The New York herald., 1921-03-16
THEFT TALE HUNS
LIKE FIVE REELER
Victim Says a Butler
Escorted Him Into a Den
Of Robbers.

D.
street experienced on Saturday thrills
that have their counterpart only In the
inaginattons OF scenario writer's, II the
incidents recited in complaint he swore
to Yesterday before Magistrate Corri-
gan in the West Side Court, which
charged five men with "acting IN con-
cert" in robbing him Of 1855 In cash and
jewelry and a $4,000 check, are borne
out By subsequent testimony.
Two men we're arraigned IN court, and
upon their pleading not guilty were held
IN $4,000 bail each for the Grand Jury.
They described themselves as George
Cervates, Mexican. waiter. living at sJe
West Forty-third street. and Kassam
Hassam. Indian, living at $50 West
Fifty-elghth street. Both have been III
the United States two and half years.
Detectives Herman and Manning OF the
West SiXty-eighth street station are
looking for the other three. one OF them
unknown, according to the complaint.
and the others known to Geretle Al.
Stewart" and Flood"
Gerstle is connected with the Metals
and Chemicals Corporation of 233
Broadway. and until recently was part
,
$50 Broadway. He also operates In real
estate
In his complaint and on the stand
Gerstle recited that as the result OF ar
interview with Stewart concerning the
purchase of a hotel property on Staten
Island he went 10 a brownstone house
at 17S West Seventy-third street. Ger
Yates. attired as butler. admitted him
and conducted him to a room on the
~
with table and several chairs as IL
for a conference, was occupied only by
a man known to him as Flood.
Gerstlc said Flood asked him if he
was ready to proceed with the real estate
deal. and upon his asserting he sud-
denly heard some one say. Throw up
your hands," Upon looking around
Gerstle testified, he saw that in addition
to Flood, Stewart. Hassaln and an un-
known man were in the room. All but
Flood were masked. his complaint con-
tinued. and Hassam and the unknown
man had revolvers in each Of their hands.
He was forced TO a chair. his COM
plant continued and was ordered by
Stewart to sign a check for 1000.
Stewart and Flood then left with the
check. he alleged. Cervates entered the
room with a heavy rope and tied him to
the chair. Cervates. Hassam and the
unknown riied his pockets. removing
$755 in cash, a gold watch and chain
worth 500 and gold pencil worth $40,
and left.
His complaint did not set forth how
he escaped, but he told reporters that
after struggling for two hours he
ioosened the knots that held him. He
went to the police station and on his
description Cervates was arrested and
detained Sunday. A grilling of him dis
closed the Hindu's address.
IL was learned that the 5000 check
was presented by a man at the bank
upon which 1t was drawn. the Bank of
America, A Wall street. and though
payment was refused. as Gerstle had di-
rected. the man who presented il was
not apprehended.
Miss A. N. Harris. who keeps a fur
nished room house at the Seventy third
street address. declared such an occur
renee as Gerstle alleged in court never
had occurred In her house. She does
not rent rooms 70 Mexicans or Hlndoos
she said, and she could recall none Of
the other names. Moreover, every room
contains bed and is not arranged
with big table and chairs, like a di-
rector's room. and her establishment
certainly does not maintain a butler.