Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-12-29

One of the biggest robberies in the
history of Perth Amboy was perpe-
trated between the hours of last
night and Z this morning when large
vault in the office of Plant No. l, Ros-
sler & Hasslacher Chemical Company
was forced open and valuable ores,
both refined and unrefned, said to be
worth from $4,000 to $4,000 were
stolen, Detective Sergeants Lawrence
A. Long and John A. Huff We're as
signed to the case this morning by
Chief OF Police Patrick j. Burke.
The estimate of the loss was pure
ly approximate, Jean Dubois plant
manager of the Roessler 81 Hassla-
cher Chemical Company, stated when
questioned concerning the robbery
this morning. He stated that although
some of the platinum had been re-
fined and was pure there was platl-
mum salts and ores stolen which also
contained platinum, the degree OF
which had not been determined.
The first reports of the robbery had
1t that pure gold and platinum valued
at $4,000, had been stolen by the
burglars, but Mr.. Dubois denied mat
any gold was in the vault or s-olen.
The estimate of SIS, 900 he said, was
too large, he estimating the loss at
from $4,000 to $4,000, although
there was possibility that it may be
moro if it is learned that the ores
were unusually rich in platinum.
The gold and gold ore, 1t was
learned this morning, are kept in
vault separate from that which was
entered during the night, and TINS
accounts for none of it being taken;
The thieves apparently were Wel
aware Of the fact that the platinum
was worth more than the gold as
they did not touch the vault contain
ing the gold of the company.
1t is the general belief that the
robbery was committed by more than
one man, who apparently knew at
what time the Waterman made MS
rounds as the Watchman's time clock
showed that he visited the Office at
the usual hours throughout the night
and at no time found anything out OF
the ordinary in the office Which
would make him suspicious that
everything was not as 1t should be.
Upon once opening the large door
| of the vault, the thief or thieves
could have entered, closed or almost
closed tho door behind them, 1t would
| have been practically impossible for
| one on the outside to know that any
| one was within.
| The findings of the detectives and
plant officials 'his morning would in
| dicate that the men took their time
| with the work endeaVorlng to drill
| the watchman was away and then
possibly hiding during his visit, II
| their work could not be completed
| between his visits.
There was no disorder In the Of
flee. the burglars being careful to
hide away their tools and all evidence
that a robbery had been committed.
Not until the office was opened for the
lday at o'colck this morning was the
theft discovered. Then the plant Of
flcials were notified and the police
were gotten in touch with.
| Upon arriving at the office Of Plant
, No. l this morning Detectives Hun
Iand Long, together with Mr.. Dubois
and other officials of the plant, con-
Quoted minute investigation.
| The investigation showed that ac-
cess to the office had been secured
from q window In the rear of the
| building. The office is located on the
| ground floor and II was found to be
an easy matter for a person standing
on the ground in back of the Office
! to force open the window.
| No iron bars or grating covered
the window to prevent such an en-
trance and the window was easily
J timmied open by the robbers. Upon
! getting into the oIIice the work Of
getting into the large vaults was ap-
parently Immediately begun.
The men had apparently ucclued nr-
fore entering the Office on their plan
Of action-whch was to drill hole
i'm the crack when the vault door met
the side of the vault and then pry
Iopen the door This work was started,
as hole partly bored proved this
morning but the steel was presumably
Itoo thick to make possible any speed
and this spot was forsaken.
The working of drilling another hole
In a different part of the vault was
then started and this was also futile
as the steel door was either too thick
or drill not large enough to war
rant the making of any speed.
The intruders did not attempt to
bore near the lock and force 1t but
next decided to work on tho hinges
lTheir efforts were awarded with sue
cess and soon they had pry working
on the hinges and finally the door was
forced open. The prying of this door