New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
+ Armed Men Push Long.
shoremen A 8 i de as
They Take Money and
Stroll to Waiting Auto
Workers Forced to Smile
Officials of S.evedore Conn
pany Believe One of the
Band Was Ex-Employec

Records or pay roll robbcrics went
by the boards yesterday when bandits
held uD the cashiers Of three firms and
escaped with envelopes containing ST.
200. The hoid-ups all took place shortly y
before noon, and in at leat one in
stance were characterized by GOODNESS
and daring. In every case the rob-
berries were perpetrated on the door
steps of the firms to which the money
belonged.
Four armed bandits stroIled into
the paymaster's office of the NJ p.
Smith Sons Stevedore Company, on
the pier at the foot of East Twenty
fourth Street, took the pay roll of
$4,000 in sight OF seventy y-fivc husky
l0ngshoremen, calmly elbowcd their
way out through tie gaping and smil-
ing crowd to waiting automobile and
escaped
The hold-up took pace ABOUT II a.
m. David Board, cashier OF the firm.
had arrived at the pier with a satchel
containing the two weeks pay of the
longsh 9remen, who had gathered about
the office to receive their envelopes.
an assistant, with whom he left the
firms headquarters at ll6 Broad Sire It
in an automobile. There were about
20 other workers on the dock at the
time who were unaware of the robbie ~
until it was all over
George Hcldorl, a watchman, and a
Federal customs employee were sitting
IN the office when Board ard Wa sh
entered with the money. While Loard
was removing the envelopes from the
satchel and sorting them on table
ano her auton ob;le drew up near the
pier and four men got out. Going over
to where the men were standing about,
wo of them took their pace near a
window through which the money was
to be passed out to the workers. while
he other two went around to the
cntranc" Of the office, orelied rhe door
and walked in.
Each Draws Two Pistols
two pistols from his pockets. A few
of the long h bremen started to run.
You needn't be afraid" shouted one
OF the bandits. "Just keep quiet and
don m We. Dom r.t vour nand
1T might attract attention. Just look
pleasant and stand wllere YOU are. The
first man that moves IS dead one"
The employees .as de the Office
were ordered to step quietly into an
adJoln ng room and t. door was locked
behind tn m. While he money was be-
r" oc"d by one o. the fur in @
her bag from which Board had re-
moved it several of the | ng howmen.
eeing through the window what was
going on inside, began jesting with the
two thieves outside.
hey're laN.ns our Christmas
said one. ITS wonder they
wcu' Mt give a guy a tip"
"Thats all right kid" rejoired ore
Of he robbers 1--WE amt taking il
rom you. There's more Tor you wnere
h 3 is coming from"
"Hey, how do you get that way?'
sked another longshoreman.
".Never mind. Just smile there, man.
smile, or lll ow your brains out"
Advised to Keep Quiet
AS the two robbers that had been
rside came out with the money. in
u W of the longshoremen. they cried
put, Just keep quiet, fellows, and
lont move from here until we get
'o.' 10 ding their pistols low they
lbowed their way through the crowd
If piece workers many Of whom had
'ale hooks in their hands, and, leis-
lrcly getting into their automobile
iroVe away, with the longsnoremen
ooklng on in amazement.
ne cashier SAYS he recognized one
u the ne hwaS men as longshoreman
Who had been employed by the Sni h
irm up to two days aro. A descrin-
ion of him has been given the polira