The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-12
DRIVERS HOLDUP
MADE GERARD MAD
Ex-Ambassador Not Accus-
toned to Routine Robbery
on Seventh Avenue
sTIRs COPS TO ACTION
Chauffeur Who Steps Into
Cafe Finds. Himself at
Mercy of Bandits.

If Jacques Piquet, chauffeur Tor
James d. Gerard. had not stepped into
a cafe at 922 Seventh avenue yesterday
afternoon after driving his employer to
the Central Park Riding Academy there
would probably not have been much to-
do about the little matter of holdup
that took place thsre. Piquet Innocent
" enough stirred up a very hornets
nest merely by reporting the affair to
Mr. Gerard. The former Ambassador
did the rest. He took the victims OF
the masked bandits to the West Forty
seventh street station to lodge COM
plant, and drove back to the home OF
Frederick A. Wallis, Special Deputy
Police Commissioner, directly across the
street from the looted cafe where he
and Commissioner Wallis nduiBeo IN
some warm remarks.
Mr.. Gerard's interest in the AFFAIR
sprang from both public and private in
terests. Piquet had been robbed OF
gold watch and SIS in cash. The first
Mr. Gerard knew. about the affair was
when Piquet burst into the riding acad-
envy in a hurricane Of excitement with
a story which, as nearly as Mr.. Gerard
could gather from the flow Of French
which Piquet was experiencing, appeared
to be that of a great calamity. Mr..
Gerard tried to calm his chauffeur, and
succeeded in learning that Piquet had
but lately suffered Intimate contact with
the service end of revolvers in the hands
of banditti 1t appeared that the weapons
had been pressed firmly against Piquet
ribs while the masked men snatched
away his watch and rifled his pockets.
Mr.. Gerard acted quickly when he
caught the gis. of the situation. He hur-
ried with his chauffeur to the cafe where
the robbery had taken place. He found
the proprietor. named Potter, and two
! bartende Henry Renwick and Franz
Lyle, carrying on trade as usual. MIR
Gerard learned that Renwick and Lyle
had both lost their money and valuables
| but that Mr. Potter was consratulatins
| himself that the holdup men hadn't
| thought to get at the safe, which hao
| $500 in it.
why don't you report this to the po-
lice? l think it's an outrage said Mr
| Gerard.
whats the use?" said Potter. We're
used to this holdup business. 1t happen:
right along. Last week a cafe two blocks
Gown was cleaned out"
well, I'll see about it IL you won't,
said Mr.. Gerard emphatically. I'm go
| ing to make a report, and you're goint
| to come with me-"
| He piled Potter and the bartender
| irto his big machine and with Piquet a.
| the wheel, now almost becalmed, drove
| to the police station. There the detec
| tives were notified, Mr.. Gerard identihet
| himself and spur was put under TN
notice activities in the neighborhood
4 rf~... mt, apq
at once. suspecting that the gang wal
the same which got $500 from the Hote
| GrenobIe last Wednesday.
What Mr. Gerard said to Commits
sioner Wallis. on whom he called i'm
| mediately was not said loud enough
| to be overheard but the former Am
bassador's gestures were expressive
Suddenly Mr.. Gerard cut the converse
ton short, and crossing the street en-
tered a telephone booth. Whether III
called Police Headquarters could no
be learned. 1t was certain he was yer!
much aroused over the affair.
The neighborhood is a fashionable on
and the report of Mr.. Gerard's crusad
got around shortly. Well dressed gen
tlemen began issuing from the apart
ments and eongregating in the street
and Mr. Gerard spoke to several OF hi
acduaintances there. He said 1t wa
about time the police began to stop tn
depredations. Daylight holdups were
serious matter and the thing seemed t
be getting easier every day. Cops an,
lplain clothes men were thick in the vi
cinity for hours, but no arrests wer
made last night.
Renwick, the bartender. said the fou
men entered together, asked for drinks
and while they were being served dreN
|, | IA chanff9ur.
the only other occupant OF the place a
the time. After searching the thre
men Renwick said. the robbers mad
! oef N motor