The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17
TRAP
MAN OFFERING
CARUSO GEMS
Katherine and Charlotte
POillon Plant Dictograph
in Rooms for Detective.
DETECTIVES SEIZE HIM
Harry c. Toback, the Pris-
Oncr, Says His Talk Was
All Bull
CACHED IN BALTIMORE
Women Sought the $4,000
Reward by Giving Tip to
the Police.
DETECTIVES SEIZE HIM
CACHED IN BALTIMORE

An arrest which the police believe
! may lead to the solution of the mys-
terry surrounding the theft of the
Caruso Jewels last June was made last
| night by detectives from Police Head
quarters.
| A man who said he was Harry c.
| Toback, 80 years old. salesman Of
973 Dumont avenue, Brooklyn, was
| locked up at headquarters on a tech
nical charge of larceny in which the
amount is named as 100000. The ar
rest Of Toback followed two days Of
investigation and eliminated in dra-
matte scene at the apartment of the
Poillon sisters, at 226 West Ninety
seventh street. where dictographs had
been installed and an elaborate trap
laid for catching the alleged robber.
| Last Thursday afternoon Katherine
and Charlotte Poillon, one OF whom. the
! police say. Is known as Mrs. Smith,"
went TO the ofsces of the underwriters
who insured the jeweiry of Enrico Ca
ruso and his wife. The total amount of
| jewelry missing due to the robbery at
| Southampton Is, according to the latest
estimate, $4,000 worth. The sisters
said that they believed they were in
! touch with the man who had at least
part OF the jewelry and that they. IN
the interests of justice, were willing to
assist the authorities to capture him.
Walks Into Police Trap.
| The company assured them. the police
say, that II all the missing jewelry
was recovered they would be given the
reward Of $4,000, or reward in pro-
h portion to whatever amount might be
recovered.
10 The underwriters Instructed Thomas
| J. Corrigan, head OF the detective agency
which bears his name. to follow up the
womens story. Corrgan saw Assistant
| District Attorney Richard c. Murphy
and the police. who helped him arrange
TO put two dictographs In the Poillon
| apartment. One instrument was placed
behind the portieres, the other under
/ the bed. Wires were strung to a por-
! ter's closet on the roof, where double
! batteries were attached. The machines
were thoroughly tested and on Friday
! hight. NAtu tOpfhSn itid appointment
/ with the sisters. everything was pro-
| nounced ready.
| When the man came he offered 20 sell
some jewelry. which, ii Is alleged. he
described as part Of the Caruso loot. 4"
He said they could have 1t for a bargain
| If they paid cash. The sisters made an
appointment for him to call again at 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
| Detectives stationed themselves on the
ioof OF the apartment house early yes
terday morning. and when 4 o'clock came
there was quite a squad. including Corri-
gan and his assistants. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Murphy and several 9TH
ers.
Toback arrived on time and was ad-
mitted to the apartment He Is said by
the police to have stated he had $45, 300
worth of the Caruso diamonds which he
would sell for $780, 900 cash. The set
tings, he said. had been melted.
Questioned further by the sisters.
Toback said the diamonds were in a.
hotel in Baltimore. He suggested that
they go TO Baltimore with him on the
2 o'clock train mex; Thursday, and they
agreed. As Toback stepped out into the
hail carrying a large salesman's case he
was met by Detective Henry J. Porter of
headquarters. Porter told him he was
under arrest.
..Au Bull." said Prisoner.
Toback insisted that Porter show him
his shield and then asked why he had
been arrested. The detective told him
! that Il was on account of his connection
| with the Carrso jewelry. Toback was
noignant. The detective then mentione
the dictographs and said that his entire
conversation had been overheard. To-
hack closed up like a clam.
The suspects own automobile. pretty
l'ttie coupe was used to take him to
roiice Headquarters. Assistant District
Attorney Murphy talked to him for sew
cal hours and he admitted, the police
say, all Of the conversation which the
detectives heard on the photographs.
However, he insisted that II was ali
bull"
THE whole thing" he said, was
simply n salesman's scheme to sell mer-
| chandise. i didn't have the diamonds
| and knew nothing about them. / wanted
! to sell them $4,000 sable coat for
} s25,000 when l got them TO Baltimore"
I In his conversation with the wonren,
according to the detectives who listened
in. Toback talked giibly OF diamonds.
speaking Familiarity OF their size. color
and weight.
/ Toback admitted TO Mr.. Murphy, the
police assert. tnat he was arrested once
! and convicted In the Court of Special SEES
! sions for copying trade lists At one
| time. he said. he was a Justice of the
, Peace at Union Hill. N. j. Toback
claimed an acquaintance with Attorney
I General Palmer, Justices Dixie and Jay
| cox and other persons of prominence.
| He will be arraigned In West Side Court
this morning and the police Will request
| that he be remanded for forty-eight
hours until they can check up on his
story.
| Tho Greenbrier. " wonderful Autumn days.
/ nn,t nath