New-York tribune., 1910-01-25
ROBBED In STREET
BANKER OUT se8 900.
W arner ". Fan Norden Ac-
cuses Too Women of Hod-Up

warner NJ. Van Norden, of No. 700 Fifth
avenue, the president OF the Van Norden
Trust Company, appeared yesterday in the
JEFFERSON Market police court as complain
ant against Bessie Roberts. of No. 204
west S6th street, and May Williams, thirty
years old. of No 219 West 37th street He
charged the women with robbing him of
Sze,Ooo on Wednesday night outside of the
waldorf. Both women were held by Mag
fstrate Herman in $4,000 bail on a charge
OF highway robbery for examination to-
morrow.
Mr.. Van Norden said that as he was leav-
ing the Waldorf about midnight last
Wednesday he took his weliet out Of his
inside pocket to pay a bill. He then re-
placed ii and left the hotel by the SD
street door. While he was waiting for a
cab two women came up to him, and as one
said good evening, the other, who he said
was Bessie Roberts, threw her arms around
his shoulders and held him tightly. AS he
tried TO push her away the other woman,
VINO he said was May Williams, remarked.
Take no notice of her, she's intoxicated" ="
The first one then released her hold and
stood up straight, only. however, TO fall on
him again. feigning a fainting Mt. The
second woman then went to his aid Mr..
Van Norden declared. and took her friend
away from him.
He left the women there, and instead of
getting into cab he walked to his home,
al No. 7S6 Fifth avenue. No one spoke to
him on the way. and it was not until he
reached home and took his wallet out of
his pocket that he discovered the money
was missing
In one side of the wallet, he said, there
had been twenty-six $1,000 bills and twenty
500 bills, making s2s,0eo in all, which had
disappeared. In the other side there were
one $500 bill and four 500 bills making
$500, which was all that was left. He i'm
mediately notified Police Headquarters and
furnished them with a description of the
two women who had stopped him. and De-
tectives Frank Peabody and O'FarrelI were
assigned to the case.
These detectives were watching the $50
street entrance to the Waldorf on Saturday
night when they saw two women standing
on the opposite side Of the street. Pea
body went across TO them and engaged
them in conversation. He said they made
several admissions which led him to place
them under arrest and he took them to Po-
lice Headquarters.
Inspector McCaferty admitted yesterday
afternoon that he had obtained no clew as
to what had become of Mr.. Van Norden' s
money.
He said that outside OF Jefferson Market
court Detectives O'Farrell and Peabody had
picked up Frank Dowdell, forty years old.
of No. 219 West 54th street believing him
TO be the husband OF Bessie Roberts, who
was said to have the alias Of kitty Dow
DELL" but the man denied knowing any
thing about the case. protesting further that
he was sure his wife was an honest woman
and had had nothing TO do with the rob-
berry.
In his Office at the Van Norden Trust
Company yesterday afternoon Mr.. Van
Norden said he had been able to give In
spector McCaferry a good description OF
the women. He added that he hoped to
get part of the money back because 1t Is
not easy to pass $1,000 bills"