New-York tribune., 1912-07-14
MESSENGERS S50O,OOO
PICKED Up IN ALBANY
But Boy Sent to Bank Here with
United Cigar Stores Checks
Has Vanished.
SUM IN CASH IS MISSING
Blacksmith at State Capital
Finds Satchel Behind Iron
Fence-Police of Two
Cities Mystified.

The police Of this city began a search
last night for Joseph r. Kelem, sixteen
years old, who lives in Jersey City and
was employed as a messenger by the
United Cigar Stores Company. He was
sent out from the company's headquar-
ters, at No. A West 18th street, at 10: 80
o'clock yesterday morning, with satchel
containing checks for half million dol
lars and between $500 and $4,000 In cash
with instructions TO place the checks and
cash In the National Bank Of Commerce
, at No. 81 Nassau street.
No trace or word OF the boy has since
been received. either by the company or
the police but at 8 o'clock In the after
noon Thomas O'Brien. a blacksmith, on
Lafayette street, Albany, was leaving
his shop, within a block OF the state
Capitol when he noticed a half opened
red leather bag lying behind an iron
fence. He picked It UP and discovered
inside checks 10 the amount OF $685.
1884 There was no cash In the satchel.
however.
O'Brien, almost paralyzed with excite
ment at sight of checks representing
such wealth, Immediately ran to tele-
phone and called up Police Headquarters
in Albany. Then he waited with the
precious burden tucked tightly under HIS
arm until the arrival Of Detective Phull,
who assumed charge Of the half million
in paper.
Late last night Albany Headquarters
informed the police here that O'Brien
seventeen with a bag a short time before
he found the United Cigar Stores satchel.
The blacksmith said he had also seen
the boy on the street since, and he and
Detective Reed went out in an attempt
to find him.
TwofoId Search Instituted.
The Albany police at once got into
communication with the New York
authorities, Chief Of Police Hyatt of the
Albany force talking with Lieutenant
Funston. Of the local force, on the tele
phone for many minutes. Hyatt said
the checks all bore the stamp Of the
United Cigar Stores Company and
ranged in amounts calling for from
S1S1, ,OSO to s22, 200.
Lieutenant Funston Immediately COM
municated with the detectives Of the
West 18th street police station, and De-
tectiyes Scallon and Rein were ordered
TO 20 to the offices of the United Cigar
vestigate the matter.
The detectives hastened to the COM
pany's offices, and were ushered into the
private offices OF the assistant auditor of
the corporation. That official appeared
greatly overwrought when informed Of
the discovery of the Albany blacksmith
He could not account for the finding of
the red leather bag in Albany, $50 miles
from this city, but seemed greatly re-
lieyed that the company's checks had
been saved.
The auditor said that Kelem. who had
been employed by the company for only
q short time, had been intrusted with
the checks and the cash yesterday morn
ing and told to deposit the total amount
I'm the National Bank of Commerce, at
No. 81 Nassau street. The boy was in
structed to return to the offices immedi-
ately after making the deposit
Yesterday being half day in banking
circles. the auditor began to grow un-
easy when Kellem had not put in his ap-
n.arance at noon. When the boy still
Cou,inusd On sscep& page, sixth column.