The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-06
HOLD.UP MAN TELLS ABOUT 1T
lNISED HIMSELF WITH MORE
POBBFRTES THAN CAME TO LIGHT
rhucklcd as lie HObbed-Gave Back
a Diamond Hing Miss Shlpman's
Tears Made Iilm Ashamed Wouldn't
q wait for NoerK 20 Open Ills safe.

sandrock Smith. the hold-up man. sent
,or Capt steve O'Brien last night and said
he wanted TO make clean breast OF all
bis Jobs. O'Brien heard the tale. Then he
called IN the Police Headquarters reporters
and repeated 1t
sandrocl's main contention is that he
did not so into the hold-up business for
the money but merely To show how easy
II would he He told O'Brien that he had
read 40 the stories Hornung has written
about the Amateur Craftsman. and had
zone 10 the theatre several times to see
Kyrle BelleU play Rd1ies. It was the easiest
thing In the world he said, to march into "A
man. house with gun in hand. scare
servant and then make the man Of the
house produce his money. II was such
snap thai, he always laughed when he got
through with the job.
Can't O'Brien admitted that Smith had
confessed certain robbie ries which O'Brien
thought II would not ba wise to tell any
thing about until the police had made
further Investigations. His first hold-up
in particular, OBrien says, has never been
reported to the police the sufferer think
Ing it the best plan to keep it quiet. Here
1, Slndrlcks version Of this job:
the he'll Of n house in Seventy sixth street
between Eighth and Columbus avenues
It was fine. big house, with brownstone
front and high stoop. ] don't remember
the number woman evidently the wife
OF the owner. for She was not dressed like
a servant opened the door | pushed
revolver into her face a. l stepped into the
hallway and told her that / had to have
money.
.She got pale end | though; she would
drop in heap on the hall floor. She said:
Ny dear man, have no money with me
this minute. but here. take this She
handed me a diamond ring that she
pulled of finger of her right hand. and
Isaw it wn, "a beauty. Then she began TO
cry asked her what she was crying
about and she sid oh. am sorry / gave
you that, I really can't bear to part with
It. My mother wore that ring and so did
my grandmother before her II you will
only give it back to me give you my word
] viii send you money TO any address you
may name. and | will keep faith with you
and not give You away TO tn, police
Il gave her bac; the r.ng and told her
that was all right This was my first job.
and | guess was easy. As l started for
the door she called 10 me and said that no
doubt ! had been trampng around in the
wet dt wa darned sleey that nighil and
that must be cold and hungry If | would
wait she would send for the butler and have
q nice supper prepared for me Before |
could answer she had pressed button
and the butler appeared.
Il told her was not hungry When the
butler reached the head Of the stairs she
told him he might 60 back As I went out
the door Rowing politely to her, for she
was q good sort she followed me and told
mo TO be careful of myself, to watch the
icy steps in going down. When l got to
the sidewalk she called out: Now. why
don't you reform and be a good man.
I almost made up my mind on the spot
that ! had had enough Of the game right
there. but somehow il had got fascination
for me ana ] decided to have at least one
more try al il.
Really. captain, YOU couldn't imagine
how much fun have had The way some
Of these folks visited were scared struck
me so funny that even when / was trying
TO look fierce and bloodthirsty | had to
turn my head to keep from snickering in
their face
That Woerz job was the biggest snap
ofa.l backed that maid Helen Leonard.
upstairs Mt the point Of my gun and she
led IRE right to the room where Woerz's
daughter and niece were dressing. They
Eat down and gaspei ! took a scat, too.
and spoke 10 them politely. | told them to
keep their nerve ! wouldn't hurt them
uncs- he'd 90, but that | was after money,
and needed 1t bad Then Miss Hoffman,
Nccra niece who identified me yeeter-
day. -ai1 Wait until my uncle comes
downstairs He has plenty Of money
4 few seconds later Woerz stepped into
tie room covered him with my revolver
and be threw M his hands, said Don't
shoot. and asked ne villa, ! wanted. When
told hlm wanted money, he said, There
!, d safe over the-e in the corner. Do you
wan NE 30 oren that: told HIM didn't
u be bad any cash in his pocket and he
tossed tne a roll that he took out Of his
vet pocket backed out Of the room.
There wa- lot Of iewelrv lying on a table
In the corner but | didn'' touch il. 1t
would have been easy 10 ~ e taken away
rocketful II diamonds
Before leaving cautioned them not to
yell oI Try to follow me. and they certainly
oheycd orders There il a big bay window
In the front Of that house and had they
cried for help no doubt 1 would have had
plenty Of cops and others on my trail in
lidy ! walked up Fifth avenue and turned
into Central Park at the Arsenal gate
brushing against two policemen az went
In went through the Park and walked
out at Sxty-second street into Eighth
avenue. | took an elevated train south
ht Sixly-siXth street getting off at Thirty
Fourth street and Ninth avenue. went to
boys lodging house on Thirty fourth
ttTeet near Eighth avenue and counted
the roll. There was just SIS.
AZ tho house Of DR.. Talbot did not have
D chance to pull my gun because a maid
saW u sticking out Of my pocket and set
up soreech. DR.. Talbot and two young
men who had rigs on like bathing suits
ran TO the head Of the stains and one OF
them pointed a small rifle at me. didn't
'lke the looks Of II. so levelled both my
guns at the bunch and backed out. One
oi the women in the house. the cook think,
followed me. She was so scared that she
couldn't yell very loud. Before reaching
the corner she quit the chase and ran back
20 The house As | turned the corner my