New-York tribune., 1920-02-11
Dinner Burglar
Faces Victims
From Jury Box
Forster Holds reception"
in Court and Endeavors
to Aid Those He Robbed
in Recovering Valuables
Wealthy Women Quiz Him
Prisoner Voices Regret on
Being Told He Scrapped
Servant Girls Brooch

Charles Forster, whom the police call
the dinner burglar" because Of his
rcnchant for robbing flats and apart
mcnts while tenants are dining out,
held an impromptu session for twen-
ty-four Of his victims in Judge Wad-
hams's courtroom, General Sessions.
yesterday
You may take a seat in the Jury
box, and any one who wishes to in
tervlew you about his missing property
may do So" Judge Wadhams e told
Forster, who has pleaded guilty to
burglary and was to have been SEN
tened yesterday. Sentence was post
roned until next Tuesday, so that
Forster's victims might get his help in
recovering their property
Many Question Forster
Forster, from his seat in the Jury
box, calmly answered the Inquiries of
all comers. In addition to the TWENTY
tour victims, ranging from women of
wealth and professional men to serv-
ants and domestics. who took the stand
and gave testimony of Forster's pro-
fessional skill, three pawnbrokers and
several detectives testified against the
thief
One by one, Forsters victims stepped
up TO the jury. box and asked his aid
in obtaining their property. He is said
to have stolen about 100000 worth of
Jewelry, money, clothing and other
vauables. Much of it was recovered
when detectives seized nine suitcases
and trunkload of loot in his home.
"l'm very sorry" Forster told a
servant from whom he had stolen a
small diamond brooch. "The fact is I
broke that up and sold it. l know it
may have been valuable to you, but
the fact is | have to sell those things
for almost nothing. We get very little
tor such things, and have to keep steal
ing al the time to make both ends
meet"
Miss Maria Won Aim, of 156 East
Seventy-ninth Street, reproached For
stcr when he told her that several arti-
eles stolen from her were among the
valuables he had scrapped.
One woman claimed a diamond ring
which Forster had given his sweet
heart, who was in court and whose
name was withheld. The thief main
tanned ~ioutly that he had bought the
ring year ago.
Money Is Returned
Eight persons from whom Forster
had stolen small sums of money rang
ing from 81 to $65 were given back
thelr cash from a roll containing S195.
This was found on Forster when De-
tective Frank E. Deishley arrested him.
Forster was unable to give any en-
couragement to Mrs. William R..
Maloney, who asked his help in get
ting back between $4,000 and $1,000
worth of jewelry he stole from her
home in 829 Park Avenue. Mrs
Maloney's husband, lawyer. was in
strumental in getting Forster to help
his victims obtain their property.
Finally, Judge Wadhams had to ask
Forster to retire to the prisoners pen
at the rear of the courtroom, in order
that another case might go on.
Mrs. Robert j. Collier of 927 Park
Avenue, whom Forster robbed twice,
took the stand against him. Charles
Sabin, Of Oil Park Avenue, was an.
other victim listed as a witness. He
was not called
Other victims of Forster's adroit-
ness were S. Corinne Johnson, 1856 East
Seventy yninth Street; f. G. Anthony
103 East Eighty fourth Street; Minnie
Monahan, 967 Park Avenue; Della
Pennor, .967 Park Avenue, and Dr.
Bernard Robbins, of 103 East Eighty
fourth Street.