The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-12

NEW YORK. Jan 1.-Two arrests were
made yesterday which brought to light the
fact that for years a gang OF thieves has
been systematically robbing the United
States Appraiser stores at Christopher
and Washington Streets. These burgla-
ries. it is estimated. aggregate a million
dollars
One Of the strangest features CT this re-
markabIe case is the fact that nearly all
of this burgIarizing was done by labOrers
employed in the building. Two OF them
James VaDinote and Abraham Moses-were
arrested yesterday. Ten OF more are sus-
pected, and there will be a number OF 9TH
er arrests.
Some idea of the value Of the things
stolen may be gathered from the fact that
nearly all of them must have been carried
from the building under the thieves coats
The articles must have been small ones
That in a few years their value amounted
to million dollars shows that not much
cheap stuff was stolen.
There are several hundred laborers en-
pIoyed in the stores They are paid from
81 day up. Most of them get their pc
sitions through political influence
In spite Of the political recommendation
these laborers have, detectives are sta
toned at the doors of the stores. and no
one is allowed TO leave the building carry
ing package unless If is accounted for.
OF course the vigilance Of these watchmen
is relaxed at times, and valuable goods
must have been taken from the building in
bulk.
George R. BidwelI, collector Of Gus
toms, who has charge of the stores, said
- s-Sl
For a great many years goods have
been missed from the stores. II was nat
uraI to expect that among so many Ia
boring men there would be a certain
amount of petty larceny all the time, no
matter what the vigilance Of those in con-
troll.
"A few months ago, however. We noticed
that the thieveries were very much in
creased. Things were being taken away
by the wholesale, and complaints were
coming in from owners Of goods in great
abundance 1 determined to stop this
thing if the heads of half q hundred men
I! had 10 come OF.
Colonel Swords, one Of our deputy col
Iectors. has made a large part OF the in
yestigati0n. About ten days ago, he and
his assistants spotted the gang which had
been perpetrating these outrages. They
we're carefully watched. and definite evi-
dence secured against each one OF them
About ten men have been suspected.
and each one Of them viii doubtless be
arrested The Investigation has not end
ed, and still others may be found with
membership in this gang Of thieves"
! When arrested yesterday VabinOte and
I Moses we're taken before United States
] Commissioner Alexander. He released
| Moses on his own recOgnizaRce, while Va
/ blnote was held in only $3.50 bail
/ This was regarded as very strange When
/ arrested Vabinote had in his possession a
few bits Of majolica ware which experts
+ say IS worth about 39 cents apiece None
/ OF the stCien goods was found in the pos
! session IF Moses. It was regarded as
! strange that. after having been arrested
! on so serious a charge. the men should
I be released upon such fimsy bail The
/ hearings we're set for January II.
! Colonel Swords. who conducted the in
/ vestigati0n % the robberies- confirmed the
! statement that the goods stolen amounted
/ in value 10 81 COO 900. He said that most
! CT the stealings were OF fine silk and linen
{ wearing apparel, small crOckery and bric-
/ l-braC.
Marshal HenkeI Who made the arrests
of Fabinote ard Moses. said he would ar
/ rest three ether men today. and perhaps
! others. He said that possibly there was
/ 2 good reason for the virtual release of
! his first two prisoners which did not ap-
/ pear On the surface He would not say
| what this reason was. However