New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-03
Two Robberies High in
House Credited to
Phantom Burglar
POLICE PUZZLED
BY HIS METHODS
Upper West Side Also Wis
tied in Four Places by
"COarser" Workers

The phantom burglar beat New
Years Day back to New York by twenty
four hours. To only few was it given
to welcome him. The most cultured
crook that ever encouraged profanity
among the men of the Fourth Branch
Detective Bureau chose for his hosts
Charles Henry Meltzer, a critic, and
John B. Laing, Of 476 Central Park
West.
Neither realized the distinction that
had been bestowed upon them until
Sunday morning, when Mr.. Meltzer
awoke and found that his trousers had
deserted him. Muffled sounds from the
apartment above indicated that Mr.
Lsing was also hunting industriously
for his missing pants.
No heartiness could be discerned in
the manner with which the police greet
cd the news of the elusive night riders
return. For almost year they had en-
loved relaxation from the Utterly futile
work of trying TO catch him. Eleven
months ago, after completely demoraliz-
ing apartment dwellers on the West
Side, the phantom disappeared. Since
then detectives have prayed feelingly
that he had met with some harsh judge
who had sent him up for life.
Four RurgIaries Committed
And now the phantom burglar, who
skips in his stocking feet from window
ledge to window ledge, who never
breaks his way into an apartment, who
disdains the use 0f jimmy or other bur-
glar tools, and who mas been seen only
once during his working hours, and then
was not recognized, is back on the job.
-Four burglaries were committed on
the upper West Side on Saturday and
Sunday nights. Only two of these
hear the trade mark of the prodigsl.
or course, the police moan. he had
70 choose New Years time. when the
citv was overrun by burglars and auto
thieves. for his return. So many crimes
were committed to welcome IN 1917 that
Il is impossible for detectives to give
the night rider that amount OF their
attention which his talents deserve
How the phantom entered the Meltzer
and Laing apartments no one knows.
While Mr.. Meltzer was trying to re-
member when he had last seen ms trou-
sers their maid knocked at MS and his
,yife,s door. TO ask them whether they
had left p bureau drawer in the dining
room. -. .ho bead
of NJ and Mrs. Meltzer's beds. AS
tbe maid spoke both looked at me
bureau A drawer was undoubtedly
missing. and it was the drawer IN wnleh
Mrs Meltzer kept her jewelry case.
Rut the jewelry case was there no
loroer When the couple rushed out
to The dining room the drawer stood
On tho table, and its contents were
I;horaIlv distributed over the floor. 1t
was while helping to pick them up that
Mr Weltzer recovered his trousers.
These had been draped around the legs
of the dining room table. The burglar
had evidently festooned them win care
Ne is at soul an artist, Mr.. Meltzer oe-
cIares. for the trousers did not reaIlze
him a cent Their owner keeps all his
money in his coat. 49,.
When she had satisfied herself tnat
the iewelry case had disappeared, MIS-
Neltzer sat down and began TO calcu-
late her losses, while her husband tele-
nhoned for the police. Her gold locket
and chain, her diamond ring, her
iewelled bracelet-sll were gone. But
IN. greatest loss Of all was an ancient
Eqvptian ring. given to her husband by
the great Rodin.
Great was the mourning IN ths
Meltzer household until the jewel box
was found tucked away behind the radi-
ator. and in it was the ring. Every
thing else had been taken. The ring
which is priceless, apparently had been
discarded as old and of no value.
Entrance a Mystery
The Meltzers can no more tell how
tho nhantom entered their apartment
On the fourth floor than can Mr. Lsing.
The window on Mr.. Meltzer's fire es-
cane was locked. So was the Lsings'.
No one had tampered with the lock on
the Meltzer's front door. The Laings
had forgotten to put up their chain
wben they went to bed, and the burglar
had paused in his labors TO safeguard
them and himself by putting it up for
them.
MIR. Laing also found his trousers
swathing the table legs. and remem-
bered with a sudden quslm that he had
left a wallet containing $40 in their hip
pocket. This died away when he
grasped the garment and felt its vel
come bulk still in his pocket, and re-
turned much more acutely when he dis