New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-16
VICTIMS OF PAWNBROKERS.
THE UNHAPPY FATE OF PERSONS WHO
HAVE SUFFERED THEFTs
SENATOR LEXOw GIVES HIS IDEAS ON THE SUB
JECT-How THE DETECTIVES HAVE IN
TRENCHED TIE PAwNBROKERs IN

State Senator Iexow, chairman OF the commit
TO investigate the Police Department In this city.
yesterday read the report in The Tribune about
the unsuccessful attempts made by Lee J. Nit
tehstadt. OF No. 3O West Fortysxth-st.. and Miss
Pauline Morris Of No. 25l West Thrty-nInth-st..
to recover articles which had been stolen from
them and pawned, without paying the advances
which had been made 10 the thieves by the pawn
brokers. Mr. Mlttestadt had tried to recover a
clock which had been stolen from his house and
had been found In he pawnshop Of John ]. Full
lam at No. GO Tenth-ave.. and he had been adj
vised by both Superintendent Byrnes, at the Central
| Office. and by Police Justice Mcmahon at the
Yorkville Police Court. that he would have TO 90
to civil court and take out a writ OF replevin
in order TO get possession Of the stolen clock I'M
less he chose pay the sum which the pawn
broker had advanced the clock
TESTIMONY WHICH REUSED THEM
| Miss Morris had brought her to the attention
OF Police Justice Voorhis. at the Jefferson Market
Police Court In attempt to recover Jewels which
she declared had been stolen from her. and had
| been taken to several pawnshops by the thief
| In her the pawnbrokers had surrendered the
| jewels to Justice Noorhis and were awaiting MS
| decision while refusing give up their claims
| for the money which they had advanced Mr.
Mittelstadt and Miss Morris had read the testi-
| mony before the Lexow Committee given by De-
| ,ective-Sergeant Hanley In reply to questions by
| John w. Con-. follows:
Q.-Are not the owners required 10 pay TO the
| pawnbroker the money which had been advanced
Al sualy. because otherwise the pawnbrokers
have 70 be sued for the proper;y, ,,a ors,or, o,
the police inform the owners OF stolen properly
will have to the pawnbroker or pay the sum
advanced TO the thief? Ayes. , :,
q ny Mr Gof)-IIave you not often heard It
stated by the Judges In the Court OF General SEES
sons that stolen proPery belongs o to the O%sr
nd hav hear -
that you have allowed the owners or stoIen prop,
Al had nothing to do with that. The owners
were willing TO pay the advances to the pawn
brokers.
To n Tribune reporter who made Inquiries yes
| teriay Senator I.exow said that while 1t was
doubtless true that the pawnbrokers might De
able to possession OF stolen articles In most
cases. unless the owners of the property began
suits OF replevin or paid the advances yet, as
matter OF law the pawnbrokers had no right TO
| keep such property when the righttni owner na'e
a demand for II.
..Snppose" he said 'tha, my watch was stolen
from me and afterward saw It at the shop OF
| pawnbroker. II could get the watch into my
| hands without a breach Of the peace might
put It into my pocket and defy the pawnoroker 10
arrest me declaring that the watch had been
stolen from me. and that II was my properly, ~
true the pawn6roker might cal v,a. pqrsena
at a police court could prove that the watch wa, was
mine and be sure OF being discharged %i .Sn.
had 1iS advanced to the thief"
IN LEAGUE WITH THE DETECTIVES.
In reply TO the suggestion OF the reporter that most
New-Yorkers would find It cheaper and easier TO
pay the pawnbroker than to bring suits OF replevin
or 20 take forcbie possession Of property which mad
been stolen from them and be arrested Senator
"Tha, may be- true. OF course. but the testimony
The attitude OF the police detectives The detectives
Instead OF being the side Of persons VINO had ben
robbed have been the side OF the pa"nDroKers
and have compelled the payment OF the money
which the pawnbrokors claimed to have advanced 10
erouni that the pawnbrokers had no right 70 retain
possession o. stolen prPpeT found r IN 'n sn snS
brokers' such stolen property TO The right
would have been compelled 20 stop paving money 10
the thieves appcars ma. ,ne ,onneI The own
crs Of stolen property 10 pay roundy ior me re-
covcry Of the property Under such system d'rtc,
encouragement has been given 70 ,ne hih ~
have known that they had safe places al Wh'ch 10
uf @TSe nawnhrokers have advanced sums almost
equal 20 the value Of the stolen articles knowing
that The money would be Para BACK 10y ' n,p,es in
th.,r books I'm order deceive the owners and com
b~s.n ''r advnnc. They also have failed take
the addresses ~ IN" persons VINO mn ~ ,'s ne
| pnlice In the arrest OF thieves VINO pawn s'o''h
right 10 examine the books Of the pAwnbrok"rs an
| let the pawnbrokers understand that they wouni
al "A
.rs wolI soon stop receiving property from persons
whom they knew Ice thieves and the thieveS "ou'u
| have more, difficulty in dsposing OF their pIunlrr
THE COURT STILL HOLDS THE JEWELS.
Miss Pauline Morris. the young actress VINO mas
| be.n irving to recover her property from pawn
| sbop was again IN Jefferson Market Court yesterday
sinc. the case was In Friday Mr. Nc
clell,nd her counsel. and Mr.. Cometock, VINO rep
re-ents the pawnbrokers entered into an agreement
| whereby Miss Morris TO have possession OF the
diamonds and file bond for them ana the pawn
brokers were 70 bring suit against her TO r"pe'h
| ~, ,eu,elry This arrangement satisfactory to
| Mics Morris and when she appeared In court she
had n bondsman with her Justice WORMS. howeVrl
would not listen 10 any such proposition ne Je"c'i.
vas n his possession and he refused 70 part Win IL
The lawyer for the pawnbrOkers aIrgei tnat ''Lr
was COLLISION between Miss Morris ana the nan WHO
stole and pawned IN. tewelry. Justice Noorhls que
TONED Mise Morris closely about the theit 1t .,e
,cw.lrv and finally adjourned the case until hurS
1av next The jewelry Is stl in the possession o'
| Court.