New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-11
USED CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
TO CAPTURE BURGLARS
Hair Goods Dealer Sure Arrests
Were Not Due to the Work
of Detectives.
CONCENTRATED HER MIND"
One of the Prisoners Makes Con-
fession, duplicating Other,
Who Gives Police All They
Can Do to Get Him.

Charles Hoffman, and Bunny" VIII
son are prisoners in adjoining cells at
Police Headquarters. charged with bur
glary. They We're arrested last night
upon the complaint Of Nine Coyle. who
keeps a store for human hair goods at
the northwest corner of Broadway and
34th street. She charges that the two
men entered her place Of business on
the night Of August . and stole hundreds
OF dollars worth of hair goods
These are the known facts in the case.
The point upon which there is some
doubt is whether the men are now in
prison as the result Of the detective
ability Of Acting Captain Funston. Of
the West Both street police station. and
his aid. Lieutenant Becker, or whether,
as is argued by Nine Coyle. who is an
ardent Christian Scientist. they owe
their present predicament 10 her con-
centrative powers. aided by Christian
Science.
Nine. COyle stated last night that after
discovering the loss of the hair she con-
centrated her mind studiously and with
out stint upon the guilty persons, who
ever they might be. with the result that
her mental application resulted in the
arrest Of Hoffman, and Wilson.
Whatever the Nemesis that camped on
the trail Of the prisoners. il is known
that Hoffman, was formerly employed
In the saloon owned by his father, John.
in the basement Of the building also
tenanted by Nine. Coyle's shop. Some
weeks ago. IT is said. Charles Hoffman,
was requested 10 leave his fathers en-
rloy as the result of a family disagree
ment Since then he has been helping
his grandfather James Hoffman,. who
is employed as a night watchman in the
building
Showcases Robbed OF Contents.
on the night Of August . Charles re-
lieved his grandfather on the shift be-
tween and Z o'clock midnight Dur
ing that time it is known. the hair store
Of Nine Coyle was entered by means of
a jimmy via the front door. and all the
showcases. in which were displayed
Billie Burke braids. Psyche knots. up
to-date pufs and pompadour fronts,
were robbed Of their contents.
When Nine Coyle opened her place
for business the next morning she was
Mortified 20 discover the loss Of the hair
goods and at once reported the matter
10 the police Of the West Both street
station. This done. she sat down and
concentrated her mind without inter
mission for several minutes. At the
end OF her mental efforts she. stated
she had quite decided in her own mind
that Hofmann was the guilty party.
The detectives went around TO the
Covle hair parlors and made an inves-
tigation. They found that one Of the
burglars had left th= mark OF one Of his
fingers on the glass top Of a showcase.
This mark was compared with the fin
ger prints Of other employees in the
Covle parlors. but did not correspond
with a single one.
Bv the process IF elimination. the de
tectives state. Jhey finally arrived Al
the conclusion that Charles Hoffman,
was the man they wanted for the hair
raising burglary. Their search for him
led them 10 Newark. where, they allege.
Horrrann went with samples Of the
stolen hair trying % make sale.
Police Say Hoffman, Confessed.
Hoffman, was arrested last night al a
house on West 37th street. between
Broadway and Eighth avenue. The po-
lice say he confessed and stated that he
and q man named William d. Bunny"
Wilson committed the burglary on
August .. Hofmann said that be had
admitted Wilson and a third man 90 the
building. and that the three had then
gone 10 the third floor and 'jimmied"
the door 70 the human hair parlors.
As result Of the disclosures made
nv Hoffman,. the police went 10 No. 1872
West 36th street. where they found VIII
son. He refused 10 open the door of his
room and the detectives smashed IL in
After a brief struggle they arrested
Wilson and took him 10 Headquarters
II is said that some Of the pilfered hair
was found in Hoffmann's possession.
This was later identified by Nine. Coyle
who said she recognized each strand.
According 20 the police, Wilson has
already served time for burglary, ana
his portrait adorns the Rogues' Gal
lery.