New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-17

Indifferent in Presenting Case
Against Alleged Women Shop
Iifters, 1t Is Said.
SHIFTED, THEN SUSPENDED
Inspector Russell Started Inves.
tigation of Case, and Magis-
trate Cornell Got More Facts
from Plainclothes Men.

John I. Maddox and Charles Land
ers, formerly plainciothes men. con-
nected with the Allen street detective
bureau, have been summoned to appear
to-day before Chief Inspector Schmitt-
berger, at Police Headquarters, in con-
nection with a recent East Side shop
lifting case. in which, it is alleged, the
two detectives resorted to irregular
methods
Formal charges will be made against
the two men when they come TO Head
quarters to-day, it is said, and they will
probably be brought to trial early next
week before Third Deputy Commits
sioner Walsh. The department rules
NAL charges before trial.
Maddox and Landers were reduced in
rank to patrolmen last Monday and
transferred to sequestered posts in The
Bronx. On Wednesday they were both
suspended from duty. with the usual in
structions in such cases to report each
morning at II O'Clock at the precinct
stations to which they had been trans
ferred.
When seen yesterday neither detec-
tive had received the summons from
Headquarters and they said they were
at a loss to know just what charges
would be brought against them. but
wanted a speedy trial in any case, and
expected to prove their innocence at the
proper time
Quick Work by Russell.
1t vas learned yesterday it was due
only to the timely Intervention of In
spector Russell. head of the detective
bureau. and q subsequent examination
by Magistrate Cornell, in the Essex
Market police court, that two women,
we'll known to the police for their for
mer exploits. were not discharged in
court for lack of evidence. This state Of
affairs was said to be due to the indif-
ference of the detectives Maddox and
Landers who made the arrests, in pre-
serting the facts in the case. The case
gains interest in the knowledge said to
be in the possession of the police, that
the two alleged shoplifters are we'll off
and that one. at least, has an equity in
considerable property.
The women. known as Bechie Bren-
ner and Esther Cohen, together With
Lena Liter. alias Lena Levy. who was
subsequently, discharged, We're arrested
on June I by Maddox and Landers as
they came out of a drygoods store in
Grand street Beckie Brenner and
Esther Cohen were held in $500 bail by
MAGISTRATE Cornell in the Essex Market
court to await the action of the grand
Jury. but not until further evidence had
been presented by the detectives. which.
it is alleged. they failed to adduce at the
time of the arrests and the first appear
ance of the defendants in court.
The defendants We're subsequently
charged by Charles Farkus, son of the
owner of the drygoods store. with hav-
ing stolen q quantity of goods some Of
which were afterward found pinned I'M
der their skirts when they were searched
and Identified by him as his property
On the strength of Farkuss testimony
end that of one OF the detectives, VINO
finally swore that he saw some of the
articles found on the store floor drop
from underneath the defendants coats,
MAGISTRATE Cornell held the prisoners
on charge of grand larceny.
The papers in the case are now in the
hands of the District Attorney. ana II
would be brought to the attention OF
the grand jury within few days, II
was said Yesterday. The defendants ap-
reared in the police court to plead not
guilty to the allegations in Farkus
complaint and obtained the S1,ooo bal'
So much for the present status OF the
,ose as II appears on the records.
Looked Ordinary at First
It would appear from this regular ana
unswervirg march Of legal steps through
the inferior court that there was not
n,ucl, out Of the ordinary in the matter,
and the whole affair might have ended
in routine fashion. as far as such cases
concern the police. if some one at Police
ueadouarters had not got wind OF its
e-,, BEGINNINGS and scented something
,,oi,e wrong. 1t happened that an official
az HEADQUARTERS noted the two women
&C old acquaintances when they we're
f,ro,,eht there by the detectives. and
hen if was learned that the prisoners
Tod -een held on a simple short affidavit
:, tho oolice court and that one of the
men who made the arrests was alleged
90 have made unsatisfactory statements
- +be clerk of the court as far as max
;ne ont 2 good case against the women
&c concerned, an investigation was in
stituted. 1t was said that one of the
,a,cars told the clerk the arrests had
,.n made merely because the detectives
,.r the women to he old offenders.
r,enector Russelrs attention was called
~ the case. and he sent one Of his men
:, +,e Essex Market court when the de-
.endants appeared for examination on
q The inspectors man had a talk
"a, Mo oeistrate Cornell and asked that
+hA officers and all the witnesses in the
- We sworn and an exhaustive ex-
......io, conducted Assistant District
,..o,.,,ev Leo was called in. He began
,o,,,, about for a good complainant.
hut found that young NAME Fergus,
-, apreared as complainant in the first
;..a,ce knew little about the case ex-
,he officers had told him. al
-, ,a a,as in the store al the time
H. larceny was alleged TO have been
,,;tted His brother Charles was
80, for and proved 10 be a much better
u,ttness for the people
.ssd6oek end Ianders proved to be