The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-02
THIEYING BY SYSTEM PAID,
SILK WORTH THOT SANDS GONE
FROU IMPORTING house.
Two Clerks, an Outside Man and Pawn
broker Arrested-One Clerk Confesses
and Tells OF the schcme-frisOners
Caught With Money and Bank Books.

and Tells OF the schcme-fris0ners
Caught With Money and Bank Books.
Through scheme so ingenious. yet SIM
pie that it escaped detection for nearly
two months, two young clerks in the silk
/ importing house OF Stern 4 Stern, AIS Broad
way, succeeded with the help Of a con-
/ federate, in stealing between $1,000 and
[ $1,000 worth Of silk and velvet
They were arrested on Saturday and one
of the three made confession TO Inspector
McClusky accusing Edward Harlan, pawn
broker at 400 Hudson street, Of having pur-
chased the plumber Harlan who is under
indictment on similar charge, was imme-
diately rearrested.
When the first larceny was reported to
Inspector McClusky month ago, he put
Detective Sergeants Duggan, hinsler and
Cooey on the case. They Swallowed one
employee after another, but on Saturday
morning had TO confess that they had
made no Roadway
Some hours later Duggan and Kinsler
were standing in front Of Stern's place when
Walter Bryant. clerk came out with two
big bundles. These he placed on an eS-
press wagon at the door As the wagon
started of Rinsler noticed that one Of the
packages was addressed to Harlan. The
detectives went into the store and ques-
toned Bryant.
The clerk said that Harlan was a regular
customer. a commission merchant As
there was no record Of any sale having
been made to him, and as tie management
knew of no such person Bryant was asked
To step over to Headquarters,
yyh, IL yaurD. old nd Two NJ
l0s Vest Twelfth street. has been in the
employ Of Stern 4 Stern for about four
years. Six or eight weeks ago. he said
he ana John Messors. boy OF 49, who has
been with the firm bu. Eve months. dis
covered that they needed some cash to
keep an appointment with two girls.
After most Of the clerks had left Messors
smugged a bolt Of silk and waited in a
cafe for Bryant. Together they went to
Harlan. Bryant says, and pawned the silk
which was worth wholesale s35, for 81.
Harlan. il is alleged. sHid IA the young
men were leaving his store.
IF you've got any more like that bring
il around
A few days later Harlan. bryant and
Messors, so Bryant says. got together and
arranged to rob Stern d Stern in a sys-
tematic manner. 1t was decided that TO
carry out the plan successfully a third
man was necessary. After looking around
for another day a proposition was maGe TO
Thomas Herbert. p years old. OF Is Chris
TOPPER street. He, il was arranged, should
call at the store three or four times a week
and receive such bundles as Bryant and
Messors had decided 10 take. He posed
as a messenger. He was frequently seen
going in and out of the store by the detec-
tiyes. but scores of other messengers did
the same thing.
Herbert didn't take the plumber 10 Har-
lam direct. He invariably cit II in base
ment at 90 Sixth avenue. which bad Teen
hired for that purpose The clerks would
the stuff to Harlam's place. They paid
Herbert s. for each package.
They had an arrangement with the pawn
broker whereby they were paid on Saturday
nights for the stuff delivered during the
week. Payment was made on a bass Of
about rs per cent. Of the wholesale value
In the past week twenty pieces Of silk worh
approximately $500 were stolen. and,
Bryant says, pawned.
After listening 70 Bryants story
McClusky sent out and rounded up Meesors,
who gave hi, address A. 400 last Fifty |
third street Herbert and the pawnbroker
Bryant and Mes OTIS when searched had /
together $50 in cash and bank books show 7
ing deposits Of nearly 5000. The detectives /
on searching Hariams store found. they .
say the silk sent by express on Saturday,
together with several other pieces. No /
record was entered on the pawnbrokers I
books Of the stuff having boon pledged
Magistrate Moss was called TO Head
quarters on Saturday night to accept bail
for Harlan.
Why he exclaimed when he saw the
prisoner and learned the charge. Il accepted
hail for you on a similar charge less than
month ago
We'll. this is a different case said Har-
lams lawyer.
$50 see. replied the Magistrate Il
won't accept less than IS GOO"
Harlan was held in the jefferson Market
court Yesterday in S. coo bail FOR examination
to-day His wife I.abele h Harlan, went
On the bond giving a. security her interest
in their house at 1873 West i32d street The
other prisoners were remanded to Head
1i1artars