The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-05
INNOCENT NAN IN PRISON?
ALIDI ARRIVED TOO LATE TO
SAVE STEINER OF NEWARK.
He Was Employed by American Bridge
Go. and wrote That He Got Ten Year
Sentence for Highway RObbery-Was
Accused Of RObbing Many Houses.

TRENTON. N. j.. Oct. 4.-The American
Bridge Company, one Of whose plants is
in this city, has determined to investigate
an apparent miscarriage OF justice whereby
one Of its employees is serving a ten-year
term In the Massachusetts, State Prison
On Aug. 20 last Albert Steiner, an expert
machinist. who had been with the company
for more than year, drew from the COM
pany $3.50, for which he signed receipt.
He said at the time that he would not return
to work for few days.
The next news OF Steiner was contained
In letter to j. H. Klein. paymaster Of tho
company saying that he had been arrested
In Boston the day after he left here, charged
with having committed highway robbery
In that city on Aug. 10, or four days before
he drew his pay. Steiner asked for an
affidavit by which to establish an alibi.
This was furnished by the company,
which had proof that Steiner was here on
the day the crime was alleged to have been
committed. Later Steiner wrote that prior
to the receipt of the affidavit he had been
sentenced to ten years in State prison.
He was tried in Boston as Charles Lewis.
alias Albert Steiner, indicating possible
case Of mistaken identity.
Tho American Bridge Company officials,
at meeting here last Wednesday. consid-
cred steiner's case and decided to make
q thorough investigation through their
Boston Office. Should steiner's story prove
correct the company will make an effort
to have him pardoned
An Albert Steiner was sentenced to State
prison from Hudson county on Jan. 10.
1900, to three years for attempted bur-
glary. He was discharged on July 81, 1902.
he 10 now 90 years old.
During the year that Steiner was en-
ployed by the American Bridge Company
he was absent five weeks, having spent
the time in Europe, 1t was said.
BOSTON, Oct. 4-According to the police
records here the old man sentenced to at
least ten years and not more than fifteen
years in States prison under the name Of
George Nichols, alias Charles Lewis, was
convicted Of breaking and entering several
houses, not of highway robbery.
The police here do not think any mistake
was made in charging Lewis with the Of
fences. He was known to the Boston
detectives under number Of aliases. but
the name Albert Steiner does not appear
on the list
The prisoner was booked under the name
Of George Nichols, alias Joseph Frinck.
Charles Lewis was one Of the many names
he used. The man was arrested in New
York on Sept. 10, on warrant charging
him. among other things, with breaking
into the house OF Charles T. Crawford.
30 Ashford street, on the night of Feb. 20.
and the larceny of silverware valued at SITS.
Inspector Cronin, who went to New York
with requisition papers after the old man,
got back with him that night. The next
day, Sept. II, there was a crowd of identi-
fiers on hand to look at Nichols and among
them was Joseph F. Donovan, Milton
policeman. who was shot by fleeing burglar
on the morning of Aug. Is. Donovan
identified Nichols as being the man who
shot him, but this complaint was not pressed
on account Of the long sentence imposed for
burglary.
Policeman Donovan was patrolling Milton
street on bicycle at o'clock in the morning
when he saw man coming along with his
coat pockets bullying out. He held him
up, but the stranger pulled out a revolver
and shot at the officer.
A memorandum book WAS all that saved
Donovan's life. The next morning it was
learned that the residence of Wallace Pierce
n Milton had been broken into and $1,000
worth of silver taken.
A night or two before Pierces house
was robbed a residence in Norwood was
entered and large amount Of jewelry
and silverware was taken from there. One
pawnbroker identified Nichols as the man
who pledged some articles stolen from
this house
Nichols was also charged with break
ing into the house Of John c. Daley. ~
Townsend street Roxbury, the night Of
March 8, where 5000 worth of goods was
stolen and at the house of Rose NJ Campbell
of Dorchester, who was robbed of lot of
plate and jewelry.
In addition to all these charges the police
say they can bring others against Nichols,
as they are satisfied he broke into and
robhad more than twenty houses in and