The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-30
CAUCH
Thief Who Stole PrudentiaPs
$1,000. From Mrs. Rick
erich Said to Have
Been Found in
His Home.
IDENTIFIED BY CASHIER
His Bank Account at the
Provident Led to His
Arrest.
MYSTERIOUS MONEY TRANSACTION
Kiel Had $500. to His Credit
and His Wages Were
81. a Day.
MYSTERIOUS MONEY TRANSACTION

The police say they have the thief who
stole satchel containing $1,000 in cash
and 1899 in checks from Miss Laura Rick
erich, cashier of the local office OF the
Prudential Life Insurance. Company at
the door of the Hudson County National
Bank on July IL at two o'clock in the ar
ternoon. The arrest was made this morn
ing at nine o'clock by Detective McNally
of Police Headquarters and Patrolman
Oxley of the First precinct police station
The man was placed in a line with six
others in Chief of Police Murphy's office,
and Miss Rickerioh identified him as the
thief
The man is John Keil, a Russian,
twenty years DID, of No. 50 Esex street.
He was employed as q day laborer on the
tracks of the Erie Railroad, between Pas
sac and Hackensack. His salary was 81
per day. He has been in this country
onl ytwo years and in that time he has
been out of work three months, but he
deposited in the Pavonia Institution for
Savings a few days before the theft $3.50.
The police want 10 know where he sor
the money. They think heb criminal
record and they are now looking slir.a up.
They think they can fix several other
theft unon him.
In order that no obstacle may be placed
in their way while investigating KeiFs
record the authorities have decided 20
Withhold ther full knowledge Of the man
until a later date. eDtaled Information
of the mans past and The methods ro,-
lowed by Detective McNaiy in the cap
ture are promised for tomorrow.
Thirteen days have elapsed since the
crime. Thirteen is certainly not a lucky
number for Keil. With TINS lead it look
ed rather gloomy for the police, but the
bird was caught at last through his own
foolishness. He was safely away with
his booty an dout of town, but he came
back last night to his home, which is only
short distnee from the bank where he
stole the money.
In investigating information was sought
at the Provident Institution for Savings,
commonly called the Bee Hive" Here it
was found that a man answering in many
details the description of the thief given
to the police by Miss Rickerich, had de-
posted $3.50 on the day of the robbery.
There was some difficulty placing the
man, but it was learned from the books
of the institution that he was John Keil,
of No. So Essex street. That clue led to
the capture of Keil this morning The po-
lice are positive that he is the robber.
keil was looked up and he was not then
at home. 1t was learned that he had been
at home early the day of the robbery, but
that he had not been seen later than noon
on that day. Detective MdNally continued
his work quietly and Patrolman Oxley
was assigned to special duty in the neigh
borhood of Keils home. He wore citizen 3
clothes and had the neighborhood under
surveillance all the time. Keil was not
seen about, however. He had not re
ported for duty to the railroad company
where he was employed and his where
abouts was a profound mystery.
He came home last night though, and
was planted" This morning Detective
MoNaIly went to Keils home and saw
him Keil indignantly denied any knowl-
edge of the theft, but was taken to Police
Headquarters.
Chief of Police Murphy had long talk
with Keil, but he stiI persisted in his
general denial. A half dozen men were
brought into the Chiefs office and they
were stood up along the wall. With them
Keil was placed and Miss Rickerich was
called to Headquarters. She was brought
before the men and asked to pick out
the one who had stolen the satchel.
ssThat is the man. said Miss Rickerich,
as she pointed straight at Keil.
He is held at Headquarters awaiting
examination and his record is being in
vestigated.
When Keil was asked how he came to
have the $500 in the Provident Institution
for Savings he replied that he had saved
1t from his earnings. ell said he had
only been in the country tive years and
had been idle three months in that time.
His wages have averager 81 a day since
his arrival here and he had no money
when he came here.
Receiving Teller Arthur Farrier of the
Hudson County Bank, was the only Off
cial of that institution who saw the thief
at ALL Hearing Miss Rickerichs cries he
ran to the door and caught glimpse of
the thief running up Washington street.
Chief Murphy notified him of the arrest
OF KeiI and requested Farrier to appear
at Police ueaquarters to identify the
prisoner.
Mr. Farrer said this noon that he had
a sufficient view Of the thief to identify
him and that he would go to police head
quarters in response to the chiefs request
this afternoon, after three o'cloc.
Samuel Herbert and George Outwater
the two young men who led the chase
after the thief had not been asked to
identify the prisoner, but they will prob
ably visit headquarters to night and do
So
Miss Rickerich, when seen this morn
ing, refused to say anything about the
case. she said It was In the hands of
the police and she wished not to inter-
fere Ia any way.
On July II at TWO o'clock In the after
noon Miss Laura Rickerach left the office