New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-03
Young Beck, Caught, COnfeSSeS
He Alone Committed $780,
900 Jewel Robbery.
IMPLICATED SALESMAN
Confronted by Latter, He Weeps
and Retracts-Gems in Va
lise Checked at Station
Found Almost Intact.

firm. who jumped from window OF
Police Headquarters, where he was to be
examined regarding the theft of 100000
worth of jewelry, was found in Ruther-
ford. n. j., yesterday and surrendered
TO the Burns Detective Agency He
promptly confessed taking the jewelry
and named Henry a. Kirby. secretary
and head salesman of the firm, as an
accomplice, but subsequently retracted
this portion of his confession and de-
clared that he alone was guilty.
The valise in which the jewelry was
carried from the store at No. 54 Fifth
avenue last Friday night was recovered
late Tuesday night in the checking room
of the Pennsylvania Railroad at 33d
street and Seventh avenue.
Becks confession was first made in the
office of the Burns Detective Agency in
the Woolworth Building. in the presence
of Assistant District Attorney George L.
Medalie. When taken to Police Head
quarters by Captain Tunney, of the sec
ond division of the detective bureau. he
repeated the story told to the Assistant
District Attorney to Deputy Police Com
missioner Dougherty. Then Henry A.
the Udan & Ballou establishment, was
called into the room and in his presence
Beck told the story for the third time.
Kirby sat less than five feet from Beck.
Retracts His Charge.
Frederick Oliver Udall and William
Barthmann, members of the firm, were
then invited into the Commissioner room
and Beck was asked to repeat what he
had told previously. Looking toward
Kirby, he smiled, arose, and with his
right hand extended offered it to the Sec
rotary, saying: I've got to be man.
can't do this sort of thing. You had
nothing TO do with 1t. l am sorry" The
men shook hands, after which Beck sat
down and said he lied when he said that
Kirby was his accomplice.
Beck told the Deputy Commissioners
then that the robbery was his own job
He said he learned the combination of
the jewelry safe last summer 1t had
been given TO him, he declared, by
Arthur E. Taylor. another employe Of
the firm, who lived in Flushing. Long
Island
ION Friday night" he said, II con-
cealed myself under the stairs leading to
the cellar Of the store, and when all had
gone out l went TO the chest in the front
of the store and opened IT, 1 carried all
Of the trays containing the tewelry TO
the private Office of Mr.. Barthman, in the
back of the store. and emptied them into
the vallse, which / had purchased and
kept under my o-esk. In IT was quantity
OF remnants of broken lots Of jewelry
which had been brought 10 be repaired
and was what was left after the repair
work was done. After emptying the
trays l carried them TO the cellar and
threw them on a pile.
Il did not set the fire in the cellar and
cannot account for II. 1t may have been
started from an electric light wire which
some Of the men had rugged up. I did not
smoke while in the cellar nor did use
candle. l got light from the regular cleo
trio light in the cellar II was between
7:15 and TAO o'clock that left the store.
going out Of the front door, From the
store I went to the Pennsylvania Railroad
station and checked the bag. That night
] went TO Palisade Park, coming back to
the city when the park closed. / walked
TO Central Park and slept on bench all
night. 1 awoke on Saturday morning
about o'clock and went TO my home,
No. 355 West Nth street. The next morn
ing Saturday 1 had headache and re-
ported sick
Mailed Check TO Himself.
II inclosed the check for the valise in
an envelope addressed 10 myself at the
general delivery, General Postofice l
had intended to go there some time and
get IT, Monday l went to work and dur
ing the afternoon was called TO police
headquarters. While being examined by
Detective Cassassa l jumped from the
window"
Commissioner Dougherty did not ask
him why he had jumped out Of the win
dow. bat I'm answer 10 the same question
made by Raymond Burns ne said ne had
been kicked In the shins by Cassassa, who
also slapped him in the face. In the
presence Of Burns and three other wit
nesses. Beck said HE gave me a paper
and told me to sign it. l asked to see
what It contained and he threatened me
by making gestures unless / wrote my
name on it. / refused and he rlapped
my face until my nose bled. When Cas-
sassa was called 10 the door by some one
l saw my chance TO jump out of the win
dow. which l did"
Continuing in his last confession TO
Dougherty. Beck said: after ! succeeded
in getting away from Headquarters
went direct to my cousins, Edward Har-
rison. No. rs Chestnut street. Ruther-
ford. n. J. Last night my uncle. former
Captain Burns, Of the Fire Department,
came over with me and persuaded me TO
come back TO New York and surrender
myself"
George Spencer, head Of the special
policemen at the Pennsylvania station
notified the police Tuesday night that
bag answering the description OF the one
In which the jewelry was carried away
was checked at the station at Sol on
Friday night Acting Captain Jones went
TO the station late on Tuesday night and
there found the valise and all Of the miss
ing jewels.
In the bag also were found pieces OF
iewelrv which are the remnants OF re-
pair work done at the store and which
Peck confessed to have been stealing
since June 1. The only article or jewelry
missing was a handsome diamond ring
which he later said he had given to a
friend. His reason for not wanting to
keen II. he said, was the fear Of having
any evidence on him in case OF being
arrested