The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-09-06
A PLOT TO ROB
THE EASY RICH
Clever Scheme Disclosed By a Thiefs
Notebook.
THE RICH ARE EASY TO TUUcH.
Names of Number of Prominent Peo-
pie Found in 1t, With Remarks
About Their Accessibility Attempt
to Wrench Diamond From Young
Lady's Finger.

New York Especially A daring
plot to rob the easy rich was re-
vealed here following the capture OF
Charles Anderson after he had held
up Miss Gertrude Becker at q pistols
point in the vestibule of her home
and attempted TO wrench a diamond
ring from her finger.
"A list of prospective victims in
cluding Mrs. Leslie-Carter-Payn and
Mrs. Vanderbilt. was found in a note
Dook in the young thief's possession.
After the name and address of the
noted actress was the notation "Pret.
~ easy, night"
While locked up in the Harlem
Police Court prison Anderson talked
with apparent pride, much as an
enthusiastic young business man
would discuss some legitimate enter.
prise, about his plans TO enter the
houses of rich residents of Manhat-
tan and Brooklyn. He observed that
the very rich of the city are the
easiest TO touch"
Il have nothing to say about
that notebook" said Anderson. 81
think the names speak for them
selves. You think l was after big
people? Well, you're not far from
wrong. The rich people are a cincb
when it comes to this sort of work,
They are easier than the middle
class. The rich are careless.
The man just in comfortable cir.
cumstances is more careful about
guarding his valuables. It would be
an easy thing to get into one of the
Vanderbilt houses. have looked
them over, and if this hadn't hap.
pened | might have had a chance tc
try my theory. I have nothing to say
about any gang. I did not rob Mime
jacob. I only went to her house to
collect a bin for SIS" And he
chuckled a bit.
Anderson was held by Magistrate
Walsh in $4,000 for further exam.
ination.
When Patrolman Mendlessohn took
Anderson to police headquarters to
be photographed it was found that
in spite of his youth-he is just past
25-he had recently been discharged
from the Elmira Reformatory, after
serving a term of more than a year
for robbing Madame Josephine ia.
cobi, the opera singer. The police
are Of the impression that he is one
of a gang of thieves of the risinl
generation which had outlined a ser.
les of robberies.
The circumstances surrounding the
capture of Anderson were highly
dramatic. Miss Becker, daughter OF
statiOner whose name appeared
among the thief's list OF easy
marks" was returning from the store
at 1926 Madison Avenue to her
home, at 26 East One Hundred and
Ninth Street, at $50 o'clock, when
she noticed that a good-looking fel-
low was following her. AS she step
ped into the veStibule of the house
her follower. Anderson. poked the
muzzle of a revolver in her face and
said: Give me that diamond ring
and dOn't make any noise about it
Miss Becker screamed and attract
ed the attention Of a maid descending
the stairs. Anderson tried to take
the ring from Miss Becker's finger
! and, failing 10 do so, struck the
young woman a blow in the face
that rendered her unconscious.
Anderson fled east in One Hundred
and Ninth Street. followed by the
maid. who noticed that he was Joined
| by confederate at the corner. The
confederate fled south in Madison
| Avenue, and Anderson continued
eastward. AS he approached tho
| arch under the New York Centra
/ viaduct Patrolman Mendelssohn start
ed after him.
Under the arch Anderson turned
! on MendelssOhn, aimer the revolver
I at the DOlicpman'S head and caid. ct
you come q step nearer | will shoo
! to kill"
| Mendelssohn is not so easily
| frightened. He made a dash at the
young man, and struck his arm be
| fore Anderson could pull the trigger
! In another instant Anderson founC
his hands held tightly together b!
! Mendelssohn' bracelets"
BALLOONIST KILLED.