The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-25
ROBBED OF $4,000
BY WOMEN BANDITS
Warner Van NOrden Held Up
in Remarkable Manner.
MONEY IS NOT YET RECOVERED
President of Trust Company and
Deacon in Church Has Encounter
with Female Highwaymen and Is
Relieved of Big Sum-DOes Not Dis
cover His Loss Until He Gets Home.

New York. Jan. 24-Warner Van Nor
den, who is president Of the Van Norden
Trust Company, az 7S6 Fifth avenue, and
a deacon in the Fifth Avenue Presbyter-
ian Church, is the man who was robbed
OF $500 in bills in East Thirty-third
street, on Wednesday night of last week.
Two women were arrested Sunday as
those suspected OF having been guilty OF
the robbery, and to-day Mr.. Van Norden
went 10 headquarters TO identify them.
and later signed his name TO complaints
against them in the Jefferson Market
Court.
Though one of the women had made a
partial admission OF the crime charged
against her. neither Of them has produced
the twenty-six 1900 and twenty 500 bills
which Van Norden said had disappeared
from a wallet In the inner pocket of his
dress coat after an encounter he had
with the two women a few doors east OF
the corner Sf Fifth avenue and East
Thirty-third street, about midnight on
Wednesday Mr. Van Norden said he had
been a victim OF a pure case Of holdup.
and the fact that the two women instead
Of one or more men did the trick did not
in the least alter the character Of the
crime.
Overlooked 5000 Ht That.
He was glad that the women highway
men had not taken quite all that he had
when they waylaid him The $ZS,o00
which they did take, was stretched at
fun length in the long compartment Of
his wallet, doubled into a smaller pocket
were four 800 bills and a single piece OF
paper currency. with the 800 mark on
it, These remnants OF the S2S.9oo, which
Mr.. Van Norden had with him when he
left the Hotel Waldorf to 60 70 his home.
at West Fifty-seyenth street, had been
overlooked 10y the feminine thugs.
7 had been 10 the theater with friends
on last Wednesday night said Mr.. Van
N,orden, in detailing his experiences. I'VE
stopped al the Waldorf and had little
supper. after which I went into the writ
ing-room and wrote one or two letters
I started TO go home some time about
midnight went across Fifth avenue
and was walking up East Thirty-thlrd
street, intending 10 take a Fourth avenue
car. I noticed two women just ahead OF
mean old one and a young one-both
rather fashily dressed,
Drops Her ReticuIe.
One Of them turned and looked al me-
and then when was nearly up 10 them
1t was right about in front Of No. 10. not
half way up the block. the young one
dropped her reticule, Immediately
stopped to pick il up Just as I did So
the older and heavier Of the two threw
herself on me, and felt her throw back
the lapels Of my heavy fur-lined coat
I rose 20 standing position and
wrested myself away from her. The
younger woman was standing near by
laughing Don't mind her; she is just
little bit drunk she said. Just then the
older woman made another dive Al me
and hit me in the chest. ! wrestled with
her for a fraction Of a minute and freed
myself Of her.
II don't remember that 7 said anything
and there was nothing said by the two
women except that one remark from the
younger one. ] walked on toward the
car al Fourth avenue: since I felt my
watch and the wallet in my pocket I
thought that If an attempt had been made
10 rob me IL had failed. When 1 got
home ! looked in my wallet and found
that s2S00l was gone from the middle
pocket"
Mr. Van Norden added. in answer 10
an inquiry. that he was not in the habit
OF carrytng so much money around with
him In hts evening clothes 1t just hap