New-York tribune., 1900-07-11
STOLEN PAPERS RECOVERED.
COUNT STEINICHS HEIRLOOMS RE
STORED, AND A MAN ALLEGED TO
BE HOLDING THEM FOR
RANSOM ARRESTED.

Deputy Sheriff Philip Kuss, of Yonkers, yes
terday afternoon arrested a man who was al
legged to be holding for ransom valuable docu-
ments stolen five years ago from Count A H.
Steinich in White Plains. The placed under
arrest was W. A Benjamin. living with his wife
and three children at tire Sturtevant House thls
city He was arrested at that hotel and taken
to White Plains
The disappearance of the papers occurred hVe
years ago, when a friend of the Count visited
White Plains and engaged quarters at the Stand
ard House, in that village. He was medlcal
man and a student of genealogy. becoming IN
terested in the Counts history. he persuaded the
aged nobleman to lend him the family record.
Some time later, shortly before the departure OF
the doctor, the Count asked him to return the
documents. A search made, but II was I'M
possible to locate them.
The Count and his medical friend used every
endeavor to ira ,e the missing property but
were unable to secure any clew as to its Where-
abouts until three weeks ago. The Count re-
fused to divulge the name Of the medical man.
saying that he felt that his friend was in
wise responsible for the disappearance of
the papers. Three weeks ago a letter signed
w A. Benjamin" was received by the Count.
and it contained the demand for $4,000 ransom,
the writer saying that ne knew the whereabouts
of the man who had the documents and that
only the payment of that of money
would they be returned. An animated corre-
spondence resulted between the Count and the
stranger, terminating in a visit to the Sturte-
want House by the Counts son, Stephen.
A conference was held with Benjamin He re-
fused absolutely to give young Steinich any in
formation concerning the disappearance of the
heirlooms, but finally, under persuasion, agreed
to take 81 900 for their return. The young man
ice6 70 lot
date. Returning the date set young Steinich
met the man agreed, but the latter
able to produce the documents at that time. for
reasons which he refused to diVulge Another
date set, Benjamin again making positive
statement that $1,000 would have to be paid TO
him at that meeting. -a ...-
Upon learning the facts from his son the
Count placed the matter In the hands of the
New-York police Detectives learned that Ben
jamin formerly lived in North Adams Mass
Inquiry showed that he was we'll known there
but did not seem to have any business, although
he lived we'll anigfrau.
On Monday at White Plains Justice Capron
Issued warrant for the arrest of BENJAMIN.
The warrant was placed in the hands Of Deputy
Sheriff Kuss, who, in company with Stephen
Steinich came to New York Yesterday They
found BENJAMIN at the Sturtevant House. Ben
jamin invited Steinich into parlor for a private
conference, and there demanded the money for
the papers.
Kuss then entered the parlor on a signal from
Steinich Benjamin was indignant at the Of
fcerS intrusion, and at first refused to accom-
pany him. Kuss, however. hustled his man out
Of the hotel to the Grand Central Station.
Tickets were purchased. and the party boarded
a Harlem train for White Plains Before it
started Benjamin weakened, and confessed that
he knew the whereabout Of the property and
offered to lead the officer to where it was Kuss
agreed, and the three men left the train and
went to a saloon in Spring-st, near the Bowery.
There they met John Kick, professional safe
opener. The latter admitted that he had the
heirlooms, and delivered them over to the
deputy. Kuss then took his prisoner to White
Plains. Kick explained that he had found the
documents in an abandoned safe that he was
hired by Benjamin TO open one year ago. The
men offered no explanation to why they
tained possession Of the missing articles for
such a long period without acuuainting the
owner whose name and address appeared there
The documents stolen included papers which
showed the standing Of the Steinich family, and
various valuable heirlOOms
The Count has been resident Of White Plains
for forty-nine years, and for over a quarter Of
a century has acted in the capacity of county
and Supreme Court interpreter
Stephen Steinich said last night that the doc
tor to whom his father had lent the heiT ooms
was a former resident of North Adams Mass
where BENJAMIN used tn live. The prisoner says
he is real estate broker. with offices at No $50
Broadway.