The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
DAPPER YOUNG HOTEL THIEF.
HAD GOOD MANNERS, A TUXEDO
AND A FINE BURGLARS KIT.

calmus Len Trau or satchelS and Rined
.tevel BoNes--C Onfesses Thefts-Nont
Ten VINO He Is cor FamiIy'a Sake
New 20 Police-OverwoTked the Game.
Wben-ths police bagged on Friday night
At the Hotel Netherland the young hotel
thief who oonosals his identity under tho
name Of John Calmus they got an unusual
sort Of prkoner. He admitted that he
had robbed Averal hostelries where he was
ACCENTED as q guest without suspicion,
but refused 10 tell who be was, because
he aid it would bring disgraoe on his
family. 80 ssr-
AT Police Headquarters, after he was
photographed and measured yesterday
IL was found that he had never been m The
hands Of the police before, and he declared
that until last November he had led an
honest life. What gave him the idea Of
robbing hotels he declined TO say.
Caimus, or Whatever his name IL, does
not look az all hike 4 crook. He Gays be Is
only ~ years old and apparently tells the
truth in that regard He = a good looking
young fellow, Is apparently we'll educated
and dresses and talks like a gentleman
This fact enabled him 10 operate "a he
did In good hotels.
The police put bin throush the thiTd
degree yesterday, and he admitted that
be was guilty OF -four hotel robberies which
bad been reported 10 the police soon AFTER
they we're discovered.
Cd Feb - he got $500 in jewels from the
room Of a Mrs Kochersberger, a guest IN
the Manhattan Square Hotel. His next
haul was at the Hotel Flanders on March II,
when he got 81. $50 worth Of diamonds and
jewelry belonging TO George W. Moore
On March II Calmus had the greatest day
Of his career. when he was a guest at two
different hotels and robbed a room in each
Of them. AZ the Hotel st. Andrews he
stole 81 .25O worth Of valuables from A. P.
Penny, and at the Hotel Gallatin he got
away with jewelry valued at 500 belonging
10 o. Wilson =.
did YOU rob any other hotels?' asked
Acting Inspector O BrieD'
We'll, | took some STUFF at the New
Amsterdam, he replied ..........
The police had not heard Of this robbery.
o'Brien telephoned to the hotel and learned
that guest, who later went abroad, re-
ported that be had been robbed some time
ago The botei people said they did not
learn what the amount Of his loss was.
At the hotels Caimus sometimes repre-
sented himself - = college student. he
usually asked TO bee several rooms and
chose one peEt dOOr TO room he knew
to be occupied. II there was a locked
connecting door between so much the bet
ter. BY listening intently he was able
TO learn when The guest in the adjoining
room went out and then he got 70 work
with his skeleton keys and burglars tools,
HgNRN ha
left in hurry, leaving satchels or suit
cases. which were the only baggage be
ever had, and failing 10 pay his board bills.
He lived at some Of the hotels Tor several
days before he succeeded in carrying out
his plans, and in some Of them he picked
up acquaintances among the guests. lie
always doomed Tuxedo In the evening and
cIeated-a favorable impression.
News Of his operations soon passed TO all
the leading hotels in the city, however,
and description OF him was sent out
II was this that caused the detective at the
Netherland 10 recognize him and brought
about his arrest.
When the police had the young thief safely
locked up, they made tour OF the hotels
where he had operated and collected the
satchels and suit cases which he had aban-
doned, In a bag in his room in the Neither
land they found bunch Of about fifty keys
of different sizes, some Of which were Of the
skeleton variety. There was also a check
book Of the Equitable Trust Company Of
Philadelphia, from which about a dozen
checks had been torn. Only one stub was
filed out. This showed that on March /
he had drawn a check for $21, 40 10 the order
OF Mrs. J, T. Melen Of Philadelphia In the
room was also bottle OF morphine tablets
and the ice believe that Calmus was a
dope hehd." ys'.
Calmus' recently stayed at the Gilsey
House and, although no robbery was COM
mitted there, 80 far as can be learned, he
left two dress suit cases full Of stun a bur-
glar might Use In his business In the
satchels Were found lot of skeleton keys,
a dark brown wig, a soft hat with a low
crown such as some college students wear,
and a complete set Of burglars tools, in
Guiding -iimmys,' a number Of very thin
saws of different sizes a box Of cartridges, q
blackjack and a pair Of brass lmuclles.
The police have not yet learned that he
ever made use Of the last named articles
Colmus used various names at the hotels.
Some Of these are Howard Berry, j. F.
Standing and j, 7. Standing
He was arrsigned yesterday In the JEFF
ferson Market police court before Magis-
tTate Steinert, charged with the Kochers-
berger robbery and was remanded 70
Headquarters until next Tuesday.
Only one pawnticket was found among
Calmus's effects. The name and address
II bore are fictitious and the police are
Withholding the name OF the pawnbrokeT
who issued It. They viii not tell either.
what the ticket called for. The prisoner
was well dressed when taken TO court
patent leather shoes and a stylish tourist