Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-09-10
'CRIME TRUST RICH
Fences That Split Truck and
Loft Thieves Loot.
Operations Of Bandits Are Revealed
Six Men Comprise the "Reeelv-
ers'" Trust-Estlmated $5r
100000 Stolen Annually.

New York.-Crime is syndicated in
New York. There is the pickpockets'
trust and the extortioners' trust and
the arson trust, but the biggest OF all
is the receivers trust
six men," said Morris B. Mosko-
witz. assistant district attorney, com
prise the receivers trust It has
been estimated by the Merchants as
ISOLATION that goods to the value Of
100000 are stolen annually from
the piers and lofts of New York city.
A great share OF the stolen stun
passes through the hands of the re-
ceivers' trust They make more
money than any other group OF crime
operators in New York"
That means that they make more
money than any other group Of crime
operators in the world, for New York
is admittedly the richest field. Mr..
Moskowitz did not attempt to COM
part the total graft In the tenderloin
with the Illicit gains of the six little
fences, who handle the goods stolen
from store and warehouse.
But it is safe to say that by com
parison the takings of any other
group In the city are lean as noun
tain bacon" he said. I'VE hear a
great deal about the wire mob Bit
the wire mob only works once in a
while-and then its members scatter
for safety.
The receivers trust works all the
time. 1t is as regular in the conduct
Of its business as II licensed by the
state. You can order stolen goods by
telephone or order goods stolen by
telephone"
Nor did Mr.. Moskowitz try to esti'
mate their net profits. Evidently they
must share their loot literally with
some one of the privileges Of doing
business. Isidor RAIDER, now under
conviction in the Tombs, was one OF
the principal Independent operators
before his fall. RAIDER has been can
did about his business.
Il was fence for fifteen years al
most without interference" said he,
But l didn't make much money, al,
though 1 had $50 thieves working for
me at one time. 1t took too much to
keep the police quiet.
Il had to turn over three of my best
hauls to one copper He split with
them fifty-fifty, and l didn't get any
thing out Of them at all. And there
was a guy who didn't trust any one
He made 'em work where he could
watch them. Any time there was
anything coming off you bet he got
his share"
Mr.. Moskowitz thinks fully $4,000,
900 Of the goods stolen from loft and
truck and piers pass through the
hands of the six little fences" His
Investigations have convinced him
their business is well systematized
They have their lawyers and Their
bondsmen, and their witnesses ready
to respond to telephone call like q
bunch of amateur firemen.
Il was a little bit in doubt about
one man we had under arrest" said
Mr.. Moskowitz But when his case
was called in court knew he was
guilty. There was the trust lawyer
who always defends the trust cases
and the trust detective, who scareS
away or buys OF the states wit
nesses. Later the professionally
weeping mother and the professional
wife and even an innocently profes
sional babe, appear In court AS soor
as l saw that squad / knew l had my
man"
Judge Edward Swami Of the Grim
inal court has long been an interested
watcher Of the crime syndicates here
TT is my belief" said he, that ev
cry form of predatory crime is some
what compactly organized. have re
ferred to the pickpockets' syndicate
for example l think the use of thai
term is justified. There are no board!
Of directors, of course, and no stock
holders. But there is workable or
ganization that is in constant play.