New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-27
Gao and Bind Statesmen with
Wire. Throw Them Into
Back Rooms-tIauI Nets
More than S400.
ONE WAITS ON CUSTOMERS
Both Places in Columbus Avenue
Plundered Within an Hour-Po-
lice Blame Picture Gang
Get Important Fin
ger Print Clews.

Two Of the United Cigars Company
stores on Columbus avenue were rob5ei
! last night at almost the same time 10y
| the same gang. both stores being en-
tered by three men. In each instance
ne was forced to go into the back room
, and tied with picture wire. In each
store one Of the bandits went behind
/ The counter and waited upon custom
ers. The two robberies nettcd them
more than 500
| The bandits first entered the store At
no. So2 Columbus avenue. in charge II
Nathan Werner OF 80. $50 East 18th
/ street. and got away with 5000 from
the safe and So rom the cash rcgistcr,
after leaving the young salesman bound
| tightly with six lengths of picture wire.
The gang acquired notoriety from this
peculiar method Of binding its victims.
Two other United statesmen have suf-
fcred the same indignity within the
last three weeks. Their stores were at
No. 216 West i2d street and in Eighth
avenue. near i2d street.
Werner was alone in the store short
! IL before 10 O'Clock last night. when
man entered and engaged his atten-
tion at showcase where me oi
pipes was displayed. Then second
man entered.
Werner said afterward. IN descrlo-
ing the case to Lieutenant Carney
that ne looked up to observe the SEQ
ond man. and when he again turned
to his first customer he found Good
| sized gun poked under his nose Wer-
nor obeved a command 10 get out
from back Of the counter.
put Salesman Into Back Room.
The second man showed Werner INTO
hack room, when ahird man en-
tered. and. going back Of the counter
took M the work Of selling goods TO
customers who came in. The hrst Two
members of the party took charge oi
werner in the other room. SIX ieneuhs
of picture frame wire were used 10 'lc
Werner's hands. legs and feet \
handkerchief saturated with a Huid
which the police believed TO be chloro-
form was used for q gag.
| The robbers took a bunch of Keys
from Werner's pocket. one Of the HeyS
opened a safe in the store. From the
safe the robbers got 500 and from the
cash register So - was taken. Then
the robbers helped Themselves 10 the
| hest cigars in the store. and warning
Werner they would stick around for
twenty minutes and Kill him if he made
any ontcry they went out.
Butts Head Against Door.
Werner said he waited a few mo-
ments and then craWled through the
store Ia the front door After he
! hutted his head against the glass Of
the door for perhaps five minutes he
attracted the attention of three negroes.
The negroes tried to remove the
! wire but were forced 10 stop pass
ing taxicab The chauffeur, Andrew
I Hughes. cut the wire with pair
-, miners Then Hughes left Werner
! IN care Of the three negroes. and drove
bte tax, 10 the police station in West
eub street. and several detectives
hastened to the store
Werner described the robbers as being
| :, feet inches To . feet > inches IN
height average weight about 100
mounds. All three wore black overcoats'
n,bue Two wore derby hats and one
|, ,rn eoft hat. They were nineteen
Continued on NTH page fouftn coi"""'