The New York herald., 1921-10-02
500 MOTOR THEF7S
TRACED TO2W0MEN
They Are Held With 3 Men
in Attempt to Break Up
Brooklyn Gang.
4 UNDER $4,000 BONDS
Husband Of One Already
Convicted in a Sim
liar Case.
GIRL LIKES EXCITEMENT
District Attorney and Police
Look for More Arrests in
Alleged Band.
/ UNDER S25,OOO BONDS
sIRL LIKES EXCITEMENT

iWo "oHicH anu Two men We're held
yesterday in $4,000 bail each bv
Magistrate O'Neill in BROOKLYN. after
1t was charged by John E. Ruston.
Assistant District Attorney, that they
We're members of a well organized
gang of automobile thieves who have
stolen and disposed of between 500 and
1000 cars
Edward Lang Of 81 Albany avenue,
Brooklyn, arrested with his wife, Mar
garet, late Friday night, is the head
of the band, 1t is charged. Mrs. Dor
othy Smith of 317 Gates avenue and
Thomas Sweeney of 239 Franklin ave-
nue. were the others seized.
About year ago Lang was convicted
of disposing of stolen automobiles, but
was released In $4,000 bail on a GER
tifcate of reasonable doubt The case
still is pending in the Appellate Division.
John Lang, brother Of Edward. was
arrested two weeks ago in Brewster,
N. Y, in possession of an automobile
stolen in Brooklyn, according to the
police. He Is in the Raymond street
Jail in default of $4,000 bail.
The four were held on the specific
charge Of having stolen the automobile
of Francis Brady on September 20 from
the private garage of William Quinn at
1867 Atlantic avenue. The machine was
recovered later by detectives In a garage
in Thropp avenue. The license, motor
and engine numbers had been removed.
Mrs. Smith and Sweeney confessed
they stole the Brady car, saying Mr..
and Mrs. Lang acted as lookouts. Mr.
Ruston questioned the first two named
in the presence Of stenographer for
two hours.
Detectives said Sweeney told them
that on September % he was at Eastern
Parkway and Bedford avenue with the
Smith woman when Lang and his wife
arrived. and all four went to Manhat-
tan to dinner. On their return to
along Atlantic avenue an automobile
passed them.
See that car? It's in a garage at
1867 Atlantic avenue. I want that car"
Sweeney alleges Lang said.
II knew what that meant as I had
stolen cars for him before Sweeney
continued.
Robbery Arranged.
After riding for short distance,
Sweeney said, he and the Smith woman
were told to alight and wait A few
minutes later Lang returned in his car.
Now you and her go and get that
car" Lang is said to have directed.
Sweeney and the Smith woman went
to the garage and found the door un-
locked. Inside were five cars. The one
he was told to steal was near the door.
He backed the automobile out of the
garage and he and the woman drove
how he left the stolen car In a garage
Lang procured 1t.
Mrs. Smith said she was married In
June. 1918. in the Church of the Trans
figuration in Manhattan. but was sep
arated from her husband a month later.
According to the District Attorney g
office. Mrs. Smith and Sweeney asserted
they had stolen five automobiles in
Brooklyn under the direction of the
Langs. Mrs. Smith gave her age as 90.
Mr. Ruston said
When / asked Mrs. Smith why she
was engaged in stealing automobiles
the woman declared she liked the excite
ment.
II believe Sweeney and Mrs Smith
have told the truth about their connec-
tion with the gang Of crooks headed by
Lang. They received about $25 for each
car stolen. The woman told me she had
been associated with the Langs for
about six months and Sweeney has
known them for three years.
From evidence now in the possession
l. xoIf Lax -
lieve that more arrests will follow. On
the night of the theft Of the Brady au-
the four persons now implicated
visited two places in Manhattan known
to be used as garages. The trip was
made in Lang's car from his home in
Brooklyn. cannot give out any further
Information about this gang of automo-
bile thieves at this time as it might de-
feat the ends Of Justice"
When detectives searched Lang's home
they say they found 1872 steel number
ing dies and automobile accessories, In
cluding two steering wheels. Mr.. and
Mrs. Lang denied they were implicated
in the theft OF the Brady automobile.
Lang Is said to have admitted, how
ever, that he had been arrested Ave
times In the last ten years, but SO far
had managed to keep out of Jail. He
said he was 35. the son of Peter Lang,
who has served twenty-seven years in
the regular army and now is at West
Point. The Langs have a flve-year-old
daughter. The four are prisoners in
the Raymond street Jail in default of
bail
Detectives Conroy, Gray, Campbell,
Casey and Mccarthy, who made the ar
rests. are working on clues which may
lead to further seizures and the possible
recovery Of many stolen automobiles.
they said