The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-19

) Still more unusual was the absolute
refusal of Miss Nichols and Mrs. Sond-
strom this afternoon to allow the police
to continue their investigations. All
inquiries were referred to Judge j.
Bayard kirkpatrick. of the Union
building, who Is now the custodian Of
the security box. which he removed
from the Nichols residence after it's
discovery at II o'clock this morning.
The late Mrs Nichols was the widow
of the late John A Nichols, one OF
the wealthiest citizens of Newark. Sine
was long identified with the most ex
elusive society in this city,. and her
daughters have been leaders in the So-
cial set here.
The treas ire box was secreted in the
garret of the Nichols home, and II was
not supposed that anyone save Mrs.
Nichols and her two daughters knew
of its whereabouts. Great was the sur
prise of Miss Elizabeth Nichols yes
terday when she found that the box
had been removed from its hiding
place. A thorough search of the house
was made with no result. Every nook
and Granny was ransacked, but the
box had completely disappeared.
The box with its treasure was not
reported to the police as missing until
o'clock this morning. Detective Ser
geant IIorter was Immediately assigned
to the case. and diligent search OF
the imposing three-story home was
made by him. Horter already sus-
pected that the box had been surrep-
titiously removed by some person other
than its owners, and returned to police
| hs-sa alrft.- MT. ~,
signed to continue on the case by Cap
tain Carroll. to whom he had confided
his suspicious. When he returned to
the Nichols residence at IL o'clock he
was met at the door by a nurse, and
informed that the missing box had
been found on the second floor.
Horter, on his first investigation early
today, planned trap for suspect
He hid behind door while certain
conversation occurred between Miss
Elizabeth Nichols and the suspect. He
then announced in the hearing of both
that he knew who the guilty party was
who had stolen the box and that he
was going to police headquarters to re-
port
When he returned he was informed
by a nurse that the box had been found.
"There is no doubt that the box
was stolen said Horter to an EVEN
ING STAR reporter There may be
an arrest, despite the fact that the box
was returned
The bonds. jewelry and other nego-
table securities were untouched when
found but the cash is still missing
Police headquarters was notified at
o'clock this morning over the telephone
that u GoX containing cash, railroad
securities and bonds had been stolen
from the Nichols house Desk Sergeant
Prout was on duty and asked the voice
on the other end of the telephone for
more particulars, but the answer was
that Il detective was wanted right
away
Later Charles A Drummon. broker,
Of 116 Clinton avenue. reported to the
police that a mysterious robbery had
occurred. and Detective Sergeant John
Horter was sent to the house. He re-
mained there at work for several
hours, and went back to Captain Car
roll and expressed his opinion of the
affair. Captain Carroll, TO be sure OF
the matter ordered Horter to return
to the Fulton street house, and no
sooner had the sleuth entered the home
than he was greeted with the news
that the box had been found. From
the story told at police headquarters,
the search for the strong-box began
yesterday.
When night came and nothing was
found of the box the sisters continued
the search all night. The house was
lighted while the work of trying TO
locate the missing box was continued.
Finally. at o'clock this morning, the
telephone was used. and the intimate
friends of the family were notified after
the police had been informed.
Maid suys II Was n Mistake.
ITS all mistake said the maid
who answered the door at the Nichols
house when an EVENING STAR re-
porter called. THE box was found
right where the party. put it. a short
time after the detective bureau was
notified"
In the course ~ The conversation she