The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
HOUSE STATE OWNS
STOLEN IN ALBANY
Whole Building Vanishes
From Congress Street in
Rear of Capitol.
SpeciaI D.spotch 10 THE srN.


ALBANY, March ga couple Of men
wearing the uniforms OF the Albany Po-
lice Department we're guarding tonight
the block Of buildings back of the Capt.
toll. which are to be razed to make way
for a State office building, because some-
how some time recently a two story brick
structure at IA Congress street was de-
molished and fixtures, brick and every
thing else that had any value were
carted away.
BY whose authority this was done, II
any was given, who tore down the build
Ing and made off with the loot and
whittier IT went are some of the ques-
tons which the Albany Police Depart
ment has been asked to help answer by
Thomas II. McDonough Of Troy, Gov
Smiths Superintendent OF Public Build
ings.
Several detectives are busy tonight
trying to find a clue that will indicate
the manner in which the building was
RACED and the identity OF those con-
nectod with the job. The value Of every
thing taken from this particular building.
1t Is said, Is not great, but the knowledge
that somebody got away with whole
building right under tho noses of Capt.
tol officials has stirred Albany political
circles.
Police officials do not care TO talk
until their investigation is completed,
but In some circles there was an in
clination to treat the matter as a joke,
1t being contended that mischevous boys,
aided by the wind, were responsible for
the collapse Of the building. which was
substantial but unoccupied structure.
This theory, II is claimed, does not
hold, because the roof and part of the
floors, together with window sashes,
fixtures, &c, are missing. And they are
not buried under the debris, because
! most of the bricks have been carted
away. or either been concealed so they
are not visible to the naked eye.
On one side Of the demolished build
ing. which IL the centre OF. the mystery,
is n large empty building. On the other
! side Is livery stable, whose employees
say tonight they knew nothing about
the building. It is understood they have
been questioned by the police in an effort
TO get a trace OF the time of deed and
| appearance of those who participated
in IT.
Supt. NfcDonoush wasn't pleased when
he heard the report about the missing
| building and he Immediately called upon
his deputy. Patrick II. Mcdonald, who
also took Office a short time ago, to see
that the mystery is uncovered and that
those responsible for tho scandal are
! punished.
Deputy Mcdonald lost no time com
| nunicating with Commissioner Frost OF
tho Department of Public Safety. who
| turned the matter over to Chief Hyatt
| OF the police department The chief
| delegated several OF his best sieuths on
the case and ordered bluecoats to guard
the remaining buildings so no more can
be carted away.
| There We're reports tonight that some
OF the buildings owned by the state. for
the razng Of which bids will be opened
April 2. have been stripped Of bathroom
equipment, plumbing and other things
| o! value. such as stained glass Of beauty
and value, The officials said tonight
they had heard nothing OF such reports
and were concerned at present with dis.
covering who was responsible for the
| disa ppearance of II Congress street
Congress street is n one block alley
back of the capitol. which will be used
| b. the State for the erection of an offic.
| building as memorial to the men who
! fought and died in the war