New-York tribune., 1919-03-17
Police Say Samuel Smith
Confessed He Helped
Friend Loot Bronx Safe
Saloonkeeper
Arrested as Aid
Admissions of Prisoners
Said to Agree; Former
Employe Also Is Held

The theft last Tuesday morning of
ses.432 so from q safe in the Cosmopoli-
IAN Bank, S03 Prospect Avenue, The
Bronx, was solved yesterday, the police
say, by the arrest of the paying teller
Of the bank and three alleged accom-
plices on the charge of burglary. All
but $3,4o0 of the stolen money was re-
covered.
Samuel Smith, the teller, and Samuel
Levitt, saloonkeeper. have confessed,
Police Captain Wines, of the 7th Detec-
tive District, asserts. He says Smith
admits he provided Levitt with a key
to the outside door of the bank and
with the safe combination, and that
Levitt owns up to having entered the
bank a few minutes after o'clock
Tuesday morning and making way with
the package of bills.
Smith is twenty-nine years old and
lives at 2462 Valentine Avenue, The
Bronx, with his wife. He has been en-
ployed by the Cosmopolitan Bank for
six years. His salary was $27.50 a
week. The police declare he told them
be was $4,000 short in his accounts.
Samuel Levitt is the same age as
Smith. His home is at 791 Dawson
Street, The Bronx, and his place of
business is at Dawson Street and Long,
wood Avenue.
Two Others Arrested
The others under arrest are:
Abraham Levitt, thirty-6ne years old,
brother of Samuel Levitt, of 1888
Southern Boulevard, The Bronx He is
alleged to have taken the money for
safekeeping from his brother and to
have concealed it in the cigar factory
where he is employed, at 1869 Third
Avenue, Manhattan.
Frank Reynolds, thirty one years old,
Of 1883 Jerome Avenue, The Bronx,
until about three weeks ago assistant
cashier of the Cosmopolitan Bank.
According to the detectives, Smiths
statement involves Reynolds to some
extent, but he stoutly denies completely
in the, crime, and nothing tangible has
been produced directly to connect him
with it,
f6tf
the Morrisania station on charges of
burglary. They will be arraigned in
the Morrisania court to-day.
Although the robbery was discovered
whenshe institution opened for busi-
ness last Tuesday morning, it was not
reported to the police until more than
twenty-four hours afterward. Bank
ofdcias say the private detectives who
we're put on the case at the outset
warned them to keep the theft secret,
fearing publicity might hinder solution
Of the crime. The bank officials con-
strued this to mean they should not
even notify the police.
Inside Job Suspected
In any event, when Captain Wines
and his plainclothes men were placed
On the trail Wednesday they found
themselves confronted with a .baff1inp
mystery. The door Of the small safe
which had been rified was open when
tne robbery was discovered. A larger
safe near by, equipped with time lock
and containing $4,000, had not been
Ampered with. This circumstance ap-
parently disposed Of the theory that
professional cracksmen had been at
Herk. Everything pointed to the crime
having been an inside job.
The night watchman had been on
ou'y until 7 o'clock in the morning.
me day watchman went on at o'clock.
mat the theft had been committed
curing this hour seemed the reason
apis deduction. Investigation proved
.aas every bank employe who would
nave means Of entrance to the bank
"as at home between Z and 8 o'clock.
Inc only workable theory ~emain-
.as' explained Captain Wines, "was
'nst some employe had conspired with
an outside accomplice to steal the
money!
Zach employe Of the bank was Dues
''0ned in turn, but nothing TO throw
sa'p'c'on on any particular one was
a'ss'osed until Saturday morning.
several detectives from Captain
"iness staff were in the bank when
samuel Levitt, who has long been a
aepositor in the Cosmopolitan. walked
- 70 the paying telIer's cage and said
hughingIy: "N '"N'
Joke Proves Bad Luck
Hello, SMITH You still hcr.1 +
p1osed you'd be in Jail before now
"nsn they get you there let me know
'.a III send you some smokes.v
oo'ath Joined heartily in the laughter
ss this biz nj chatting, but the
sssse'iyes laughed last.
'ssn'n few hours they CLEANED the
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