The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05

= ONE years ago there was an old
-. woman known very widely as
Mother Mendelbaum. Her pho
tograph was In the rogues' gall
leFy At Police Headquarters. and her
name OF and on during each twenty
four hours vas in the mouth of every
detective between the Battery and the
Golden Gate. Mother Mendelbaum
was a "fence"--not a common. every
day pawn shop fence. but a national
institution.
When n detective went out TO get
Mother Mendelbaum. rs one did every
little while. he made a lot OF work for
himself. but ne did not get Mother
A~endelbaum. Possibly he ended his
quest by lying up in a hospital from a
bullet wound and possibly he ended it
by ending his career as a human
being.
They used TO say that tho Car Of
Russia was not so well guarded As
Mother Mendelbaum. Perhaps that
was 30 and perhaps It wasn't. The
tact remained. however. that year after
year Mother Menjelbaum went on ply
ing her trade and becoming richer and
richer. In the course OF time she
turned the sixty year pos, and became
- rich that her name was a byword
in all the East Side--'Vy. he's az rich
a. Mother Mendelbaum!"
One day three detectives whose
na1ne are as widely known now as
the name Of Mother Mendelbaum sat
around a table In O Bowery saloon and
complained In soft but strong accents
that tho profession was not what ii
once was: in short. they decided that it
Nas going to the dogs.
snow. I'll tell you what It is." said
one Of these men. whose name shall
b Jones. -there amt a criminal in
New York that's worth going after en-
copt one. and she's a woman
who's that?" said Squ!g.
The third detective. whose name may
- vol be Smith, glanced at Squig
With q certain expression OF contempt.
Jones himself took the ragged end of "a
cigar from his mouth. spat upon the
door and said with disgust:
why. you poor fish. wake up"
A light Of intelligence shone IN
sauig's eyes.
"Well. II it's Mother M%endelbaum
you're talking about let me out rish,
now. She amt a criminal. she's a
genius"
Smith and Jones cast their eyes up
and signifled agreement. For the mo-
msnt SQuig had come out Of water md
was NO longer q Ash. There was M
setting around the fact that Mother
Xendelbaum was q genius. Fol a few
minutes there was silence.
sJust the same" Jones burst out
finally, "there Is only one criminal In
New York who's worth going after"
"And getting your neck broke or
sour body punctured. eh?" said Smith.
"Quite right, my man." rejoined
Jones, ''but think Of the glory"
"And l." said Smith. who was not
wholly wanting in a sense OF the
dramatic, IAN the only man In New
York who knows how to get her"
That was the beginning OF the las;
ouest for Mother Mendelbaum. the
most notorious fence New York has
sver known. 1t was not. however, I'M
I'll six months after that the three
detectives. Smith. Jones aud Sauig
had finally drawn their nets and were
prepared to close In on the old woman,
Mother Mendelbaum's shop was N
Essex street. In the year 1880 there
were still fashionable stores In Grand
street, not far away. INC It was not an
uncommon occurrence for fashionably
dressed women to wander Into Mother
Mendelbaum's place. To Judge by the
window display she conducted a bust.
ness In fine gowns. furs and rare silks
An interior inspection showed that She
also dealt in costly Persian rugs. old
silver and bric-a-brac. For tho the.
atrical trade she was a 1eweiler. But
there was no jewelry on exhibition ir
Mother Mendelbaum's store,
"Iet me tell you. Ellen Clegg." SAID
Mother M~endelbaum one evening. "this
Is not a time to go to Boston. It Is
not a time to go anywherc-but t,
c..a-ch."
Ellen CleEg was about ~ years old
good looking, well dressed. a woma oi
tho world. one who could carry herscl
With ease In any place from a Bowery
~ hal, 10 nm opera mouse, she wa,
Irish. New York Irish. and as sharp a.
tie tip OF an Australian stock whip.
The two women We're sitting alon,
IN a little room just back ~ Mother
!Iendelbaum's shop, 1t was q raw