New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-06
Great Numbers of the Lib
crty Issues Have Been
Stolen
Messengers Robbed
Onsuspecting Boy Relieved of
$4,000 Worth in Brolr-
er's Office

An organized band Of thieves has
invaded the financial district Of Man
haitian and robbed brokers, bankers and
Investors of uncertified bonds worth at
least 100000, according to the police
estimate. The great number of Liberty
Bonds in Wall Street is said to have
attracted the thieves.
The biggest single theft occurred last
Thursday, when a respectable looking
young man relieved messenger boy o:
$4,000 worth OF Liberty bonds in the
anteroom Of the Office OF Alexandra &
6urret. bond brokers', Wall street.
Clarence 2. Mears. secretary of the
Cashiers Section Of Stock Exchange
Partners, announced that since the Lib
erty bonds were issued there have been
!nnumerable cases where bonds have
been stolen from messenger BOYS max
similarity of the methods employed in
most of the thefts makes it apparent
an organized band is at work.
Mabon & Co., Is Wall Street, were
the owners of the $4,000 worth of
bonds stolen during the middle of Wall
Street activity Thursday. The bonds
were of the second issue A fifteen
year-old Office boy employed by tho
company was instructed to take them
to the office of Alexandra & Burnct.
The boy entered narrow corridor
which forms the anteroom to the Bro
kerage office and approached the cash
ler's window, which was closed Be
fore he could make his presence
known a stockily built man, about
thirty years of age, smooth shaver ard
wearing glasses. entered and walked
past the messenger toward the door at
the end Of the corridor.
Looked Like a Clerk
busy clerk.
Suddenly turning around, he said
Here, son, give me these bonds" at
the same time reaching for the little
yellow package which the bow held IN
his hand. "Ill take care of them. Who
are they FROM"
The boy surrendered the bonds, ac-
cordlng to his story, and the stranger
walked down the corridor and fairly
bumped into the door, which he seemed
to expect to open. He swore mildly
when he found it locked, walked out
into the hall and entered an adjoining
brokerage Office. The messenger fol-
lowed the man into Tie hall and heard
him shout, Hello, Jack! How is every
little thing?" as he walked in.
Failed to Get Receipt
When the messenger returned to Ma
bon & Co. and was asked for a re-
celpt, which he had not obtained he
was Immediately sent back to Alex
andre & Burnet, only to be told that no
consignment of $4,000 worth of Lib
e,rty bonds had been delivered there
during the day No person answerinc
the description OF the man who had
taken the bonds was employed there.
The police We're immediately notified
and Lieutenant O'Neal, who has charge
OF the "Deadine Squad" began a
search for the thief.
The police are inclined to think that
they are dealing with new ring of
thieves. There was an old hand that
used to operate in the financial dis
trict. but most Of its members are
known to the "Deadline Squad" and
not one Of them has been seen for
some time past
At the Office Of Alexandra {: Burnet
it was explained that the door at the
end Of the antcroom was always locked
The thief is believed to have fingered
IN the last Office until the messenger
left the hall