The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30
NABBED MAIL BOX ROBBER.
MANY NEWARK BONES LOOTED
WITH FALSE KEY.

CashInE OF stolen Check for Ssh Leads 20
Capture Of Man Who Did Time for Big
Coup In Buffalo Prisoner Newly
MarrIed-TwO Other suspects Held.
Through the arrest yesterday of Frank
G. Clayton, who served time for stealing
a mail pouch in Buffalo seven years ago,
Post Onlce Inspector Entemann OF Newark
believes that an end has been put to the
wholesale pillaging OF letter boxes in that
city, which has been going on for months
causing dozens Of complaints from business
houses hat nave lost checks.
Clayton was arrested yesterday morning
as he was entering his home at 2O3 East
Fourteenth street, by Inspector Entemann
and Detective Sergeants DAILY and Braun
Of Police Headquarters. Charles Bates, a
printer OF 100 Fourth avenue, who pointed
out Clayton, was taken into custody at
the same time, and Richard Leroy, also a
printer Of 200 East N~inety-ifth street,
was arrested at his home last night. IL
was through a check transaction that the
Newark robberies were traced.
On September 7 Henry Meyer, manager
of a wholesale liquor store at slS Eighth
avenue, says he was asked by Leroy, whom
he knew, to cash a check for 315i. 16, drawn
bv VIM. Koch 4 Son, leather manufacturers
of Newark, in favor of l. Gutman Il Co.;
and indorsed by 1. Gutman. Meyer took
IL To 8. Munk, a ma wnbroker OF 922 Ninth
avenue, but Munk didn't want to cash it
until he was sure it was genuine. He took
IL to a branch Of the Colonial Bank and
was told to cash it if he didn't hear anything
within a week. Munk got no word. 80 he
handed over the money. receiving 81 Tor
his trouble.
When he sent the check to his bank hA
harmed that the Endorsement was a forgery,
and reported IL at Police Headquarters.
When Detective Sergeants Braun and DAILY
went over to Newark on the case they found
tina the check was one OF many that had
been stolen from mali boxes. Iho Those
check was genuine with the exception OF the
Endorsement. Post Once Inspector Ente-
mann the Joined forces with the detectives.
When the detectives found Leroy they
learned thai he got the check from his
friend Bates. Bates told them that No got
the check from his friend Clayton. The
sIeuths thought they that
name, so they looked Clayton Up. they
found that he had been arrested IN nosv
under the name Frank A. Smith for stealing
a mail pouch in Buffalo. He and lis
partner, Albert E. Bell, got $4,000 worth
of commercial paper. Bell escaped, but
CLAYTON was caught While he was Tying
to cash a 5000 check in the leWelry store
OF Mrs T. Lynch. He served three years
in Auburn.
CLAYTON wasn't located until Friday night,
and the detectives and Inspector Entemann
watched for him all night long. When he
showed up they nabbed him. Bates hao
in gunplay, so they grabbed both his hands.
He had a loaded .32-calibre revolver When
he was searhed a key was found, which
the police say he admitted ,opened any
letter box in Newark He told them that
a lock and then made a key for it at his
leisure. He didn't deny that he had been
robbinR the letter boxes, but said that he
had tried hard to live a decent life.
In his pockets Clayton had three checks
erased with acid and the word cash SUBJ
stituted. One was for $3.50 and was drawn
by Charles W. Smith on the West Side
Trust Company Of Newark. Another on
the Federal Trust Company Tor Sl2O was
signed by B. CONTAIN. A third check, for
~. "a, on the National Newark Banking
CompanV. signed by William Koch a Son
was Just being altered. The detectives
also found a small pocket rubber type outfit
and a supply OF acid on his dresser.
When Clayton was asked what Bates
and Leroy had to do with the check which
led to his capture, he said:
aWe were each to get $50 out OF it. Leroy
kept his share and turned the rest over to
Bates and l didn't get a cent. I'm a gentle
man, wen IL / am a crook, but Bates
treated me like a dog"
Clayton wouldn't say that either Of the
other two men knew where the check came
from. When Leroy was arrested he said
thet he needed money a few days ago and
was on his way 10 see a moneylender when
he met Bates and told him about It. Bates
told him, he said, that he had a friend who
wanted TO get a check for $3.50 cashed and
was willing 70 pay $50 for having Y done.
Bates declared that he supposed Clayton
came by tho check honestly, and said that
he turned over all the money he got from
Leroy to Clayton.
Clayton said that ne has been working
as q clerk, but the police say he has been In
the employ Of o bookmaker. He said he