The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-20
ARMITAGE TURNS UP
,ss,NG BANK MESSENGER SUR.
RENDERS.
HAD FUN WITH THE POLICE.
.u,s1o HALL FAIRIES SEEM TO BE
HIS TROUBLE.

A. First Declines to Talk, But Later
ToIls a Remarkable story of How
uis Disreputable Associates Had
pobbed Him of All the Money He
u.d stolen--PoIice Believe the
story and Are Looking for the
Rest of the Crowd.
New York, Oct. 19.-George Armi-
.oge the missing messenger of the
nark of New Amsterdam, walked into
,ha Tenderloin police station to-day
and gave himself up. He declined to
maize any statement as to the missing
funds Of the bank, amounting to $500.
Arr,ttage was fashionably dressed and
AID not seem disturbed by his position.
netectives tried to get him to make a
statement, but he declined. TITS no
use Sergeant, here" he said, you
can't pump me. have decided to say
Nothing until 1 see my lawyer, and
maybe won't say anything then"
Arnitage only had $31.40 on him when
crested. He was the messenger for
the Bank of New Amsterdam, and aft
or he disappeared drafts and collections
rsnresenting many thousands of dol
lars were returned to the bank by a
mysterious negro woman, who has not
vet been found by the police. This in
cident gave rise to a theory of foul
NAV which the police later discredited.
Armitage's accounts, according to the
hank officials, show shortage of $4,000,
of which $1,000 is covered by fidelity
bond
Before Armitage was locked UP he
turned to the police reporters and
boastfully said:
Il don't mind telling you fellows
that / was at the Gotham Theater in
East New York last night and saw
East Lynne Between the acts l went
out with a friend and was introduced
10 two detectives of the Liberty ave-
nue. station. I had a long talk with
them on various subjects After a
while the conversation drifted to the
Armitage case and we spoke about 1t
for several minutes. Neither of the
policemen seemed to have the slight
est suspicion of me, though they must
have been furnished with a descrip-
ton of me. No one else that 1 met
seemed to know me. Why, l talked
with the sergeant at the Thirtieth
street station before he suspected my
identity. / had to tell him fatty who
l was before he would take me into
custody"
His Remarkable Confession.
Amitage subsequently made a re-
markable confession, which sent the
police scurrying after four supposed
accomplices who, as alleged. had in
turn robbed the dishonest bank mes
senger of practically all the money he
had stolen. Armitage said that he had
met a woman whom he knew only as
Marie, at a roadhouse which they both
frequented. She had a friend. the piano
player in the resort, who, with his
wife and a volinist who also furnish
ed music in the place were introduced
to Armtage by Marie; he became
friendly with all during months in
timacI Armitage said that after he
stole the money he got drunk and was
unable to return the checks. Marie and
the wife of the piano played agreed to
do it for him, and, taking the bank
wallet TO Brooklyn, hired negro wo-
man to return it to the bank. Arn1i-
tage said that as the woman left him
Marie suggested that she had better
take charge of the stolen money for
safety. Armitage said he gave up the
money and the women never came
back 1t is believed that the police
have the names of the entire party
and will arrest all four.