New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-07
THIEVES RUN TO EARTH.
HEADQUARTERS OF a GANG OF PLUM
DERERS DISCOVERED IN HARLEM.
THE ARREST OF TWO MEN AT AN ENTERTAIN
MENT LEADS TO THE DIsCLOsURE-TRUNKs
FULL OF STOLEN PROPERTY FOUND
SEQUEL TO MANY CHURCH AND
HOTEL ROBBERIEs.

SEQUEL TO MANY CHURCH AND
HOTEL ROBBERIEs
The arrest on Friday night OF two men for
acting suspicously in the Second Collegiate Re-
formed Church. at One-hundred-and-twenty
thirG-st. and Lenox-ave. turned out 70 be an
arrest Of considerable importance. 1t has dis
closed a wel-systematzed scheme by gang Of
thieves Of robbng churches. not only in Harlem.
but in other cities. the robberies extending as
far az Boston. on Friday night. at enter
tainment in the aforesaid church. NJ B. Fuller
caused the arres, Of two suspicious characters
who were lettering about the women's cloak
room and the room in which the men kept their
overcoats The men said their names were
Eugene Renard. twenty-three years old, Of No.
13O East One-hundred-and-twenty y-third-st, and
his occupation a cook. and Philip Young. twen-
ty-eight years Old waiter. Of the same address.
The two men were taken before Justice Simms,
in the Harlem Police Court. on Saturday morn
ing. Renard was committed for examination
and Young was held in $1,000 bail for trial.
MIR. POWER%s EFFECTIVE DETECTIVE WORK.
Among those who were in court who had lost
overcoats and other things from churches in the
last few months Harry l.. Powers son OF
ex-Commissioner Powers Of the Park Board
who lost a new sG5 overcoat from the same
church March 16. He noticed among the
spectators in court a chunky built young man.
who paid great attention to the disposition Of
the two prisoners. Mr. Powers decided to follow
the man when he left the courtroom, and
through him the nest Of the thieves was dis
covered He shadOwed the chunky-built fellow
to No. 80 East Observation-Disclosures. where
he entered apartments on the first floor.
Directly opposite was a tailor's repair shop,
and from the proprietor Mr.. Powers learned
that the man whom he had followed. with sew
era OF his companions had for a month and
more made practice Of taking clothing to him
to be repaired, principally overcoats. The tailor
said that it had been remarked by the other
tenants in the house what amount Of fine
clothing the men had Considerable Of II had
been disposed Of to the tenants
on learning this, Mr. Powers called on Captain
Westervelt Of the One-hundred-and-fo -fourth-st.
station and Detectives Smith and Mooney were
detailed on the case The detectives called at
No 30 East One-hundred- and-sixth-st and ar
rested the Young man whom Mr. Powers had
! followed The rooms were packed with the
/ booty OF the thieves There dozen large
| trunks filled with overcoats and clothing, nap
/ kins towels sheets and other things apparently
| freshly stolen from stores There were found
| also twenty-four pairs Of kid gloves. which had
/ evidently been found in the pockets Of over
! coats stolen from churches; eight pocketoooks,
in which were elevated railroad tickets and
| trinkets a huge number of pawn tickets repre-
senting various articles OF clothing and jewelry
n lot Of silverware from the Hotel Waldorf, and
n membership ticket to the Eastern Branch OF
the T. NJ c. A.. in Brooklyn, on which was the
name John NJ Tillman. jr.
WARM WEATHER sPOIIS THEIR BUSINESS
There was also found a letter dated from the
American House Boston. April 80. and addressed
! 10 Eugene Jesselson. from otto The letter
! explained having shipped three overcoats that
/ morning by Adams Express, and said that the
/ weather was warm that people were ledNlHs
off their oVercoats, and that business IN com
/ sequnce was bad II gave instructions 10 nave
! the heavy overcoat disposed Of first and 10
! have the pockets OF the others mended Inc
letter spoke Of Mother" and Connie Mercer
! and requested that So be sent 10 him. as ne was
! hard up for money. The letter was written III
German.
The Young man arrested and the booty
! We're taken 10 the police station. Among the
/ articles found linen handkerchief whlch
Mr. Powers recognized as being in his oVercoal,
| pocket when Il was stolen. The prisoner saiu
his name was Benedict JesselsOn. a waiter. lie
admitted that the men arrested on FRIDAY night
! and he had committed all Of the many roopetleS
which have taken place in the churches III I"i ia,
! lem for the last five months. and that the neIu
had extended 10 other places. He SAID that the
! men arrested were brothers and that ne was
their half brother Their names. he sald We're
! Philip and Eugene Jesseison In court yesterday
morning ne was held for examination on
| Wednesday.
| Il is thought that the gang is a much larger
| one than the three brothers and includes women
as well as men, II is believed that there are
regularly organized gangs In several cities whicn
| steal goods and ship them By express to the men
| here who dispose Of them. y thorough lnVeSti-
! cation will be made by the detectives.