New-York tribune., 1920-07-05
Mrs. Moeller, Bound and
Gagged In Hotel Room
In San Francisco Loses
Jewels and Nj oney
Loss Is Estimated
AT About $4,000
Registered $4,000 In
Gems To Be Sent Home
Just Before the Holdup


Nc,O York Trbuncs Direct Leased Wirc
Ser,Cc
SAN FRANCISCO, July 4.-Mrs. C..
Z. Moellcr, of Brooklyn, travelling
companion Of Mrs. John +. Hylan, wife
of the Mayor of New York City, who
is attending the Democratic National
Convention, was bound and robbed of
several thousand dollars worth of jew
elry in her room at the exclusive Fair
for trip through Canada before re-
mount Hotel at o'clock tonight.
Two hours later Mrs Moeler left
with Mrs. Hylan and the Brooklyn
delegation on the Kings County special
for a trip through Canada before re-
turning to New York. Mrs. Moeller
told the police she valued the stolen
jewelry at $1,000. Five rings set with
large diamonds and a necklace are
missing. In addition about $40 was
taken from purse lying on Mrs.
Moellcr's dresser
Mrs. Moeller, who has jewels val
ued at more than $4,000, had packed
most of her belongings and had sent
all the other jewels by registered mail
ahead of her before the robber entered
the room.
The theft occurred at an hour when
most Of the guests are at dinner 1t
was several minutes after the intru-
der had left Mrs. Moellers room that
holdup. She gave the police de-
scription of the man who bound her
and stole the rings.
EollOwod Kor +o Do.u T. nre
Mrs. Moeller was in highly ner-
vous state when released from her
bonds, but recovered quickly.
me hold-up man, according to the
hotel officials, must have seen Mrs.
Moeller wearing the rings in the hotel
and followed her to her room, which
was on the third floor.
According TO the story Mrs. Moeller
told the police, man wearing a cap
pulled down over his eyes and mask
entered the room immediately after
her. Drawing a revolver, he demand
ed that she stand still. Going to the
bathroom, he procured towels and then
bound her hands and feet He carried
her into the bathroom, closed the door
and ransacked the room.
Just before he left, according to the
story Mrs. Moller told the police, the
roober opened the bathroom door and
told ner ne would kill her if she cried
out.
Mrs. Moller said she remained quiet
for several minutes and then screamed
The elevator boy heard her cries. At
the same time William j. Burns. head
OF the Burns Detective Agency of New
York, who has room close to the one
occupied by Mrs. Moeller, heard her
screams. The two rushed into the
room and released her.
Burns After Hotel Thieves
Burns is in San Francisco directing
his men in an effort to run down a
gang of hotel men who have been
operating throughout California; The
police late tonight said the descrip-
tlon of the thief given by Mrs Moeller
convinced them he was the same man
who held UP two women in similar
manner in the Palace Hotel about \
month ago.
According to Leroy Rennard, assis-
tant manager of the hotel, Mrs. Moeller
went to her room only a few minutes
before she was discovered by Burns
and the elevator boy.
Mrs. Moeller wore her rings, which
contained enormous diamonds, in the
hotel lobby" MIR. Rennard said "The
holdup men probably saw her wearing
them and followed her to her room
She told us that he pointed a gun at
her and demanded that she go to the
bathroom where he bound her hands
and feet with towels Then he went
through her things, took the rings off
her fingers and demanded that she re-
main quiet.
Mrs. Moeller got good look at him
when he opened the bathroom door.
She gave it to the police and it is the
same man that held up two women in
the Palace Hotel about month ago"
The California Hotel Mems Associa-
ton, Immediately after the Palace
Continued on pase twelye)