The New York herald., 1921-12-10
SAYS HE STOLE FORDS
FOR MAJOR HOFFMAN
Convict Testifies Against
New York Man at Trial
in Raleigh, N. c.
ALSO INVOLVES OTHERS
Detective George j. Scott of
Motor Squad Accused
of Bribe Taking.
WORK ON LARGE SCALE
Machines Picked Up in New
York Shipped South by
Water.
WORK ON LARGE SCALE

Special Despatch to THE New York HERALD.
RALEIGH, n. c., Dec. 9.-William i.
Nolan. prisoner serving a term In
the New York State prison at Auburn.
brought here by writ of habeas
corpus, swore to-day that he stole
Ford automobiles regularly for Major
Arthur w. Hoffman of New York city.
who in turn delieverd the machines
to J. Kelly, garage man of San
ford. y. C. Nolan also swore that he
aided Frank Moran of Newark to sell
to Hoffman a Cadillac touring car
stole by Moran from in front of a
Newark theatre. This Cadillac be-
longed 10 E. +. S. Randolph OF West
field, n. J.
Nolan was the fourth important
witness for the Government in the
case against Major A. W. Hoffman of
New York, George j. Scott. detective
sergeant of New York; C. J. Kelly.
Sanford, N c.; Frank Moran, New
ark. and Harry Craig, Philadelphia,
who are charged with conspiracy in
the theft and transportation of auto
mobiles.
Interest in the case IS centred on
Major Hoffman. George Scott and c. j.
Kelly, whom the Government Will try to
show were principals In the larceny OF
cars in New York. Craig and Moran.
other defendants. have admitted on the
stand the actual thefts OF more than
forty cars.
Scott, now employed in the New York
Police Department as a member of the
automobile squad. was brought into the
case on testimony given by Major Hoff-
man, salesman for the Holland Motor
Company In New York. He testified that
he paid to Scott about $500 as hush"
money for protection against prosecu-
ton when Scott traced stolen cars to
his garage. The Government produced
checks which Hoffman gave 20 Scott in
payment Of the alleged bribe.
Nolan went on the stand this morn
ing. He told the jury that he was In
duced by Hoffman 10 steal automobiles
after ne met tne MhJOT at an diiioiy hA
New York city. He testified TO deliver
ing q number Of Fords to Hoffman after
the Major had supplied him with u COM
plete set of Ford keys-twenty-four In
all.
These automobiles. he stated. were
delivered to Hoffman for $3.50 each at
a time when the value Of the cars wa,
about sl,050. Nolan stated that he was
working as q private chauffeur at the
time Hoffman induced him TO get" cars
for him. Referring TO c. J. Kelly, whom
Hoffman had previously identified as
the man to whom some Of the cars were
shipped from New York, Nolan testified
that he was with Kelly upon several oc-
ca sions in Hoffman's arartment
Nolan referred TO an incident when
he, Hoffman and Kelly were arrested at
the Old Dominion Steamship Pier In
New York while in the act Of loading
five Fords for transportation to San
ford. Their arrest was made by the po-
lice. when they found In their possession
one Ford stolen the night before. Hoff-
man and Kelly were discharged. II was
shown, but Nolan was held by the police.
In connecting the evidence given by
Nolan the Government put on the stand
Jerome Pinieus. New York merchant,
who told Of losing his Ford and finding
Il In possession Of g. ]. Kelly at the
pier. and also John n. Hughes, New
York policeman. who told about the ar
rest at the pier when the car was found
In possession OF Kelly.