New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-30
ROBBERS USE A TELEPHONE
,SE THIEF ATTRACTS ATTENTION 10 THE
INSTRUMENT
u,s CONCENTRATES CARRY OFF LARGE
s,,,, or MoNEY-THE PLOT TIMED
WITH ExACTNEsS.

, cont 29.-Eggleston, Mallette d
|i ,o,tractors and manufacturers Of crushed
-. ooonnv handsome Office i'll the Royal In
oVo"N' puilding Yesterday payday for
- ..on In order that the payroll might be
-. ,oodv and the money put up in packages for
ss.s,ributjon. Mr. Mallette drew check for the
ontire amount Thursday, and sent a clerk to the
hank TO get it cashed. He returned with S2,S7O
in currency, and placing the amount on his desk,
he sat down with the payroll to count out and put
in small envelopes the various Sums due the men,
The only other persons in the office at the time
were Mr.. Eggleston and Mr.. Mallette. Both were
busy writing letters.
Just as the clerk began counting the money
well-dresscd, good-loolling young man came lh'o
the Office and began conN ersaton with Mr.. EggleS-
ton. minute later another young man came IN
through different entrance and spoke to MIR.
Mallette. At that instant the telephone bell rang.
The clerk glancng up and seeing both members
of the firm talking to strangers, left his desk to
answer the telephone which is hung in an adIoln-
ing closet The first stranger concluded his con-
yersation with Mr. EggleSton, and passing by the
clerks desk went out through the entrance az
which the other man came in. Mr.. Eggleston went
ON with his letter-wrting Then Mr.. Mallettes
saller withdrew. Both members of the firm were
scratching away with their pens when the clerk
came out Of the telephone closet and told Mr.
Mallette that Marshall Field d Co. had package
for him at their retail store on which they had
advanced charges and had called up TO know
where the package was to be delivered. Mr..
Mallette said he did not understand what they
meant. and went to the telephone himself. There
was no one at the other end of the wire and the
connection had been broken.
The clerk returned to his desk. The money
was gone His face grew pale, his knees shook,
md he could hardly control his voice long enough
10 ask Mr. Epgleston if he had taken the money.
That gentleman replied that ho had not. Mr..
Mallette stepped from the telephone closet ana
also denied having taken the money. linen the
rIerk began to laugh. He thought his employers
were playing a joke on him because of his care
isssness in leaving so large sum of money
exposed But the seriousness of the situation
struck all three when they realized that they were
victims of one of the most remarkable pieces OF
meakthieving on record. 49,.
What did your man want?" asked Mr' MalFo'e'
burning 10 his partner
He asked about the standing OF some 1irm that
never heard of. And yours?"
lie asked if were figuring on paying con-
tract on the West Side.'
The man who rang the telephone was ther
confederate" said the clerk.
All three rushed TO the door and down TO the
rround floor. There are two exits from the Dullti-
ing-one in Jackson-st. and the other in Quincy
ST. Dozens of busy men were constantly passing
in and out. and il was not at all strange that no
one could be found who had noticed the two
thieves. Up and down the street ran the Two
contractors and their clerk but the search aValed
nothing The thieves had escaped with the big
bundle Of money.