New-York tribune., 1920-03-20
Nicky Coming!
Thrills Court;
Is False Alarm
Nan in Twecds Cap, With
100000 { Bail Bond in
His Pocket, Even Knew
Time Set for s'Surrender"

sN,cky" Arnstein almost surrendered
yesterday.
..@.,lea plot to loot Wall Street of
< opo.ooo in securities set the less mas
.sr.ul minds of large and motley
.,,cnr in the Criminal Courts Building
! .himmying wildly yesterday after
,.an when 8 representative of the New
am,terdam Casualty Company fluttered
!, md announced cmphatically that
sNicky' was at that moment disem-
...t;nr from a train at Grand Central
S,stion. and would make his feverishly
anticipated debu. in Judge Malone's
.,ourt lust as soon as taXicab could
hing him downtown.
The casualty company's represent
..iye. Louis Topper, who wears a tweed
ran listed rakishly over his port eye
and carries an extinct cigar in Cannon
,soua fashion in the opposite corner of
his mouth, declared covincingly that
aNicky's' bail bond of 100000 was in
his TTopper's pocket, and that every
thing was set for the famous fugitive
Knew the Exact Moment
Mr.. Topper volunteered the addi-
tional information that Arnstein was
to be met at the train by his attorney.
Eugene F. McGee, who would escort
him to the Criminal Courts Building.
Mr. Topper even knew the exact mo-
ment at which the dramatic surrender
would take place. Mr.. Arnstein will
be here at exactly 4:10 by the clock"
he said
There radiates from Mr.. Topper
certain fascinating air of mystery. and
his words carried the distinct impress
sion that here at last was a man who
had penetrated the vapors that have
enshrouded the phantom Arnstein, and
that he was giving his listeners what in
uncultured circles is known as the Glow
down" on the situation.
If Mr.. Topper had announced that
the Kaiser and District Attorney Swami
were to engage in a catch-as-catch-can
wood saving bee in the main rotunda
Of the Criminal Courts Building he
could not have created more unfettered
agitation and emotional excitment
than he did when he proclaimed tho
coming of Arnstein.
The routine business of the building
came to an abrupt stop. while case.
hardened attendants. whose frapped
souls were supposed to be thrill-proof
left their stations and focked to the
entrance through which "Nicky" was
scneduled to appear Witnesses in
other cases that were going on cast
their subp9nas to the four winds and
fought with the increasing throng for
. place of vantage.
Word Spreads Fast
The word that "Nicky" was at last
on his way to the building spread
through the city with the fleetness of
bad news. Friends of the fugitive de-
serted the primrose trail up town and
'ommandeered taxicabs to hurry them
% franklin and Center streets.
battallons of reporters with pads and
,encils poised battled with the surgine
hrong that glutted the main entrance
o the building. Hysterical camera men
ought for the best position from which
% make a Photographic record of the
went.
The movie men jammed the sharp
points of their tripods into the feet
01 spectators who were too excited to
respond to physical pain. The men
with the "stil" cameras shinnied up
the phony marble pillars OF the build
ing, while their assistants stood below,
fashlight guns" appraised and ready
Austere officials cast dignity to the
winds and elbowed their way into the
maelstrom with office boys and bell
hops. "Nicky" had made all men equal
for the time being.
The only person whose pulse showed
no signs of speeding up was Assistant
District Attorney john 7. Dooling. His
chrome steel exterior refused to regis
Ter enthusiasm as he heard what Mr.
Topper had to say. In his box score