New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
AVARICE THEIR RUIN.
TWO JERSEY CITY THIEVES CAUGHT BY
THEIR OWN FOOLHARDINESs.

INNOCENT MEN NEARLY PUNISHED FOR SAFE
ROBBERY OF WHICH THEY KNEW MOTH
ING-rHE cULPRrTs ADMIT
THEIR GUILT.
Two Innocent men would probably have been sent
to State prison for a safe robbery In Jersey City
II the avarice Of the thieves had not tempted them
to into negotiations for the sale Of the checks
and notes they had stolen to the man they had
robbed. George w Lawrence Is coal dealer at
No 296 Fairmount-ave. He went home to dinner at
Friday July TO- leaving the office In charge
Of James Leonard. OF No. 1895 West Side-ave, BOY
employed as messenger and helper. and james HE'D
ert. a colored man. living at No. S34 Communipaw-
ave. who engaged driver. The door or
the safe open. but the money drawer OF tho
safe which contained 800 and checks and notes for
s7Oo was locked. When Mr.. Lawrence returned
the money drawer was open and its contents were
missing The drawer had been pried open. The
police positive that the two employees were
the thieves that Leonard and Hebert were arrested
After examination by the Police Justice they were
held for trial. although they stoutly protested their
innocence.
Three days after the robbery Mr.. Lawrence re-
ceived a letter postmarked Newark and signed
A. b. C. The writer stated he was In possession
OF the stolen checks and notes and Il Mr. Lawrence
desired to recover them he could insert a personal
a
would pay for the paper. He consulted Police
Captain Cox who conferred with Chief Murphy.
The personal was inserted that liberal sum would
be paid This indefinite and unsatisfactory,
as A letter was received that had been mailed in
New-York in which It was stated that the writer
desired to know the exact amount. and guarantee
that no one would be punished Another personal
put In saying that SiW WouIo DC ph4d' VII"
guarantee
On Saturday evening a boy called on Mr.. Lawrence
with an envelope which held some Of the checks.
and note requesting Mr.. Lawrence to send some
one with the boy and the money promised. Mt
Lawrence told the boy that he was alone and could
no. then leave but instructed him TO return In half
an hour Mr.. Lawrence. who had been advised by
the police communicated with Captain Cox, who.
with Detective Larkins, waited for and followed the
boy on his second visit. The boy accosted two men
at Bsrgen-ave and Mon tgomery-st., and while they
were engaged in earnest conversation the cap
tain and detective bounced on and arrested them
The men declared that they were strangers TO
ach other The boy registered as Charles Kenn.
thirteen years old, Of No 7l3 Harfordst. Baltimore.
Md. The men William Smith, twenty -nina
years old. OF No 125 Newark-ave, Jersey City. and
Elmer Brown. forty-fve years old. of No 10 Gable
St. Newark. A loaded revolver was found on Smith.
Chief Murphy Intercepted the prisoners yesterday
morning They stuck to the story that they are
strangers and the boy insisted that he engaged
by a man In New York, who wait for him al
the ferry-house
Chief Murphy communicated with the Baltimore
police and learned that Kenn is about sixteen years
Old and is slick young thief. The Chief had an
other talk with the prisoners individually yesterday
afternoon. Detective Pearson, who brought them
from their cells at Police Headquarters. remarked.
after he had returned Brown TO his cell: THAT
fellow has been here before, Chief He did a bur-
gary IN Greenvile. and his mug Is in the Gallery
The detective looked and extracted Picture No. 75S
labelled William Morgan. The Chief read the
description on the back Of the card and said. Go
down and bare that fellows and see IL Katy is
not tattooed on H. A minute later the detective re-
turned with the prisoner. whose sleeve rolled
up. The tattoo marks there
Morgan was sent 10 State Prison in 1891 for four
years and six months for burglary. He said that he
was released in September and had since been
honest. He finally confessed that ne and Smith had
robbed the safe. Smith also admitted his guilt. The
aters record IS not known to the police, but they
are convinced that he Is professional. and they
will make an investigation to ascertain something
OF his antecedents before ne is sentenced for the
crime for which two innocent men almost suffered.
The thieves stole into the office while the employees
were talking in the yard 1t took only second to
wrench open the cash drawer with jimmy and
pocket the contents.