The New York herald., 1921-01-08
OBTAINS RELEASE
OF CROOKS BAIL
JUST AS A FAVOR
Chronic IndemnitOr Denies
Ever Accepting Collateral
for Bond.
OWNS NO PROPERTY
Witness at InquiryDeclares
He's Actuated by Philan-
thropic Motives.
MIND A BLANK ON NAMES
Testimony Shows Bondsman
Is Kept Busy as Samaritan
to Those in Trouble.
MIND A BLANK ON NAMES

Hyman Albert, one of the chronic
indemnitors." was the principal wit
ness yesterday in the bail bond In
quiry over which Magistrate Simpson
Is presiding. Albert is a heavy man,
generous of girth in chest, waistline
and neck. He has shrewd little eyes,
which close into narrow Sits when he
smiles. According to his counsel,
Sam" Markowitz, who sat beside him.
he cannot write English. He speaks
1t glibly enough. though interlarded
richly with East Side idiom.
Albert admitted readily under ex-
animation that within three years he
has underwrttten as indemnitor not
fewer than 100 bail bonds which have
been executed by agents either Of the
New Amsterdam Casualty Company.
or the Fidelity and Casualty Company
of New York. In each of these cases
the company's sole security in the
event of a defendant decamping and
FORGETTING his bail bond has been AL
bert's agreement of indemnity with
confession Of judgment attached IN
every instance.
| When the examiners undertook TO
elicit from the witness just what
pecuniary resources he has upon which
| levy might be made in execution OF
Judgment II one of the bail bonds he
| had underwritten should be forfeited
they drew a blank. Albert swore that
he owned no real estate. no interest
| in any property real or. personal, that
he never had possessed either a saw
ings bank or a checking account and
| that. apart from the little he earns by
ball bond Underwriting, his sole source
OF income is. and for years has been.
the salary Of so q. week which he earns
In the capacity of "starker." or bouncer.
in a moving picture theatre at Chrystie
and Grand streets.
More Money IN Butchering.
He smilingly confessed that he is
| known to his intimates as Butch"
Albert. He was once In the butchering
business. Hyman, with stroke of
comment: "And / guess there's more
money In butchering than there is
either In bouncing or bonding"
Albert wanted his interrogators TO
believe his reiterated assertions that In
repeatedly underwriting bail bonds for
confirmed crooks and like gentry of the
underworld he is actuated by purely
philanthropic motives. They are friends
of mine. good fellows, and l don't mind
helping them out when they get In
trouble" ne asserted. Some OF them
have grown up in the neighborhood and
know their folks. They come to me
and I'm willing to take a chance on their
not walking out on me-"
The witness protested indignantly ;he
| testimony given on the previous day by
Louis Espresso, special agent for the
Fidelity and Casualty Company. which
| was to the effect that Hyman Albert
always had told him he secured himself
against loss by exacting some tangible
security from the defendants he under
wrote, "such as cash bank books. So
ourities. jewelry or even an automobile
II never took no collateral from no
body and 1 never asked for none" AL
bert insisted. IL just do II an a favor.
Some of these boys I've known from the
time they was kids. or else know their
folks, and figure they amt going to
run away on me-"
Neither officers nor agents of the New
Amsterdam or the Fidelity and Casualty
companies. Albert testified. ever inter-
, rogated him in any way concerning his
financial responsibility, despite the fact
they we're accepting his indemnity
agreements on company bonds aggre-
eating liabilities of many thousands of
dollars So far as he knew they never
had made any investigation of his re-
sources.
Always Ready 10 Help.
Albert on taking the stand gave his
home as 1903 Fulton avenue. The Bronx.
and described himself as "in the theatri-
cal business" When Assistant District
Attorney McQuaid desired more ex-
plicit definition of his Job he explained
that he Is the bouncer. or strong arm
preserver Of the peace in the theatre at
255 Grand street. At 100 Chrystie
street there Is convenient automobile
call Office where there is telephone.
When any OF "the boys" as Albert
designated the clients who are the
beneficiaries of hfs philanthropy. need
his services Ire Is called on this phone
and ls summoned from his post in the
neighboriug movie theatre.
Until a few months ago Albert worked
with the agents OF the New Amsterdam
who were In the pay OF Joe Topper. but
he broke with Joe and transferred his
services 10 Espresso a OLeary, special
agents for the Fidelity and Casualty
Company. Espresso also had been for
mer business associate OF Topper.
Now, you say you never ask or re-
ceive any indemnity collateral for be-
coming security for your friends. the
boys when they call for your aid" said
Mr.. McQuaid DO you mean TO say you
charge the boys nothing at all for these
services7"
Just enough to give me a little some
thing for my trouble. I may take of
them, II they have II, ~ or per cent.
Of the amount OF the bail bond. OF that