The New York herald., 1922-12-23
MATINEE BURGLAR
TELLS HIS METHODS
Belford Points Out Some Of the
100 Places He Says He
Robbed.

Thomas =. Belford. 90. "the matinee
burglar" began pointing out to detec-
tives yesterday residences in the exclu-
sive Central Park apartment house belt
where he said he had committed 100
afternoon burglaries since August. Lou
Tellegen. Nita' Naldi and others named
among the Victims will probably be
visited to-day. Magistrate Hating In
West Side Court yesterday held Bel
ford without bail for hearing Wednesday
on suspicion of burglary.
Mrs. Josephine Maynard. 1898 Park
avenue, was visited after Belford had
admitted to Acting Detective Sergeants
Fitzgerald and Courtney OF the West
100th street station he had taken the
$500 diamond watch the theft OF which
Mrs. Maynard had previously reported.
Mrs. Maynard could not recall having
ever seep him.
II. Gordon Dubelle, $50 Madison ave-
nue.. who had reported the theft OF $500
fur coat and top coat values at $3.50.
was not at home on the party's arrival.
Belford rehearsed for the detectives how,
typical of his depredations, he had
first rung the Dubelle bell and getting
no response had jimmied his way into
the second floor apartment and made
Belford. a dapper. boyish faced young
giant of six feet one had often been
seen In the Park avenue neighborhood,
according to the superintendent Of Mrs.
Maynard's building Belford had even
got on terms OF nodding acquaintance
with residents who. the superintendent
said. frequently referred to him approv-
ingly as that college boy"
Meanwhile, Benjamin Bernstein a
second hand dealer at 403 West Fifty
ninth street. was arrested yesterday
charged with receiving stolen goods
from Belford. He denied any wrong
doing. His store was placed under
police guard
Charles A. Cone of Albert p. Ash
forth. Inc. real estate, at IL East
Forty-fourth street, identified dia-
nond lorgnette. $500; a pearl neck
lace, $3.50. and a Jade necklace, $3.50,
found In Bernsteins place. as having
been stolen from his apartment at 81
East Fifty-sixth street October 81 last.
During the tour Beltord told the de-
tectives he had always chosen "waik-up"
rather than elevator apartments for his
operations. Sounds o nthe stairs. he
said. would ward OF returning owners,
but elevators could catch him by eeur-
prise.
lie said he had often changed hie
name to correspond with initials on
jewelry he had stolen.
Belford insisted he had never carried
a revolver because he "would't know
what to do with IT. and had always de-
pended upon flight. In proof he cited
his capture Thursday night following
discovery by Mrs. Sadie Bennett in her
apartment ats303 West Ninety-second
street. She had returned from the
theater to find Belford collecting jew
elry and silverware valued at $1,000.
At her screams he took to his heels,
only to run into the arms OF Detective
Sergeants Fitzgerald and Courtney
passing outside. The detectives were
investigating the recent burglary or the
apartment Of Frieda Hempel, opera
singer, at 271 Central Park West.
Belford said this had !;een his first
might Job and he blamed the lapse
from his daylight" rule as his undoing.
Police are making a citywidc checkup
Of all burglaries recently reported to
establish further possible connection
with Beiford