The evening world., 1921-02-26
REPORTED S66,5OO
HOLD-UP OF I BY I
MYSTIFIES POLICE
Unusual Features Mark Story
of Robbery in Connecticut
Screen Company's Office.
VICTIMS ARE EVASlVE.
Safe Bears Name of Man Ac-
cused by Dry Agent-No
Arrests in Big Gem Theft.

There are so many unusual features
connected with the reported hold up
yesterday in the Office of the Connec-
ticut Screen Company, No. 11S West
2Sth Street-directly opposite the Fro
hibition Enforcement ofHces-in which
cash and jewelry to the amount OF
t56,j0O were taken, that the police
said to-day they expected develop
ments which will be quite as unusual
when they had finished with the case
The robbers in this case, as well as
those who, at about the same time
beat Joseph Maiorana senseiess in the
jewellry office Of Ratzkoff Co, No
206 Broadway, and made off Wit,
jewels valued at between>S3O,O 900 and
$4,000, are still at large.
The robbery in West 2Sth Street,
according to the story told bN the
seven men who were in the place, was
committed by seven armed men who
entered at about o'clock and ordered
everyone to put up his hands
Murray Birnbaum, who said he was
Vice President OF tho Connecticut
Screen Company. told the police thar
he and his associates were backed
against the wall. Then the banGit
leader directed them to lie on the
floor. The victims we're told to keep
watching the floor and threatened
with death IL they made an outCry.
Tho first man in the line was Birn-
baum. He said that he lost SL.,5OO in
cash and three diamond rings worth
$4,000, In addition, Birnbaum said
they took two revolvers from him that
he always carried to protect himself.
The man next to Birnbaum was Sam
uel Cohen, a real estate man. who said
he lost 5000 in cash, several rings, a
diamond pin and valuable papers
which he could not place a value on.
Mr.. Sweetwood, who refused to tell
reporters where he lived or his oCCu-
patton, was searched next, according
to the story. Mr. Sweetwood said he
did some fast thinking while Birn-
baum and Cohen were being searched
and slipped a $4,000 diamond ring Off
his finger and threw it in a waste
basket before the boss robDer
searched him. He only had 500.
which was taken.
The next man on the floor was Jo-
seph Millstein, who would not give
his home address, but said he lived
at Sea Gate, Coney Island, during the
summer. He said he slipped $4,000
diamond ring from his finger and
pushed it into COhen's coat pocket
after the latter had been searched.
He did not have time TO slip $3.50 in
cash into Cohen's pocket, and lost the
roll.
Two OF the men who chanced TO be
in the Office, Harry Donohue and
Theodore O'Connor, were robbed OF
jewelry, they reported, amounting &c
$4,000 and 81, 500 respectively. Charles
stern, who said he was known az
broadway Charlie" declared thai
$4,000 "in change" had been taken
from his pockets
Birnbaum would not say much
about the business Of the Connect
cut Screen Company. The store has
heavy bars on the window and a com
plete burglar alarm system. There is
no furniture in it except a safe which
has the name OF Mamie II. KessleI
printed on the front OF IT, Mr. KessleI
Is now out on bail whiting trial on
y an indictment charging him with at
tempting to bribe a Prohibition en-
forcement officer. Other charges are
pending against him.