The evening times., 1900-07-11
A COUNTS PAPERS FOUND
Valuable Family Documents stolen
Ten Years Ago

Valuable Family Documents stolen
Zen Years Ago.
NEW YORK. July II-Deputy Sheriff
Philip kuss. of YoDkers. yesterday after
noon arrested a man who was alleged 10
be holding for a ransom valuable docu-
ments stolen FIVE years ago from Count A
r. Steinieh in White Plains. y. Y. The
man placed under arrest vas W A Ben
iamin. living with his wife and three chill
dren at the Sturtevant House. this city
He was arrested at that hotel and taken 10
White Plains.
The disappearance Of the papers oe-
CURED FIVE years ago. when a friend OF the
count visited White Plains ard engaged
quarters at the Standard House. in that
village He was medical man and a stu
dent OF geneaiogy- Becoming interested in
the counts history. he persuaded the aged
nobleman 10 lend him the family REGARD
Some time later. shortly before the depart
ure OF the doctor. the count asked him TO
return the documents. A search was
made. but il was impossible TO locate them
The count and his medical friend used
every endeeyor 10 trace the missing prop
erty- but were unable to secure any clew
as TO its whereabouts until three weeks
ago The count refused TO divulge the
name Of the medical man, saying that he
felt sure that his friend was in no wise
responsible for the disappearance Of the
papers.
Three weeks ago letter signed w. A
Benjamin was received BY the Count
and il contained the demand FOR $4,000
ransom, the writer saying that he knew
the whereabouts OF the man who had The
md LnH
OF that sum OF money would they be re
turned An animated correspondence re-
suited between the count and the stran-
ger, terminating IN a visit TO the Sturte-
want House by the counts son. Stephen.
conference was held With Benjamin
he refused absolutely 10 give young Stein
ieh any information concerning the tis-
appearance OF the heirlo0ms. but finally
under persuasion. agreed to take 81 O06 for
their return The young man promised 10
pay the price demanded at a later date.
Returning on the date set. young Steinich
met the man as agreed. but The latter was
unable TO produce the documents at that
time, for reasons which he refused 10 Ci-
vulge. Another date was set. Benjamin
again making a positive statement that
$1,000 would have 70 be paid TO him al that
meeting.
Upon learning the facts from his son The
count placed the matter in the hands OF
the New York police Detectives learned
that Benjamin formerly lived in North
Adams. Mass Enquiry showed that be
was well known there. but did not seem
TO have any business. although he lived
well.
On Monday. az White Plains. Justice
CaprOn issued a warrant for the arrest of
Benjamin The warrant was placed IN the
hands OF Deputy Sheriff Kuss. who in
company with Stephen Steinich. came 10
N'9w York yesterday They found Belja-
M & the Sturtevant House. BENJAMIN
invited Steinich into a p3rlOr for a prf-
va;e conference. and there demanded the
money for the papers
Kuss then entered the psrlor on a signal
om Steinieh- Benjamin was indignant II
the officers intrusion. and at first refused
10 accompany him Kuss however hurrrei
his man out Of the hotel 10 the Grand Cen
tral station Tickets were purchased a1d
the party boarded a Harlem train for White
Plains Before II started Benjamin weak
ened. and confessed that he knew he
whereabouts OF the property. and offe-ed 10
lead the officer 10 where IL was. Kuss
agreed. and the three men left the train
and went TO saloon in Spring Street. near
the BOWery- There they met John XIX
a professional Fsfe-opener. The latter ad-
mitted that be had the heiTIooms, and de-
livered Them over 10 the deputy Ku<s
then took his prisoner 10 White Plsi1S
Kick explained that he had found the doe
umenIs In an abandoned safe that be ws.
hired BY BENJAMIN 20 open one wear ago
The men offered no explanation S. 20 why
they retained possession OF the missing ar
ticles for such a long period without SC
qUainting the owner. whose name and ad-
dress appeared thereon
The documents stolen included papers
which showed ths standing OF the Steinich
family. anc various valuable heirlcors
The count has been q resident OF White
Plains for forty-rine years, and fo- over
a quarter OF a century has acted in the
capacity OF county and Supreme Court in
terpreter-
stephen Steinich said last night TIA
the doctor 10 whom his, father RAJ lent he
heirlocms was a former resident OF North
Adams. Mass. where Benjamin used 70
live The prisoner SAYS he is q real es-ate
broker. with Offices AZ $50 Broadway.