The New York herald., 1920-12-25
THIEF INVADES HOTEL
Visitor and Wife in Murray
Hill Hurt in Fighting
RObber, Who Makes
His Escape.
WARNS HOTEL GUARDIANS
Enright Reads Lesson to Pro-
tectOrs of Life and Property
on What to Do if Marau-
ders Appear.

ders Appear.
Central Park was closed to pedes-
trian and vehicuar traffic last mid
night by order OF Richard r. Enright.
Police Commissioner, and Francis d.
Gallatin. Park Commissioner. for the
protection of the public" The park
will remain closed nightly from mid
night until the daylight hours until
further orders" as part of the police
campaign against criminals. The
transverse roads. however, VIII be
open. but they will be heavily policed.
Policemen were stationed at all the
park entrances at midnight. The reg
ular force patrolled the roadways and
ordered every one they met TO leave
the park. The many recesses which
are known mostly TO "spooners" were
visited, and couples that braved the
biting winds were escorted to the
Fifth avenue and Central Park West
exits.
Central Park recently has been the
scene of several crimes. Frank Bar
Dor. 4S years old, of 50 Seventh ave
nue.. was slain by footpads just inside
the Seventy second street and Central
Park West entrance on tho night OF
November %. Mrs. Thomas Edgar,
wife of a physician, OF 766 West End
In
night while riding through the park
in taxcap. The automobile, in which
she was making her way TO the Con r
modorc Hotel. was driven up "A side
path and two men armed with pistols
robbed her of jewelry vailed at sew
eral thousand dollars.
Rendezvous for Criminals.
The police said that recently the park
had been the rendezvous for thieves ana
other criminals during the late hours or
the night. They would meet there. u is
said. and plan their Jobs besides using
the park generally as a Jumping orr
place" for points along the East ana
West Side of the city. Closing OF the
park will relieve a large number Of po-
licemen for other duties during the late
hours OF the night when Mr. Enrights
roundup machinery Is most active. The
armed automobile squads also will have
less roadway to cover The squads. Il
was learned, have been paying particu-
lar attention TO the park in the last few
nights. Commissioner Enright's order
follows
~ 10 n
missioner OF Parks Francis d. Gallatin
and Police Commissioner Enright have
directed that Central Park be closed for
pedestrian and vehicuar traffic from IL
midnight until A. NJ. until further or
ders The transverse roads will be open
TO traffic and will be well policed.
Another daring hotel robbery was at
tempted In the Murray Hill. Robert l..
Ireland, who was associated with SEN
ator Mark Hanna and later With Dan
Hanna in the NJ. a. Hanna Company.
found a sneak thief i'm his room and
fought him off after a desperate strug-
Gle. This crime caused Mr.. Enright to
write a short epistle on the duties Of the
hotel house detective" 1t follows:
"In most Of the large hotels through
out the city there Is a special staff OF
house detectives who are supposed TO
look after the safety OF their guests as
well as the property and Interests OF the
hotel generally These detectives should
give special attention TO suspicious char
acters whS may frequent their hotels
and promptly communicate vita the po-
lice when cooperation is desireu.
There arc usually one or more police
Officers in uniform in front OF OF ia the
immediate vicinity Of all large hote!s.
and there arc many detectives Of this
department always in these iosaliIies.
Members oi this department cannot
be expected TO police the interiors OF
hotels and walch over the SAFETY OF
guests and the varl1Js rooms. but wnen
called upon W. will render every pos
sible assistance
Awakened by sneak Thief.
Afr. ireland and his wife wore asleep
when the sneak thief got into their
room. Mrs ireland was awakened and
saw a man dart into the adjoining room
In which her jewelry box was kept. She
aroused her husband and he leupel out
OF bed and grabbed pistol out of a
dresser drawer lie ran after the thief.
switched on the light in the room and
pointing the pistol at the Intruder de-
mandcd he throw up his hands.
Instead the thief picked up cnair
and hurled it at MIR. ireland. The lat
ter had pulled the trigger % The pistol
several times. but II :niled to ~ Oft
The chair hit him on the chest ana he
slumpcd 20 tho floor Tho tnicf
grapplcd with him and Mrs. Ireland
Joined in the scufflc. during which tho
intruder picked her az bodily and hIr,ed
her toward the door. The man then
rushed out into the hallway and fled
toward the stairs with Mr.. Ireland.
dresesed only IN his paIamas. in pursuit
Mrs. ireland in the meanwhile ,ole-
phoned TO the night clerk and several
Of the hotel employees hurried up