The St. Louis Republic., 1901-10-06
BAND OF THIEVES
WELL ORGANIZED,
SIX Commission Merchant
Charged With Being Leader
and Employer.
PAlD REGULAR SALARIES.
Detectives Say Robbing Plans
Were Debated in Parliamentary
style at State Meet
ings of the Gang.
PAID REGULAR SALARIES.

ingS of the Gang.
New York, oct. 5-The police claim to b.
charge that Joseph Goldman. supposedly re.
spectacle silk and glove commission mer.
chant and church member. was leader and
salary-paying employer of the most skill,
iuily organized gang of robbers that ever
operated in this city. Captain Titus says
the man would have made n million in six
months had he not been caught
Goldman and four oil his alleged accom-
plices are held in default of s. 900 bail while
the criminal authorities are trying 10 com
plete the chain of evidence connecting them
with the rubberies with which they are
charged. Those arrested with Goldman
We're: Philip Herman, 80 years old, tailor:
George Smith. alias Pop English. whose
picture is in the rogues gallery. ~ years
old, Janitor: Morris Gross. alias Joe Robin
son. 20 Years old: Abraham Stein. alias
Dutch" No. Sl.9 in the rogue's gallery.
tailor. and Harry Marcus. Il years old who
was Goldman's office boy. The hoy was re-
leased after making Il confession.
'JOllicd' the Policeman
The arrest of Goldman and his alleged
coniederates took place in front of S Les
haWitz's leather store at the very moment
It is said when Goldman's men were pre-
pairing to rob the place while he stood out
side on guard. The arrest was the outcome
"t weeks of careful shadowing of Goldman
ana those who were often seen in his COM
pany by score of detectives in various
disguises
Detective Peabody says that Goldman did
NOT enter the building. but stood on the
sidewalk watching. \ policeman sauntered
down the street, and Goldman went IN TO
him. as If he had known him for some time.
liceman was evidently highly amused and
walked away from the house laughing at
the stories told him. Another policeman
appeared. and Goldman. becoming fright
ehed. hurried back to give the alarm. Be-
fore the men could escape they were cap
tlired. 1t was found on investigation later
mat they had packed up a lot of goods
which they intended to take away Uarty
theckman, n truckman, was later arrested
as an accomplice, and with him the office
boy. Marcus.
The story that the police unfold abou, the
doings OF Goldman Is as strange as any
thing in detective fiction. 1t reveals Gold
man as the organizer of n burglars syndi-
cate. an association of thieves which did
were paid wages for their work lust the
same as the hired men in any established
business.
NcngefuI COnfcdcrates "Pcn chcd.''
The business of burglary. which the
police assert they will be able to prove.
was so extensively and successfully carried
on by Goldman and his hired confederates.
owes Its exposure. the police admit. solely
to the fact that some of Goldman's night
workers who are now serving sentences in
the State prisons "peached'' on him be
cause they did not think he acted entirely
'on the square" with them.
formerly in his employ as burglars. and
were sore on him because he had not treated
them right. He had not cared for their fam
lies as he had promised In the event of
had he paid them properly for goods stolen
wanted to see him get into trouble.
these letters. as Goldman was seemingly
R man of good standing with the glove and
silk trade. and was known to be living a
respectable life with his family The let
ters were finally shown TO Assistant Dis
'rict Attorney Train. who remembered hav-
ing tried to prosecute Goldman on former
charge of receiving stolen goods. The case
1t police headquarters Detectives Pea
body and Clarke were detailed and have
been at work shadowing Goldman and the
other men for three weeks.
How He Was Swallowed.
Captain Titus told how his detectives shad-
IN bicycle waited for Goldman To leave
his Brooklyn home In the morning. He
vas followed to the trolley car and TO the
Brooklyn end of the bridge.
Word was then telephoned to the Man
iatten end of the bridge. and detective
would watch for the man TO leave the car
lere. Goldman would then be followed to
MS office and from there to any part of the
,ity or any other place he would go At
light he would be followed around until he
got to his home.
we're held. according to the police. at Her
mans home In Forsyth street. Goldman
would be there and preside. Each snan
would make suggestions. which would he
,eptsd or rejected.
Then according to Detective Clarke. some
me would suggest the next place to he
touched" and preparations for that i'ork
would be begun. Each mans work was
mapped out. and he was held responsible
or that portion of the Job
His business Of burglary.
Goldman would take upon himself the
ask of looking over the ground. He would
20 to the place TO he robbed Invariably n
amounting to $40 or $50. at the same time
being careful to find ont If the place was
wired with burglar alarms.
He would make his report at the next
meeting of his gang, and finally prep
,rations for touching the place would
De made. Occasionally 1t would be decided
I. n.
eyed. Goldman had sixteen expert fiat
workers or thieves.
The police say they have always noticed |
hat when any Of the thieves who later |
,laimed to he In the employ of Goldman,
we're arrested, Goldman would always fur
lish the lawyers for them. and that Marcus |
,lways ran after the LAWYERS.
The gang. according TO captain Titus, had |
made preparations for robbing two big |
dove and silk houses. and the plunder |
hey would have obtained would have been |
;alued in the aggregate at least at $4,000. |
n order TO store this plunder. Goldman it |
s claimed. had already rented a loft and |
iad Il number of new boxes In ii ready to |
Jack the goods In
Some Ingenious Schemes.
Captain Titus says Goldman had a num-
,er of ingenious schemes by which build |
ngs IL was desired tn rifle could be entered |
pne OF these was to arm his men with u |
ong pair of "si.ips' or pncers. W hich |
paddock The men whose duty II would |
,e to rob the place would be furnished with !
his instrument The policeman on post |
would be watched. and at the opportune
man would enter the building and an
,ther lock would take the place of the
,roken one. When the policeman returned
lie would find the door still locked and
lothing to arouse suspicious about the
,iace.
The detectives found that l72 Forsyth
treet was Il meeting place and that the
men every afternoon gathered at exactly
'clock. Efforts to enter the house secretly
we're impossible. as the approach of stran-
.ers was always communicated 10 those
within and the alarm given.
The signal for dispensing was for some |
me to say See. and this was given on
we're noticed. The office boy was seen to
AXE empty bags to the Forsyth street |
louise and to return for them the next day.