave. car and made
thai E mo pefTi6Sn f6s deasctSs. Tss S fQTsd I
on the newt car however, and had the driver keep
in sight of the car ahead. They saw the compile geo
OFF at tourth-st ana M,I TnaiSo he stors
Commbane found q room ready for his use. lie re-
sumed the negotiations abruptly when lie was aioho
with the woman.
TWO AT THE SAME GAME.
"I have been in State prison. he said,
"and gave information TO an investigating
committee. The prison officials would
kill me If they got me back there
again. would rather kill myself and you, too,
than be put in danger Of arrest -,-
TO give point to bis remarks ne t%oos % teyoiVer
from his pocket and placed 1t on sofa where as
sat Now he resumed, have you got tAo
money with your" y,
Mrs Peck answered the question tE hndsT lanETSe-
I" / have some of them here When you have
paid me the money we viii 90 over %
Jersey city Grod ana wli her give mole S9u With m the
idea that she could not trite with HIM he took from
his pocket wicked-looking knife ana lad IL oeSido
his revolver. ~, nj, H.. on. q r;s.oI
Two oau play at that game" she said. " haNo
oot the MONEY Where are the bonds Z"
BEFORE the a,tonished burglar could reply shQuu
of warning was heard Detective Sergeant Dolan
had rushed into the liquor store close upon the
heels of the spy who had seen the detective watching
the place. The spy, hired by Columbane, startled
Mrs peck so much that she did not try 70 detaln
The burglar who started through the rear door and
fed into Jones-st. The detective pursued nun pnt
he escaped after hinging away package whlch
Dolan picked up. The package contained h'e oi
the stolen bonds. - -,ut,1 g.,
Tnsncctor BVrnes all the detectives OF the i0rce
were sentI out to search for him. ne
ferries were watched and an omcel
went TO the burglars boarding house IN jersey
Citv TO arrest him If he appeared there The search
was kent MP all night and in the morning iletec'
five Sergeants Rogers and McNaught found MN y
the Park Hotel III Chatham-st. When he was toid
Who Mrs Peck was, his rage was expressed IN
strong language. Mr. McSorley identihed ths
bonds and promised to appear IN the l0mDs foIlce
Court as complainant against the prisoner Io-9"y;
Colulnbaue is an Italian, age forty-seVen' ana oi
prepossessing appearance. His career as Il proles'
siona thief is not well known 10 the police Dtcausg
he mas succeeded in eyading arrest ior humoel u
offences.
ALATYER'S TREMENDOUS FEE