New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
jewelers. Make
5th Ave. Shops
Into Arsenals
Continued from psss one)

Continued from psss one)
4 spector Lahey we're met with the usual
advice to see Inspector Coughlin."
Captain Carey, head Of the homicide
I squad, was out with his men helping in
the search for the bandits who com
mltted murder as an incident TO rob-
/ berry. Captain Duane, in command OF
the fourth detective division, and
Lieutenant Dtsch, in charge of the de-
tectives of the East Fifty-tirst Street
station, had their entire stats concen
trated on the case.
In addition all the expert hunters Of
criminals whom Commissioner Enright
hanished to scattered precincts when
he abolished the branch detective bu-
reau system we're called in to help. The
panic at police headquarters, compara-
bic only to thai among the gem deal
ers, apparently fortified the Commits
sioner TO the point Of tacitly admitting
he made mistake in destroying the
system his predecessor built up.
"But as the day advanced, and this
army OF detectives had TO own Up that
they were bafAed, the jewelers. began
TO turn their shops into arsenals, put
guns in the hip pockets of their clerks
and station businesslike- looking guards
within and s. the street doors. They
weren't courting repetition OF the An
{ OIeWS G W lQSten GI-alr.
AT any OF the exclusive jewelry
stores along Fifth Avenue. most OF
which carry ALWAYS on hand hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth of gems
every one who entered was ubjected to
the close scrutiny OF a couple Of six
footers from private detective agency
Once past this barrier, the customer
ound himself the center Of the not al
together admlrlng gaze OF ten or
twelve young men who didn't seem to
have thing in the world to do except
. stroll about and give the impression
that they would be awfully capable
i in "jam.'
Four newspaper men who stopped in
at Dreicer's, Fifth Avenue and Forty
sixth Street, approached the manager
81 his desk and began to question him
concerning the precautions being
taken. When they entered they OBJ
served a group Of muscular youths
ranged in a careless semi-circle in the
rear. The conversation between the
manager and the reporters, who were
grouped about him, had hardly got un-
der way when the semi-circle began
to narrow and creep closer. No one
could have moved without being COW
cred.
Try and start something; please try
and start something" was the unspoken
entreaty written in the eyes OF each
of the athletic chaps; and their arms
hung free, suggesting they would be
quick on the draw if occasion arose.
They seemed disappointed when they
discovered the callers we're after moth
ing more tangible than news.
/ 1t was in the establishment Of Mar
Gus < Co., Forty-hfth Street and Fifth
Avenue, on the ground floor OF the
very building in, which Thursday's
killing and robbery occurred, that a
member Of the firm revealed the ull
extent Of the precautions the jewelers.
have taken following the breakdown
Of the police machinery.
Mr. Marcus led reporters behind
case upon the plush lined bottom Of
which lay several shimmerine emerald
necklaces
Look there" he directed grimly
There" proved to be d table, low
enough to be invisible to any nervous
person standing on the patrons side
Of the case, but exactly the right
height for clerk to reach in hurry
ard grasp the article that lay upon
il. This article was not al emerald
recklace. 1t was 40 callher Colts
automatic revolver, one of the wicked
est weapons known.
We have 'em all Ground the place"
SAID Mr.. Marcus. with sw-eping ges-
ture. We are well prepared"
Inquiry at Black, Starr & Frost's,
Reed & Bartons and other jewelry
stores brought out the fact that the
regular quota of guards had been
trc bied and more. until Fifth Avenue
was more like frontier outpost than
the shopping center Of a highly civil
! lized metropolis.
; Although retail dealers were unwill-
ing TO express thei, opinion of the
Police Department for publication, pre-
ferring to leave that TO their trade
I organizations, they made no attempt
70 conceal their Indignation and dis
gust al what they deem the utter
failure Of those charged with prevent
I inc crime and catching criminals.
The boldness with which the per
robbery and other recent spectacular
I hold-ups have operated and their ap-
parent confidence III their ability to
w~rk free from police interference or
risk OF capture have lent an uneasy
( aeAospheIe 10 the business OF dealing
in valuaDles, they say.
The merchants whose shops are on
the street level pointed out, too, that
! tLeir danger was not neal so great
as that Of the firms, like Andrews &
Winston, whose establishments are far
removed from the stream of traffic.
! In accordance with Commissioner En-
rights theory u crime -'erve0+'~ +
/ publication IF the details Of robberies
tends to induce honest young men TO
turn burglars, the police yesterday as
siduously ,strove 70 close every ch@nnel
Of information in regard to the
Andrews & Winston theft. They
warned the victims not TO talk
Mr.. Winston refused to see morning
newspaper reporters yesterday, al
though an Afternoon paper had quoted
/ him as saying he believed some basi-
ness acquaintance, familiar with the
layout and contents of the store, as
well as Of his partners comings and
g4inas. had plotted the robbery.
"Mr Winston has talked TO no re-