New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-09
YATES GOES ON TRIAL
FOR $4,000 ROBBERY
Bancroft, Aged Broker, Whose
Securities Were Stolen,
Identifies Him.
HIS TESTIMONY MISTAKEN
Charged ICY" Was Ringleader
in Daring Theft-Others
Arrested to Turn
States Evidence.

In Daring IuSlI--SVnSiS
Arrested to Turn
States Evidence.
Chester Yates, who, as "Cy' Yates. Is
said to have planned and carried
through the theft of $4,000 worth or
securities from Aaron Bancroft in
March, 1911, thus for the first time IN
thirty years breaking through the
deed line" of Fulton street was crest
fallen yesterday when his aged accuser
identified him positively as one OF the
robbers and stuck to his identification
through d severe cross examination
Yates went on trial Yesterday before
Judge Mulqueen, in General Sessions
charged with robbery in the first de-
gree as a second offender. II will mean
forty years for him if he is convicted.
According to the stories told by his
alleged acComplices TO Emory r. Buck
ner and ]. Robert Rubin, the Assistant
District Attorneys prosecuting Yates, 1t
was he who conceived the plan. His
was the mind which gathered together
the men who acted on information fur
nished by Harry Barrett, formerly an
employe Of the Bancrofts. and 1t was
his executive ability which kept those
men apart until the actual day Of the
crime arrived so that none but the mas
ter mind knew Of the plot.
How Plan Was Carried Out.
His plan was Cleverly contrived ana
icleverly carried out Mr. Bancroft
who is eighty-fve years old, came
through the dusky corridor Of the
Produce Exchange Building on the
afternoon Of March 2, 1911. and under
his arm, as Barrett had prophesled'
was an envelope containing stock GER
tiAcates worth $4,000. Yates, 1t is al
legged took an active part in carrying
out his plan. 1t was he who stumbled
against the old man, and it was Charles
Ross, his right hand man, who suosu-
tuted an envelope filed with waste
paper for the one which Mr.. Bancroft
dropped in his fall.
Up to that point the plans had
worked perfectly. The robbery was MOI
discovered until Monday, four days
later. when Mr.. Bancroft opened his
cafe deposit box in the Produce EX-
change Building. The robbers had
ample time 10 dispose Of their loot.
But Yates apparently had not planned
that far ahead and had left the die
rOsel Of the stocks to Frank j. Plass.
Plass failed in 'his part. One by one
The conspirators were gathered in, and
the climax came when Daniel OReilly,
an attorney prominent in the Thaw
case, was convicted of receiving stolen
goods because of his efforts 10 return
the stocks for a reward. Every man
connected with the robbery has been
caught and most Of them have con-
Sessed. All Of the stocks have been re-
covered.
It was thought that Yates might also
confess, but ne told Detectives Leigh
and Russo, who brought him back from
California. that they had nothing on
him" but the testimony Of self-con
ifessed crooks and the testimony of
"gink" who was so old that he Ger
'tsinly could not identify him.
When Aaron Bancroft took the stand
yesterday Yates scanned him eagerly
and his face fell. In spite OF his
Eeighty-flve years Mr.. Bancroft is Wig
orous and Is still engaged actively in
business.
"Thst 10 the Man. Say. Broker.
That is the mani" he cried IN a voice
that could be heard all over the room
las he pointed to Yates. That is the
ltail man who ran me down. The one
who was with him was shorter.
would know him anywhere"
For fully an hour Clark l. Jordan,
counsel for Yates, tried to shake Mr..
iBsncroft's Identification. Mr.. Bancroft
was not only persistent, but he was
wary, and kept sharp lookout for
iasestions whose answers might be in
terpreted by the jury TO his disad-
vantage
Harry Barrett. the accountant who
turned traitor 10 his former employer
because Of resentment over his dis
lcharge. told Of his part IN the robbery.
He has been indicted and has signified
his willingness TO plead guilty George
Bancroft, Aaron Bancrofts son, who
discovered the theft, also testified
yesterday.
To-day Frank Plass, another OF the
conspirators who has turned states
evidence, will take the stand, as will
Charles Ross. Ross was Yates's I'm
mediate partner in the crime. It is al
legged. He was caught In Winnipeg
several weeks ago as ne was trying to
dispose Of three hundred shares OF
Shelters which his suspicion of his
companions had led him to steal when
the rest Of the securities were placed in
the package which O'Reilly was TO re-
turn 10 the owners for q reward.