The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-12
:. N. Benham,. Ex-Vice
President Of First Bridge
port National, Comes to
Assistance of New York
Man Accused of Robbing
Safe.
Albert II. Gordee, New York
Business Man, Bound
Over to Superior Court,
Alleged to Have Taken
Real Estate Office Funds,

old is a clever criminal as alleged by
the authorities, or is an innocent man
wrongfully prosecuted by the police
as is maintained by Frank N. Ben
ham. retired vice president of the
First-Bridgeport National bank, and
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Annie p. Ben
ham, is a question which superior
court jury must determine.
Firm in her belief that he is inno-
cent, Mrs Benham has furnished
bonds of $1,000 for his release until
the day Of trial and was present in
the city court this morning with
another prominent Bridgeport woman,
following with rapt attention each
line Of testimony.
theft OF STAT from safe in the office
offs George c.. Curtis, an elderly and
vel known resident of this city, who
conducts real estate and investment
agency at Room, 407, City Savings
Bank building, was defended by a
New, York attorney, T. r. Martin,
former district attorney Of Wilkes
Rarrs, Pa.
From the testimony heard this
morning by Judge Frederic Bartlett,
it appears that Gordee, who gives his
residence as Revere, Mass, with busi-
ness offices at 81 West street, New
York, entered Curtis Office yesterday
afternoon and told Curtis that he
wanted to invest $4,000 in mortgages
or bonds. Curtis is an agent for
George M. Chestner & Co., a big con-
Germ dealing in Oklahoma investments.
When Gordee entered the office the
door of the safe was >ajar and large
sums Of paper money lay in one Of
the compartments.
Curtis testified that he discussed In
vestment properties with Gordee, who
stood or sat near the safe-the COM
plainant could not remember which
about 1880 O'Clock. While the CON
sultation was in progress E. s. Har-
grove, friend Of Curtis entered and
saw Gordee talking with the broker.
4Gordee, according to Curtis, put on
i his overcoat hurriedly and said he
had to run upstairs in the building
but would return. in a short period of
: time He failed to come back and
Curtis became suspicious. The latter
went to his safe and found $147 in
bills missing. The money was with
other bills in one pile in the safe, but
only part Of the pile had been taken.
Curtis rushed from his Office to the
depot to watch the New York train
and see if he could find any trace OF
Gordee. Curtis testified he went
through the train, but could not ap-
prehend Gordee. He returned to the
platform where he saw the defendant
standing. Curtis called Railroad Po-
liceman Henry Patrick and demanded
Gordee's arrest.
The defendant is a man OF apparent
education and refinement, dressed in
stylish clothing and has every appear
ance Of a prosperous business man OF
standing.
According to Patrick, who testified
in court this morning, Gordee denied
that he ever saw Curtis in his life and
did not know him. Gordee, however,
was locked up and when taken before
Lieut.. E. o. Cronan demanded that
he be allowed tdssummon his attorney
from New York city The defendant
had a large sum of bills in his pocket,
but Curtis could not specify the de-
nominations of the money which he
had lost.
Attorney Martin Immediately took a
train from New York and came to
this city. It is stated that he is, an
intimate friend of Frank N. Benham
ard arranged for Gordee's release on
bonds furnished by Mrs. Annie P.
Penham, who offered as security
property which she owns in West
avenue.
In his testimdny, Curtis admitted
that another man had been alone in
the room while the safe was open and
that his Office door was not locked. 1t
appears that Curtis has two offices,
going from one to the other in the
course of his days business.
Attorney Martin, in demanding the
release Of Gordee. maintained that the
defendant was a respectable business
man of high standing and qualifica-
tions. The lawyer contended that his
client was one of the men who super
intended the construction sof one OF
Baldwin Locomotive Co.'S faeto-
ries and that he was prominently
identified with a construction and ce-
ment cJmpany.
Judge Bartlett however found prob
able cause and held Gordee in bonds
of 81 900 for the February term of the
superior court. A new bond was fur
nished by Mrs. Benham for the de-
fendant and he left the court building
accompanied by her and his attorney.
AUTO INJURIES PEDESTRIAN
Joseph kryenOwsky of Fairfield