New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-16
Smudge on Pane Only
CleW Found in Fifth
Avenue Crime.
HILDENBRANDT'S SON
HATED BY PEDLERS
Tried to Drive Them from Dis
trict-Prisoners Held for
Similar Burglary.

Remote clews were avidly snatched
yesterday by the scores Of detectives
searching for the burglars who muir
dered John Hildenbrandt at 1446 Fifth
Avenue on Saturday evening. Two
youths, against whom there is no evil
dence of completely in the Hildebrsndt
case, were arrested for a burglary COM
mitted last January because it bears
some resemblance TO the crime in the
Fifth Avenue house.
The prisoners are Herbert Wheatley,
seventeen, Of 1913 East 12Sth Street.
and Arthur French. nineteen, of 81
East l20th Street. They were arrested
by Detectives Riley, Finan and Disch-
ley, who named as complainant Mrs.
Julia Elias. Of 81 East 120th Street.
Mrs. Elias's home, like that Of the
Hildenbrandts, was on the top floor OF
the house. 1t was entered while she
was at home, the burglars cutting out
a pane of glass from a window. When
they discovered her the burglars are
said to have attacked Mrs. Elias with
out hesitation, beating her unconscious
with the butts of revolvers. No charge
of assault, however. is made against
Wheatley and French.
Finger Prints on Window.
Both men were taken to Headquar-
tiers. The detectives also took the
pane of glass which had been cut from
a window of the Hildenbrsndt home. 1t
bore several smudges. which were de-
veloped into blurred finger prints. IL
was said that the imprints on the glass
were not the same as those taken of
the finger tips of the two prisoners.
Wheatley and French have been un-
der suspicion of the burglary IN Mrs.
Elias's home for some time. They were
once arrested and discharged, Mrs.
Elias becoming hysterical and falling
TO identify them at Headquarters.
Their arrest at this time is taken TO
mean that the police persuaded Mrs.
Elias to try again to identity them
that they might be held and ques-
toned as TO their possible acquaint-
ance with any men desperate enough
to have committed the Hildenbrandt
burglary.
Inspector Cray and Acting Captain
Cooper, of the Fourth Branch Detec-
tive Bureau, have given orders TO
slight no detail in the search for the
murderers. They have resolved that
the Hildenbrandt murder shall not go
unsolved as did that of Moses Goot-
man, another retired merchant Of Har-
lem, who was surprised by burglars
and killed several years ago.
Detectives from the Third and Fourth
branches were sent out. Some lounged
into the resorts Of Harlem's thugs and
lent attentive ears 20 any gossip OF
blood-stained clothing or recent Jobs
A good description of Mr.. Hidden
brandt's watch was obtained, and strict
inquiries were made IN various shady
quarters II is said most of those 70
whom Mr. Hidenbrandt's sssailants
might try to sell the watch have been
sufficiently impressed with the ear
nestness Of the search TO render dis
posal of the timepiece wellnigh impos-
sible without detection.
Pedlers His Enemies.
Mr.. Hildenbrandt was ffty-eight
years old and had retired from bust
ness. Evidence of a violent struggle
was found Furniture had been upset
and curtains torn. His body bore many
bruises and several teeth had been
knocked out. The revolver which sent
a bullet through his heart was held so
close that his clothing was burned
Neighbors told the police that they had
heard a shot about o'clock. II was
not until after II o'clock that Mr.. Hill
denbrandt's daughter Sophie discov-
cred the tragedy.
John Hildenbrandt. jr., son Of the
burglars victim. is one of the found
ers of the Harlem Merchants and
Taxpayers Association and an ardent