New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-14
Harry ThaW's Lawyer Charged
/. with Receiving Securities
Stolen from Old Broker.
IMPLICATED BY CONFESSION
Grand Jury Hears from Man
Who Says He Negotiated
Return of Stocks That
O'Reilly Took Part.

held prominent place in the Thaw case,
charging that he criminally received
stolen property. was reported Yesterday
by the grand jury to Judge Otto Ro-
salsky. In Part 7 of General Sessions.
The crime IS alleged To have been com
mtted in connection with the return Of
a portion of the $4,000 worth Of securi-
ties stolen from Aaron Bancroft. senior
partner of George Bancroft & Co. Of No
;6 Beaver street while he was carrying
them 10 his safe deposit vault in the
Produce Exchange Building
II is charged that OReillv carried on
the negotiations with William NJ. Sui
iivan. counsel for Mr.. Bancroft. for the
return Of the securities and was one OF
party of three in taxicab drive
through Central Park on March a.
when S65.OuD worth of the securities
We're returned to Mr. Sullivan in ex-
who is in the Tombs under 5000 bonds
awaiting trial on an indictment charging
that he crimnally received stolen prop
erty growing out Of the same transac-
cab
Plass was not arrested until April q
more than two weeks after the securi-
ties We're returned. Since that date daily
cppfaroprac baya hear, bcl in tho
trict Attorneys office with Plass under
Interrogation by Assistant District At
torney Buckner. John W Hart. for
mer Assistant District Attorney and
head Of the detective bureau of the Po-
lice Department; George W. Dougherty.
superintendent of the Pinkerton De
tective Agency: Mrs Plass. wife Of the
prisoner and Mr. Sullivan were present.
Full Confession by Plass.
Acting under advice of his counsel
and responding 10 the entreaties Of his
wife. Plass decided 70 make a complete
confession of his part in the transac-
ton.
He implicated three other persons he
/ sides O'Reily. Two of them are known
10 the police. one having served term
I'm the penitentiary. The third. he de-
clared. was an employe Of George Ban
croft e. Co At the same time he said
that the 5000 received for the return
Of the Si5. 900 worth Of the stolen securi-
tics was divided into six parts. He did
not sav jus. how the six parts We're dis
trihuted. and asserted that he had heer
/ doubled crossed bv the actual thieves
when they gave him an envelope con-
I tanning $50 600 worth Of securities in
stead OF III that had been stolen.
The facts were presented TO the grand
jury yesterday morning, the witnesses
being Aaron Bancroft. his son George
| Bancroft. Mr. Sullivan Plass and De-
tcctive Edward Armstrong. Of the Cen
| traI Office. who arrested Pass. The in
dictment against O'Reilly was reported
| at o'clock in the afternoon.
/ Bench warrants were Immediately is
sued bv Judge Rosalskv and placed x
the hands Of Detectives Leigh and
Thomas. Of the District Attorneys staff
/ for the arrest Of O'Reilly
According 10 Plass. he was invited by
the men who stole the securities 10 take
mart I'm il and share the proceeds. He
said that he refused. They then pro
ceeded without him. preparing. with th'
connivance Of the employe Of the firm, a
dummv envelope identical in external ap-
uearancc with the one which II was
known the elder Bancroft. who is eighty
four years old would take 10 the de-
| posit vault.
He was met in an underground cor
ridor Of the vaults by two of the con
spirators. who ran into him. knockins
him down and causing the envelope to
| fall. one of them picked II up. ant
while The other was covering his ac'
,ions with a pretence Of brushing OFF th'
aged broker substituted the dummy en-
/ velope
THAT vas on March >, and the substl
] tuition was not discovered until Marcr
q when the deposit box was agar
visited The Pinkerton Detective Agency
I was called into the case. and the ponce
were also informed. but searched IN Vair
for nearly three weeks for trace OF th'
thieves.
The first intimation as TO what had be-
cor,a of the securities according TO Mr.
| Sullivan. came in communication re-
ce,,.d nv him from O'Reilly. IL was, M
Saws that O'Reilly knew the where
ahouts of the securities and was author
,,od ,o offer their return for a considera
tion. which he specified. This informa
,ior Mr.. Sullivan states. was received by
l. on March a.
meeting between O'Reilly and Sui
Iiran followed. at which, II is alleged
o,ReiIlv seemed TO be unconcerned wher
reminded that the securities. Tor the re-
turn of which money was asked. were
stolen property.
O'ReIlys Part in Case.
Plass in his confession. said tha
O'Reillv was brought into the case b,
him he having been called upon by tn
,bioves after they made their haul
There were number of conferences, M
said in which the thieves. he an'
O'Reilly took part
The fact that the securities were non
negotiable had made the thieves. he said
decide To return them TO the owner
driving az good bargain as they could
Al first IT was decided 10 ask for SO.
600 In cash That sum was finally re
dured to SlO.WNl. which. IL Is alleged