New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-23
YiddiSh Actress Discovers
Plight of Second Ave. Man;
Police Doubt His Story.
RED AUTO FIGURES IN CASE
Two, Perhaps Three, Men Join
in Bold Daylight Hold-Up,
Victim Says, When Gag
Is Removed Later.


day morning by a chance customer
lying face downward on the door, his
hands tied behind his back, his feet
bound with wire and towel knotted
over MS mouth. in a little workroom in
the rear of his jewelry store. at No. IL
Second avenue. He said when he was
released and the gag removed that two
men, one of whom had threatened him
with Il pistol, had taken $500 In cash
and diamonds watches. bracelets and
chains valued at $1,000 He declared
that the robbery took place about
twenty minutes before he was rescued.
He was able TO give Il detailed desCrip-
ton Of the appearance Of one Of his
assaiiants. but Of the other he could
not tell much, as his back was turned
20 him while the looting Of his store
was In progress
Richman was inclined TO believe that
q third man. who came into ,hc store
@ Few moments before the hold-up took
place and asked to So. som" chains,
was scouting for the other two. as he
went out of the store before he had
time TO comply with his request.
The robbery was easy FOR the hold-up
men. as the door OF the safe was wide
open and the diamonds and other
pieces were ia two trays in the show
window. Richman could tell nothing
OF the movements of the robb-rs after
they left his store. but n merchant
three doors away said he saw n big
red automobile with three men and
woman in IL go by his store ,bout ten
minutes before the robbery took place.
No one could be found who had seen
the automobile stop at ;hc jewellers
door nor did any one observe ,he exit
Of the two hold-up men.
The robbery took place a Few min
utcs before 10 o'clock. Second avenue
- not Al its busiest AZ that time In the
morning, but there were 'ew pas
sersby, and across The stree. early
churchgoers We're films into the Col
legiate Dutch Reformed Church
Actress Gives the Alarm.
Mrs. Esther TobiIs Niddisn ACTRESS
of the Peoples Theatre, discovered the
jewellers plight. She went into his
store and was surprised TO find IL de-
serted. Going into the cigar store next
door. she asked Miss Yetta simon. the
clerk in charge. what had become Of
Richman.
The two women went into tho store
together and found n still empty.
Finally their attention was attracted
10y thump. thump on the floor Of the
wVrkroom at the back of the shop.
which sounded as II some one was
jumping Mp aud down. They looked
in and saw the trussed up icWcllcr ON
the floor He was beating a rapid
tattoo with his toes, which was the
only means he had OF summonlng aid.
The women were much too fright
cnod 10 help him out II the prcdl"a-
mont. but thcy rushed 70 the stree.
and screamed. Second avenue. which
had been slumbering late. awokc and
came piliug into The tiny store, which
is only about - by ) feet. Ned Gould.
an actor. living in the neighboibood.
worked nj way into the programme
by untylng Richman.
With tho early corners was Edward
Roscnfeld. a detective from the Central
Once. He was joined later 10y Frank
Allen. also of the Detective Bureau.
Roscnfcld cleared the crowd out and
placed the showcases under guard. 30
that no possible flngerprnt clcws
should he blurred. None was found
lie then got out to find possible wit
nesscs who might have seen the two
robbers como out Of the store. Fail
ing in this, the detectives took another
tack and began to hecklo Rlchman.
The things they learned made them
frankly skcptical that an actual rob
berry had been committed.
The jewellers story of the robbery
was straight enough, but he was able
to give the police only the most mcagre
description of the jcwcllry taken. nor
could ne satisfy them as to why the
door of the safe had been wide open.
Tho first man To- enter the store dur.
ing the morning was young man. who
asked 10 see some chains. The jew
eller leaned down 10 get them, but
when he Strengthened up tho customer
had gone. a few minutes later man
whom the jewcllcr described as m
Italian American, about . feet > inches
I'm height, wearing dark clothes and
dark felt hat, came into the store. He
had with him a very dirty gold chain
which he wished to have polished.
Ooened Safe to Deck Windov.
The ieweller said he was just abou,
10 nut a quantity Of jewelry into the
show window He had left the safe
door omen. he said. because there were
sone other articles he intended to take
ont He dropped his work. however,
and went into the workroom, where 10
had an emery wheel.
81 want TO sec how YOU polish that"
said the customer, and Followed him.
Once inside the door, winch IL merely
. wire affair, the robber prodded him
IN the back with n gun and said:
.u,o,,, velI or I'll blow your head Off"