New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-26
FAT P|CKP0CKET GETS
W|LK|E BARD'S SALARY
Steals $3.50 from Hammer
stein Auditor in Crowded
Broadway Car.

John j. Schmidt. an elderly and hereto
fore careful man. who FOR years has been
the auditor of Hammerstein's Victoria
Theatre. at Seventh avenue and i2d street.
yesterday noon swung aboard north
bound Broadway surface car. opposite the
Mutual Bank at SD street and hung on
10 a strap until "A few blocks further on.
he was almost knocked of his feet by
heavy man. who bumped into him.
To tell the story briefly, when Mr..
Schmidt reached the theatre. no further
adventure having occurred. he discovered
that a package containing $3.50, had
been taken from hts left hip pocket. The
money was 10 have been used for general
expenses and the salary of Wilkie Bard.
the actor.
When Wilkie Bard heard Of the loss
and that was quite soon-he rushed 10 the
Office Of Mr. Schmidt and commiserated
with him. and then he rushed somewhere
else and-got "A check
Mr. Schmidt who stands high In the
estimation OF Oscar Hammersteln. who
personally employed him. said he had not
the least idea at the time that the man
who had bumped into him In the car. and
later stopped down 10 pick up his UNI
brella. had picked his pocket The man
apologizeG so fully. said Mr.. Schmidt,
that II seemed impossible TO suspect him.
Mr.. Schmidt further explained that
whenever he came from the bank with
great lot OF money-the salaries OF the
actors and employees OF the Hammerstein
houses. he invariably took along an as
10. ha q
bank only a little money-say like yes
tcrday-he didn't bother with an escort.
The method by which Hammerstein's
auditor was robbed OF the money yester-
day noon is we'll known to the police. For
years. on railroads. elevated lines, sur
face lines and in all crowds, men have
been robbed I'm just that manner. Usual
". the thieves work in couples, one man
distractlng the victim by humping into
him. while the second man picks the
pocket Mr. Schmidt said that his money
was wrapped In a newspaper and crowded
tightly into his pocket.
"I fail TO understand" said he, how
that package could have been removed
from my pocket without my knowledge.
But that is the trick OF the thief.
Mr.. Schmidt reached the bank shortly
after II O'Clock i'm the morning. and drew
the money, In 500, $50 and $50 bills. all
Of which he put into package and
while In the bank. stuffed II into his peck
ct No one, he said, was standing near him
at the time. when he got into the car
many passengers were hanging on to the
s,raps. but he noticed no one in particu-
lar. He had gone only few blocks when
the stout man. Of whom Mr. Schmidt
could give no further description. was
thrown against him. That incident. ne
later said, he did not even recall until
he. discovered that the money had been
stolen. There is no way by which the
stolen bills can be identified.
Employees OF the theatre believe that
some one had marked the time OF day
at which the auditor went 70 and from
the bank What puzzled them, however.
is why the thieves did not touch" Mr..
Schmidt on Friday. when he had all the
salaries of the actors ana employees.
Mr.. Schmidt lives with his family, in
Arlington, n. j.