The Washington times., 1919-09-28


building to start a
Ere without his know.
ing it. Unconseiously
he rehearsed in his
discussion with his
comrades Of the
neighboring buildings the explsns.
tions he would make on the morrow
e his employers, Especially sympa.
thetle with him was the Watchman Of
the big silk warehouse.
But with the coming Of the day
/. and the arrival Of the many employees
and executives who were part Of the
warehouse staff the watchman for the silk warehouse sd
denly discovered he would have serious explanations of
hs own to make. He was abruptly cut short IN his ae
counts Of the happenings Of the ngha big fire to one
side OF his building and street hodup on the other side
by summons to the offices Of his employers
The day force had discovered that during the night
two hundred cases Of the most valuable silks in the ware
house-nore than hundred thousand dollars worth
were missing The watchman was asked to explain on
hs own account how the robbery had been possible
under his very nose"
Of course he couldn't explain
Investigation showed that the two hundred cases. each
weighing many pounds that hosting apparatus was
necessary to them had been lowered to the floor
below There they had BEEN loaded trucks and carted
away Traces Of the huge automobile trucks which had
been used by the thieves plainly apparent in the
streets But they could not be followed for any distance
rs the early morning traffic soon obiterated them.
Carefully the police Of New York In conference with
the representatives Of the Stores Protective Association
every detail Of the daring robbery With the
almost marvellous efficiency Of the great New York Police
Department number Of men connected with the theft
were put under arrest
From each Of these something was learned Of the meth.
DDS that had been employed and of the preparation that
had been necessary IN this investigation the ramfcs-
0ns Of the master criminals organization were revealed
with startling ceaness But Of course none could help
the police reach the master criminal himself
The robbery occurred a night late in July Il was
some time 10 June according TO the placed under
arrest that preparations for the robbery began For
than month the different agents of the master
criminal those who to be entrusted with individual
parts IN the robbery were Fehersed Peced together by
the police from the evidence they have far gathered
the account Of these preparations reads like chapter in
athrilling novel
OF all the silk warehouses IN New York this one which
quite close to the 'front.' where the ships discharge
their cargoe is the likely TO have hand silk stores
Of immense value To the ordinary observer it would
seem impossible for successful robbery
The field agent, the spotter' Of the master Grim.
ins have studied this warehouse in great detail
Plans Of interior must have been drawn and spies
placed among employees for the purpose of discovering
just where the most valuable silks were stored These
spies must have reported the arrival Of the ship bringing
the great cargo from France and already they have
know what floor these cases would be delivered to.
When the plans Of the interior Of the warehouse were
IN the hands Of the master criminal it was then he planned
his emotional barrage." The habits of the policemen
on their beats in the vicinity and those Of the privately
employed night watchmen and private agency patrOmen
had to be studied night after night
Where, under average conditions and circumstances
would the policemen be at such and such hour and
where at the same time, would the private watchmen BET
At midnight for instance the night watchmen all made
Tguar rounds and would be in their different buildings
bent upon ringing their floor clocks. Accordingly they
could not at this especial time be drawn by any
outside excitement But at half past twelve What then7
The watchmen in the buildings would have completed
their II clock rounds and would be the lower floors
Of their buildings, resting in preparation for their
clock rounds Would that not be the proper time for
robberyf'
But how about the pOliee-where would they be?"
The spoilers" discovered that at y 80 the police
way to make them They would at any rate be separated
So ~ 30 was the time decided upon
Then It was necessary choose the right building
which to start fire Plans Of the interior Of this build.
ing also had to be secured spies had to be placed among
Tie employees Of many buildings in the neighborhood
And then the proper spot for the staging of the hold
np had to be determined Both the FIRE and the hOld