Evening journal., 1919-09-29
ROBBED OF $1,000
.ON night AUTO ride
Thief Grabs tiudson's Roll
While He is Paying
Fare
$1,000 OF MONEY
IN BRANK'S' CELLAR

Michael Brsnk, aged p years, Of No.
22J Poplar street. and Lea Diamond
were held under $1,000 bail In City
Court today, for a further hearing on
Wednesday, on charges OF larceny.
Diamond is also charged with operat-
ing an automobile for hire without a
license. The men were arrested yes
lerday by Police Ofilcers Blackiston
and Gold within six hours after Alonzo
r.. Hudson, OF No. 200 South Union
street, had reported his loss OF $500.
The arrest OF the two men is held
by police officials TO be one OF the
quickest important captures in the his
tory Of the department, and while
they had but a slight clue TO work on,
the events that followed showed splen-
did cooperation on the part OF the
police
According 10 the police. shortly be-
fore o'clock sunday morning, Hudson
and John Bownas, OF No PA South
Union street, reported TO them that
man had leaped from a taxicab they
had hailed at Seventh and French
streets and grabbed Hudsons wallet,
containing $500 Hudson said he was
IN the act Of giving Diamond a one
dollar bill i'm payment for auto service
Diamond had offered 10 take him and
BOwnas home
Diamond, according TO Hudson, was
reluctant about starting TO follow the
man who grabbed his money, and when
he did start in the car with the two
men. Diamond drove the machine in
the opposite direction from that taken |
by the thief. Diamond was with the |
two men at the police station when |
hey made complaint OF the robbery, |
lut denied knowing who the man was /
hat stole the money. Diamond said |
ne picked the man up along French
street lie also informed the police
hat the man wore a derby hat and
light clothes.
The police placed charge OF
operating an automobile for hire with
mt license against Diamond and he
vas released
Several hours later, according 10 the
lolice Diamond called them by phone
nd said that the man who took Hud-
On's money was Brank. With this in
ormatlOn a search was Instituted for
frank and IL was learned that he had
ired a taxicab at French street station
o take him to Philadelphia. The police
( that city were notified of the case
nd asked to look out for Brank's ar
ival there.
Nothing more was heard OF Branks
n0vements untll Z o'clock yesterday
morning when House Sergeant Tucker,
Who had not heard OF the robbery, was
JAILED by a taxicab driver at Twenty
linth and Market streets and asked n
le was going in town. Sergeant Tucker
aid he was and the driver stopped and
he Sergeant took a seat alongside
3rank.
When the officer reached the station
Iouse and heard Of Brank being wanted
N a charge Of robbery he related his
Xperience in the taxi and Patrolman
iOld was sent after the cab. lie located
he machine and in it went to Brank's
ouse where the man was arrested.
According TO the police Brank con-
'ssed after his arrest and told where q
400 OF the money had been hidden in a
he cellar Of his home. This sum was |
by Patrolman Elijah John
m who had been detailed on the case :
Y Police Captain Kelleher I
Joseph A. McNey a licensed taxi-cab c
AfNA NiAh hAIhihti VI Aiit ialltuctu I
lXi-Cab Drivers Association today Y
ade statement in which he points v
1t that the men accused OF robbing
udson, were not licensed taxi drivers. I
r. McVey's statement follows:
] wish TO state that neither one OF the 4
cused men were licensed drivers or
vners and had Mr. Alonzo E. Hudson
oked for the red tag and number I
hich all licensed taXi-cabs Of our city
I'VE attached to them he would not
I'VE been robbed The two men evil
ntly violated the ordinance passed by
'uncil, June 10. 1919. but which has
It been strictly enforced. y
Il should be lesson in the future to d
persons using taxicabs TO see that /
e cab has a red tag and remember the Z
Imber in case OF Overcharges or lost "
ticles. Our association would like to J'
e Council repeal the ordinance OF ~
ne ~, 1919. and pass the ordinance
lich The association had drawn up un- A
r which license would only be given y
men qualified TO have such license r.
d to be issued by and through the X
lice department. The police know
10 is who in the taxi business but
We net any grounds 10 work on now.
such an ordinance was passed riding p
taXicbs would be as safe as attend VI
church, and our association would Dt
e to see such an ordinance enacted" 81