New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
II Men and
Woman Stole
$500 Autos

Continued from page ono
posal of the cars that were not recov-
cred by the police and for which no
rewards were obtainable was made easy
through the cooperation of certain
dealers and garage owners in this and
other counties, who acted as fences for
the thieves. 1t is alleged that these
fences even furnished the crooks with
tips as to when and where automobiles
could be conveniently stolen.
The band is alleged to have had
working agreement with certain confed-
crates in Nassau and Westchester coun-
ties by which stolen cars were trans
ferred and exchanged, sometimes with
money consideration thrown in.
Authorities of both counties have
offered Mr. Whitman and his assist
ants their cooperation and the infor-
nation coming from Nassau Indicates
connections there.
Another Method of Graft
The money obtained by the thieves
through the sale of the cars or through
the rewards offered by owners for
their return is said to be less than
that which the gang realized as a re-
Su4t VI ulllliS Oul CuS MdCHlUGS 10
other chauffeurs, who used them for
hacking purposes.
Alter the cars were used in this way
for several months, they would be
"discoyered" by the police in some
garage, where they had been left by
unidentified persons and would ulti-
mately be returned to their owners
if the reward offered was sufficient to
make the return worth while.
Members of the Automobile Confer
ence Of America, all of whom are in
the mobile insurance business, Wis
tied Mr.. Whitman yesterday at the
Criminal Courts Bulldog and offered
the investigator their financial and
moral support. They volunteered to CO.
operate with him in 4 campaign to
break up the ring Of motor thieves
which has been preying or the compa-
nies for nearly five years.
Following the conference Mr. Whit
man said to newspaper men:
Il have had a talk with the theft
committee of the Automobile Confer
Barlow, chairman; William F Ballard,
president of the Commercial Union In
surance Company, and Rouerick O'Con-
nor, vlce-president of the Caledonian
Insurance Company. These gentlemen
are also spokesmen for the Autom obile
Underwriters Detective Bureau, which
IS composed of representatives of 1903
fire, casualty and marine insurance
companies which transact an automo-
bile insurance business
These gentlemen recognized the
evil OF the present situation and agreed
to cooperate with US in every possible
way. They wish to help in any way
they can to arrest and convict the
thieves who are making a business of
stealing automobiles"
Number of Thefts Increases
Records already in Mr.. Whitman's
possession show that the number of au-
tomobile thefts has increased steadily
IN the last year and that the figures for
November and December broke all
records. Mr.. Whitman does not believe
that more than / per cent of the cars
were stolen with the idea that the
thieves could retain possession of them
They we're stolen with the sole purpose
of being sold or returned for rewards.
Mr.. Whitman also has been inform ed
that members of the Police Depart
ment engaged in hunting for stoler
automobiles had their expenses paid b,
insurance companies and that large
sums were demanded for ''obtainine
information" Mr.. Whitman was un.
able to say whether these men alst
GREW expenses from the Pollce Depart
ment.
One adjuster for a we'll known in
surance cor.p .pany is said to have in
formed Mr.. Whitman that while he had
been in the habit of paying the police
by check they had recently insisted
that all rewards be paid in cash. Those
insurance companies that failed to pay
rewards to the police are said to have
had small success in recovering stolen
cars.
Sergeants Owens and Horan appeared
before Judge Thomas C. T. Grain in
General Sessions yesterday and pleaded
not guilty to the charge Of having ac-
cepted unlawful fees for the recovery
Of stolen automobiles.
Their bail of $1,000 each, fixed b,
Judge Rosalsky on Thursday, was con
tinued, and the accused officers were
given ten days in which to amend o,
change their pleas.
Police Captain Percy M. Dubois
Under indictment for unlawfully &C
cepting money from Ralph !. Bartholo.
new, Of the Publishers Printing Com
pany, while in command Of Man
haitian precinct, appeared before Firs
Deputy Police Commissioner John A
Leach yesterday and protested agains
police trial on the ground that h,
had retired from the department ant
was not amenable to discipline by tn,
Police Commissioner.
Captain Dubois was represented b.
his attorney, Walter Lynch. and tn,
question Of wffether the officer was OF
the retired list at the time of his in
dictment, January 19, was referred I,
; the Corporation Counsel
Commissioner Leach said that he wa
under the impression that the captain
retirement had been revoked by Com
missioner Enright at the request of Mr.
Whitman.
------------7S- -
Man Held as Murderer