New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-16
Mail Robbers
ON Trial Here
May Confess
Two Principals in So, 400
600 Theft Lose Hope
When Partner Promises
to Tell All 10 the jury
Day TO Deliberate Denied
Men Said To Be Seeking
Time TO Confer With
Those Holding Plumber

The government will begin it's pres
entation of evidence to-day, the second
day Of the trial of the alleged mail
robbers who are charged with the
theft Of s2.400,G00 in securities, cash
and jewelry from a mail wagon at
Leonard Street and Broadway, on Oc-
tober "a, last. Selection of the jury
was completed by 3 o'clock yesterday,
and when Assistant United States Dis
trict Attorney David " Cahill con-
cluded the opening argument for the
government Judge Edwin W. Holmes,
who is hearing the case in the Fed
eral District Court, adjourned the
trial for the day.
The course of the trial may. how
ever, take different turn. 1t is not
unlikely that Gerald Chapman, alias
"Bryce" and 1.-THE Count" and George
Anderson. alias "Heines," regarded as
the principals in the case, may decide
to plead guilty to-day. Charles Loer-
Der, alias lambert" did so yester-
day.
Loerber. Pleads Guilty
Before jury taking began Loerber
expressed desire to withdraw one Of
the pleas of not guilty which he had
entered and then entered a plea Of
guilty to the mail robbery indictment.
The single plea was accepted on the
understanding that Loerber would tes-
tify against his confederates if neces-
sary.
Because Of Lorber's admission of
participation, Chapman and Anderson
sought to obtain an adjournment until
to-day, so as to allow them time to-
decide whether or not to plead guilty.
Judge Holmes denied the application,
however, on the ground that il was the
governments desire that the trial
should proceed promptly.
1t is understood that Chapman and
Anderson, in asking for q days time
to decide regarding the withdrawal Of
their pleas of not guilty, explained that
delay was necessary to allow them TO
communicate with friends now in pos
session of the missing securities worth
$1,700,000. Only 100000 was recovered
at the time of the mems arrest.
Created a Sensation
The mail wagon robbery, which fol-
lowed only few days after the theft
Of q pouch containing S1.0o0,000 in
Liberty bonds at the General Postoffice,
created a sensation and prompted the
government authorities to stringent
action. The three men were arrested
on July 3, largely through the efforts
of Gordon T. Mccarthy, of Buffalo,
detective for the American Railway
Express Company, who found their
trail while working on case for his
employers. Chapman was living in
apartments at IL Gramercy Park, pos
ing as gentleman Of leisure
Mccarthy gained Chapman's conf
dence and through him met the other
men, posing as a Western bad man. At
the proper time he notified the postal
authorities, who arrested the suspects
Chapman was found to have a long
prison record, and Anderson's showed
him to be notorious Chicago conf
dence man, with ten-year record in
Joliet prison. Loerber, who served as
chauffeur, also is said to have had a
prison record here The arrests re-
suited in the apprehension of jeremiah
Savelli. former postal employee, who
is awaiting trial charged with having
given the others inside information.