New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09
MOTOR CAR THIEVES.
C7eUer Rascals Who S5cindIe and
Rob Manufacturer.


and dealers to the extent Of $4,000 Forged letters
and false bills were the means by which these
thieves secured the delivery of certain cars which
they resod before the hue and cry was raised
through the bills being dishonored
From inquiries made by the writer Il would ep-
pear that motor car thieves who resort to such
lodges chiefly confne their operations to the Con
tinent where large number Of motor cars are
made and where they afforded greater scope
In consequence.
1T may sound little egotistical on my part"
the manager OF a well known London garage
marked to the writer recently. after the afore-
mentioned Paris case had been related to him.
but We are too careful regarding the standing OF
a customer to permit of being duped IN such a
manner.
AT the same time. we came very near losing
1900 car about twelve months ago. by a somewhat
different trick
from man who wished TO hire Of our best
cars, to hold four people in addition TO the driver
The address Of well known hotel was given. and
arrangements were made that the party should call
at the garage for the car At the time appointed.
however. only two men arrived. explaining that
their two friends had disappointed them. smaller
car was offered. but they intmated that they pre-
ferred the large one. and having paid six guineas
the cost or hiring the for half day. they de-
parted FOR their spin with OF our best drivers
Judge OF our surprise when the latter returned
about two hours later. alone IN the car He told
Story which. although seeming very extraordinary
10 us at the time. we have every reason to
believe was quite true. After the car had pro-
ceeded some distance ons OF the men asked the
driver 10 have drink from a flask which he
carried. The man refused. saying that he did not
care 10 take intOxicants while in charge Of a car
Nothing more was said about the matter. although
the men tempted the driver 20 drink with them at
two or three public houses where they stopped
But the man kept to his resolution and refused
TO leave the car. a fact which seemed to anger
both men. more especially when. having got some
distance into the country the driver again refused
TO drink from the proffeTed flask. They became
abusive-sO much in fact that the driver nearly
stopped the car and threatened that he would not
go on unless they mendsd their manners. Appar-
entity the men had been waiting for this. for when
the car almost to a standstiu they both
Jumped out and endeavored 70 gain the drivers
seat. with a view. apparently. TO pulling him
down.
Fortunately. he anticipated their movements
caused the car to lurch forward so that both men
lost their hold. and putting speed came back 10
London. We were in considerable doubt for
time 10 whether he had acted rightly. But
these doubts were removed when learned that
the two men had been arrested and convicted for
defrauding hotel proprietors."
This dodge is somewhat similar TO one which
tried with success in Chicago some time ego.
AS I'm the former case. a car was hired by tele-
phone and a request was made that the automobile
should call evening at certain hotel on the
outskirts Of the town TO take lady and gentle
for three hours ride. On reaching the
hotel the driver was inside and supplied with
liquor which had been drugged. The drug did not
have any immediate effect. but after few minutes
in the open air the driver sank into stupor from
which he did not recover until two hours later,
when he found himself under a hedge about a
He made his way back TO the town. and the police
were put on the track OF the miscreants. 1t was
discovered IN the stables OF a hotel at Indianap-
oils. where It had been left by the he, couple. who
ity Of the police had alarmed them, and not having
car they had decided 20 leave il behind ana escape
BY train. which they were successful in doing
hr ~ ie t G T t IN Ot race ~ Ia5 "a
what probably constitutes the most remarkable
automobile robbery record. The incident
o e rSSS6e2y have e2a BEEN snG
A motor race meeting was organized few miles
who invited competitors from other countries. On
5e morning Of d JHs 9g race OF fe
had been anticipated would win the raee-was miss,
attached to the hotel where the owner of the car
was STAYING; and he had duly Inspected and thor
afterward leaving his chauffeur lock up the she'd
Apparently the robbers possessed duplicate key;
for they had relocked the door after taking out the
car, which, according 10 the foOtmarks, had been
driven 10 q place Of eoneealnient - 80 ,...
There IS, by the way, another type OF up to-date
thief who. while he does not make a special prac-
tice Of stealing motor cars finds the latest mode OF
Of his nefarioIs plots That is not 20 say the mod
thief prowls about the country in his auto
or without the owners permission, he much pre-
ferS il railway carriage, which be searched
at every station by the police,
on several occasions during the last few months
the police have been beaten in their endeavOrS to
capture q burglar who has thrown them off the
scent by walking across country to the nearest
town, and there hiring motor to take him
near his destination.
The English police. however. have not UP to the
present had TO cope with motor car robbery such
that which occurred at a Kansas jewellers
recently. Two men drove up in automobile TO
within twenty thirty yards Of the shop which
one OF them entered. He asked 70 be shown some
liar 7arrH and oarfpf and Fyvr7n of
the shop turned from the counter to get selection.
the supposed customer dealt him a blow from be-
hind which rendered the Jeweller senseless. The
assaiant then made a selection from the most
costly trinkets. took all the money from the desk,
and walked lesurely out OF the shop TO where the
waiting. which vanished Immediately he
had taken his seat
The alarm not raised until about half
hour afterward, when the jeweler recovered con-
sCiOuspess and staggered out of the shop. The
police quite failed trace the robbers this and
two other occasions. when similar robberies took
place Omaha and Lincoln. but'at last succeeded
IN capturing both men, who had stolen the
after hiring II. disguised its appearance and after
ward used II aid to their jewelry robberiss.
--Tit-BUs.