The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-02
STATION ROBBER CAUGHT.
CAPTURE OF THE MAN VINO PLAYED
TICKET SELLER.

Ills ccompiic y Former Employee or the
Elevated Railroad. Also Arrested - He
Planned tho Crimo-Broadway Car Conduc-
tor's Cap and Coat Borrowed for the Occasion
Tho man who robbed tho elevated railroad sta
ton at Church and Cortlandt streets last Satur-
day night and n confederate who planned the
Job and supervised 1t unnoticed have been cap
turcd by Capt. O'Brien's detectives. They also
recovered the larger part of tho plumber. Pris-
oners and property were safely lodged in Police
Headquarters last night, and this morning they
will DO taken to the Jefferson Market Police
Court. Benjamin Aaronson, 81 years old, OF 1ls
East Eighty.sevcnth street, wns the operator"
John Brickenedel, 80 years old, Of 1870 Fifth
avenue was his instructor and accomplish.
Brickenedel was for eleven years employed on
tho elevated railroad as station agent and tele-
graph operator. He was discharged about eigh-
teen months ago. Frequent discrepancies in his
accounts made him particularly well known to
the higher officials Of the road, SO that ON Sat
urday night, after the robbery occurred, when
they were casting about for some one to suspect,
among others they thought Of him. When the
case was reported to Capt. O'Brion at the Detec-
tive Bureau Brickencdel's record was made
known TO him. and he detailed Detectives Coffey
and Herlihy to find the man and investigate
his recent movements. After some inquiry the
detectives leArncQ tnat BTlCkcnCucl ITequtnteu
a saloon near Eiehty-sixths street and Park ave-
nue.. They watched him closely. and on Monday
saw him meet Aaronson. The latter answered
the description Of the robber furnished by Sta
ton Agent Peterson. whose Office was robbed,
and after he had left Brickenedel the detectives
arrested Aaronson on suspicion. He refused to
give his name and was recorded as John Doe.
Petersen was summoned. and, without hesita-
ton. he picked the prisoner out OF a line of hf-
teen mon as the robber.
Despite this Aaronson stoutly denied all
knowledge of the robbery, and said that he could
the time It Occurred. Yesterday morning. how.
ever. no was identified by Capt. O'Bricn as a man
he had arrested about S6a seven y%1yC years 1nr ago. fse:c San anat
were found to be about 81, 800 short, and it was
ing checks. He was arrested. but his relatives
settled the matter and the case was dropped.
day. but again declared his innocence OF the
railroad robbery. The Captain then sent his
fore the Chief OF the detectives the latter. intimat-
ing that Aaronson had confessed, induced Brick;
s sne xsrd to do s and u ths latter hs s baoEe DOWN mS and Ie aai
mitted his guilt. The confessions of the two
men agreed in the main.
scheme and tried at a. first to IP; SrgSpa s,ess aa spS
dS1ha sdIenTTSS; e no YB b enio ns Tsin t ni@i A aas anses.
The latter didn't like the suggestion, but as he
naQ Deen out OF "OTk lOr u long tlIut dnu
finally accepted. Following the instructions
es BssSk snS made Th Sim f lGnKfi ssFv With T its O1 ssf
ness methods. Aaronson borrowed a uniform
coat and cap from a friend Who L. employed on
satchel he met Brickundel on Saturday after
noon in Central Park. About 5 o'clock they took
rooms there, BricEenedel gave Aafonson q mes
sage blank, which Aaronson filled out at the
others diCCaCOn as follows:
Form v. MAY 30. 1897.
IMif'S on way y to relieve you: Come to Fifty third
street and Eighth avenue FOR letter. J. II. II.
Then they took another train and rode to Bat.
terry place. Brickenedel said that 1t was a little
TOO early, so they went down to a saloon. where
Aaronson put on the borrowed coat and cap.
station atom and D;Ss got et on a train. pisconer ahosI that i
got OF at Hector street, Before repmbarking ht
Petersen. Aaronson left the train at Park place
and, crossing to the downtown station. took Z
there has already been told in THE SUN.
1t will be remembered that after %bundling VI
S525 that was in the safe Aaronson went of
without It. He lays this TO the fact that he be
gan to get alarmed, and, in fact, hardly knew
Erietc me was met sOl hikm w down h IN i the s street sta, a0d
fourth street, There they entered a restauran!
taken. Brickenedel advised him not to dispose
OF the tickets until the affair had blown over, SC
After making his confession Aaronson wa
about to go with a detective to get the ticket
when word Came from the East Eighty-eightl
street police station that they had been brough
to that place by Henry De Costa, Aaronson'
brotherin-law. De Costa explained that OIL
hearing of Aaronson's arrest he had made
search Of the house to see IL he had sccrete'
anything there, and had found tho tickets.
When the tickets were counted at Police Head
quarters there was found TO be an even 5000 o
them; The railroad company officials rcporTtc.
that they did not dispose Of a single one.