The Saint Paul globe., 1902-01-06
CAUGHT IN OMAHA
MISSING Y. Nj. G. A. JANITOR AR
RESTED AS HE is GET
TING HIS MAIL
ROBBED sEcRETARY's SAFE
Went South With $S5 After Estab.
fishing EnviabIe Reputation
Traced by Registered Let
ter From Home.

B. Hobrecht alias Daniel Hobart, the
janitor who disappeared a week ago,
simultaneously with the contents of the
safe Of Secretary Grace, Of the Y.
NJ c. A., was arrested in Omaha yester-
day and will be brought back to St
Paul.
From what can be learned of Hobrecht
and the crime of which he is accused, it
appears that the tardy arrival OF a regis
tered letter he was expecting from Ger
many was responsible both for the theft
of the money and for his subsequent ar
rest N Omaha.
About a month ago he presented him.
self at the office Of Mr.. Grace and in
timated he was in pressing need OF work.
He was intelligent and apparently we'll
educated and a position was secured
for him almost Immediately as janitor Of
tie Virginia flats. Two or three days
later the janitor of the Y. M. c. A.
building left and his place was offered
to and accepted by Hobrecht.
The new janitor was indefatigable in
the performance of his duties and was
regarded as a valuable acquisition by
the whole Office staff. To the educational
secretary he confided portion of his
past record, saying that he was scape-
goat member of a wealthy family in
Germany and that through continually
getting into trouble he had finally been
disinherited and cast off. He came to
the United States and for some years
led life the details of which he dill not
disclose, but which he admitted WAS far
from exemplary. A year ago he straight
ened up in Chicago mission and had
letters showing that he had given satis-
faction in several positions held by him
since then.
He was fond of good reading and two
days before his precipitate departure
borrowed copy of "Zeit Geist,'' a story
Of a reformed criminal, from the educa-
tional secretary of the association. This
work he still has with him.
Sunday night week ago the safe il
the Office was left partly unlocked; Mon
| day morning it was found open, SIS in
money gone and the model janitor no
where to be found.
The matter was at once placed in the
hands of the police and Detective Fraser
discovered that Mr. Hobart had for a
number of days before he left been in
quiring for a registered letter for B.
Hobrecht. Wednesday the looked for
missive came to hand and two days later
came a request from Hobart" to for
ward Hobrecht's mail to Omaha. This
was done, and the gentleman with two
names was unostentatiously gathered in
as he was receiving his coin-f1eignted let.
ter at the registered wicket. Nebraska
will not long remain his home, as he
will come to st. Paul under escort as
soon as the necessary formaIities Incl
dent to requisition proceedings can be
complied with.
From Hobrecht's landlady it was
learned that for several evenings pre-
vious to his flight he had been indulgirg
somewhat freely in liquor, and it is pre-
sumed he took the money to crafty ao
appetite which was once more getting
beyond his control. The money he thus
borrowed was entirely an involuntary
loan so far as the association was con-
cerned. and to avoid unpIeas ant questions
he decided upon an III: aediate change
Of air.
Had the mail from Germany arrive d
a few days earlier Hobtocht would doIat
less still be at liberty even though his
correction with the Y. NJ. C. A. might
have ceased ere now