The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
MASKS AND LEAD PIPE.
WAS THERE A PLOT TO ROE AND
KILL DRUGGIST HECHTf

Police Are Now Looking for Two Other
TOung Fellows who Are Supposed to
Have Seen In Conspiracy with Hin.
It was a very neat scheme that was put mp
on Druggist George Hecht, whose drug store
stands at tho corner Of Rivington and Clinton
streets. Whoeysr planned it-and Mr.. Hecht
has strong spspiclons Of his 17-yeEr-old clerk,
George Meister probably got the idea from a
dime novel, for IL included the usual penny
dreadful accessories. There were black nasks
and lead pipes and mysterious signals and all
the rest Of IL. But unfortunately for the sue.
cess of the plan, Mr.. Hecht became suspicious
early in the game, and young Meister Ia now
locked up, while detectives are searching for
his alleged accomplices.
Young Melster has been employed in the
drug store for hvo weeks, and for q fortnight
Hecht has suspected that the boy was robbing
him. Az he keeps q considerable amount Of
money in a desk in his apartments back Of the
store. he felt constrained to watch his clerk
pretty sharply. It struck him as peculiar on
Wednesday afternoon when Meister. with
out any orders from him, went down into the
cellar. Asked what he was doing there. the
boy said he was getting soms alcohol. As
there was a full supply Of alcohol up stairs,
this explanation failed to commend itself to
the druggist. He started down in the cellar,
when he heard a low whistle below. answered
by two other whistles. This was not comfort
ing, but 1t served TO prevent Hecht from being
overcome with amazement when he found
with his clerk two other youths of about the
same age.
what are you doing here2" he demanded.
1--WE have come to look at your gas meter"
replied one Of the strangers. Were inspect
ors; seo2"
''Yes: 1 let 'em in from the other door, add
ed Meister. They said they wanted to inspect
the meter"
Come up out Of there, you two." ordered
the druggist, land you, George. go for q police
man."
Taking the two youths into his room, he
guarded them there until Meister's return,
which vas announced by another signal Wits
tie. Meister said he couldn't find a police
man. But . customer who came into the store
Just then succeeded better. at the druggists
request. After some consideration Hecht con-
cluded that he didn't want the youths arrested
because It would involve too much trouble.
Any way, there was no direct evidence against
them. So the strangers went away hastily
after having told the druggist that their names
were Charles Frankel and Frank Burke and
givin; addresses that were fictitious, Very
them so,f5r in about fifteen minutes he walked
into the back room and found Meister rummag-
"What are You doing therea' demanded
"oh. nothing" said. the clerk. moving over
toward the piano. Il was Just iookin' for
AS he spoke he edged up nearer and nearer
G out OF here" he said. You're dis:
charged. Go out in the store and I'll pay you.
Then you get out quick or III have you ar
Seeing nothing else for 1T. the youth did as
t es ss' to sSt the r ~msn to oe LOOK @tS o sepi lis hei things IS.
Nothing was gone from the desk. as fer as he
piann IN ua rd which Maiafar hnH liant alufnu
A number OF papers lay on one end Ct 4, APP
parently thrown there carelessly. Hecht
something solid. He lifted out a long object
wrapped In newspaper, and very heavy. I'm;
pipe. Back he went to the he p and found an
other. Then two black masks were brought to
in the legs and bristiy about the scalp. He
wrapped the articles up. and was about TO put
s ses,ale s caught wh Sis a a ptssd of PAPER Pieki In th e S SEfl
he found written upon 1t in a s%prawling hand
this i legend; van imam .,.pM q u.obt ,
It o is tie dr MiH aPebb e IL that H. III il the Il; bestsi
had carried out their little scheme the placard
CLOSED on account Of death in tbs family"
By nature Druggist Hecht is slow Of action.
police. he decided to sleep on It, but he didn't
sleep first rate; Troubled visions Of black
above his head. An that night he expected
ted to be BY H Ms y By Si the spn ssG s SIth m9se r fead pips.
Next day he went to Police Head9qarters and
told Capt. o,Brien Of The ,a petectiEe Bureau
have discharged his clerk. Detectives kraucn
clerk. They arrested him Yesterday after
noon on Broome street. He is a sleeny-l9ok.
Eighteenth street. To all the questions of
the detectives he returned answers Of evil
d sfn tby t sass \ Who s'e eam. to M III . sass he i. t safG,
was that they used to go to school with him,
and one Of them vas named IRo6 s0mmething;"
company. one with the Consolidated and the
other with the Equitable. SO he let them in.
tichsd them; Meiister said he admit know
and placard. The detectives are now search
ing for the two other youths.
which. young Meister was to be chief actor.
They believe thar, he smuggled the lead pipe
s %Si. m ,Hss i say. and The wrote tw6 a tes s1SIn; IN Wes sS% ae
have got from the cellar into the rear room and
aonnea the u masks - Perhaps Pc lSa Mei st E; ~ was to
opportunity. Then on the druggists return
the two were to knock him senseless with the
with the door thus guarded the young fellows
would have plenty Of time to go through the
O'Clock they would have had an hours margin
by the sign. Il
Meister from the rear room after the others
had gone the youth tried to get 70 the piano..
seize one OF the LEAD pipes, ahoeE nm senseiess
manded at Essex Market Court yesterday.
The case recalls the murder of Guenther
drug store at Ss7 Third avenue, on March !.
1889. wechsung was found in the prescrlp:
tion room at the bt ok of the store, his skull
store vas open and had been rihed. There
were no signs uf a struggle, but it was evil
dent that Wechsung had been attacked by
some one who was familiar with the surround
ings. The murder was committed with q razor
edged hatche'. William Krulisch. a boy APP
prentice. was charged with the murder. and
arrested. but finally acquitted. Wechsung lived
long enough TO say that he was attacked while
sitting on a sofa in the room, tying his shoe
string.
\ PROPERTY PISTOL WAS LOADED.