New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-17
BOYS IN CELL REPUD|A1E
BOOK TAUGHT BURGLARY
Two Who Studied in Fiction and
Drama Schools Charge Au-
thorS with "Faklng."
PLAIN loops" CATCH THEM
Shoot Waterman, Loot Stores
of Riches" but Raffies ana
Others Literary Systems
Fail in the End.

1.ouis Koenig and Nathan kosheHe'
sixtccn-vcar-Ulds. and last week pro-
fcsgional burglars" are now mercy
two repentant boys, sharing cell III
the - mbs. To-day they will be ar
rairned rcrore Judge OSulliVan' II
General Sessions, for sentence on d
burglary charge. to which they pleaded
guilty. Yestcrda.. they made com
plete confession to Morris Koenig' AS
sistant District Attorney.
They said they worked IN the daE-
time, and that last winter decideu ~
become professional burglars 20
that end they spent their evenings ioi
weeks in public libraries porting over
books on crime and criminals.
Detective stories came in for share
Of their attention, and after an evening
with Conan Doyle Z. ". Hornung' f.
Phillips Oppenheim or some other an
alyst Of crime they would meet ana
discuss what they hae read.
They would go over In detail every
act of the criminals and decide what
mistakes had been made and how they
themsc yes, were they TO commit the
same crimes. would 60 about 1t TO
avoid detection.
The boys also went to see plays
which hey thought would help III their
education. within the Law and
THE Master Mind" were two OF these
The movies" they scorned as not be-
ing subtle enough for their minds.
No Book on Tombs Found.
There's nothing in it, they told Mr..
Koenig yesterday I'VE were kids
that's all, and we read lot of stun
that gave us the wrong idea. I'll bet
Won If we had read some book telling
how things are in the Tombs we
wouldn't ever have run a chance Oh
being locked up there. Those authors
We now bell We. simply faxed every
thing they wrote"
Koenig liy,: at No. SOC East 9th
street and Koshe", at No. 81 East
10Th street. Koenig worked for the
dental supply house Of d. Sherman x
Co. at No. 80 East 14th street. Kosh-
ellie worked in department store.
BY tie latter part of March they de-
cided heir education had reached the
point where experimental work would
he an advantage. Fo~ a starter they
picked out the place where Koenig
worked-the dental supply house.
March a. according to the con-
fcesion they made to MI Koenig. th"y
provided themselves with masks and
revolvers. The revolvcrs were loaded,
s all the best authorities assured Them
that one should either go unarmed or
prepared to use a revolver.
Although Koenig easily might have
stolen gold, platinum or valuable
dentists instruments in the course Of
his daily work, the boys decided, hay
ing embarked on a career as cracks
men, il would be beneath their dignity
10 stoop to sneak thievery. COnse-
quently, with their masks and revolv-
ers and "jimmies," they accomplished
the burglary in the most improved
style in the dead Of night. They got
about 5000 worth OF dental supplies.
They broke into the dental supply
house Of Benjamin Fireman, at No. lJ2
Delaney street, on April Is, and got
away with 81, 200 in gold and platinum.
1t was for this crime that they were
indicted.
Enboldened by their success. they
decided 10 try Sterns Dental IAbora-
tory. a $4,000 prospect. on May
20 they hid in the hallway outside OF
the laboratory and remained until
darkness came, when they supposed the
last occupant of the building had gone.
AS they emerged from their hiding
place they made some slight noise, and,
10 their great surprise, voice from the
laboratory asked who was there.
Were from Szabo & Beers" replied
Koenig, as they tied their masks in
MACE and seized their revolyers.
Shot Waterman in Excitement.
The man inside. who proved TO be
Samuel Mills, a night Waterman,
opened the door. IN their excitement
and without the slightest intention of
shooting anybody both boys pulled the
triggers Of their revolvers. One bullet
went through Mills's shoulder. He fell
and both boys ran.
Koenig was arrested by Bott in the
New York Public Library, at Fifth
avenue and 42d street. whore he was
completing his education. Beck found
Kosherc at his home. The boys had
even rehearsed the manner which
genuine Raffles would assume when de-
tectives found him. Koshelle played
.hc part in melodramatic style.