The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-15
Culprit, Old Pal Of Elwood
Cox Adams, Long Was
Sought by Police.
FIFTH AVE. BUS HELD UP
Burglar Arouses Women and
Forces Them to Give Up
Hidden Jewels.

Expert safe blowers invaded the
twenty story Royal Insurance Com
pany office building at William street
and Maiden lane on Thursday night
and, assisted by George Breckenridge,
night watchman at the building, en-
tered various insurance and lawyers
offices, opened seven safes and got
in actual cash.
Accompanying the news of this
wholesale safe cracking was the con-
fesson OF Breckenridge, the disloyal
guardian of the building, that he was
the accomplice, long sought by the
police. of Elwood Cox Adams stepson
OF Brooklyn physician. and Jean
Cunningham. Adams's sweetheart, in
series of robberies of homes and
offices. Adams was sentenced to Sing
Sing for ten years by Judge Talley
last December and the Cunningham
girl was released on suspended sem
tence.
According to Breckenridge's confess
sion to the detectives the girl, ste
nographer, aided by getting employ
ment and then by furnishing plan of
the office and, IL possible, key. The
police estimate that $4,000 worth OF
valuables We're taken by the gang In
the course of operations broken up by
the arrest of the girl and Adams.
Breckenridge made himself scarce at
the time and had lain low since.
n Found TIED Hand and Foot.
He was found early yesterday morn
ing lying by window OF the eighth
floor hallway tied hand and foot. Two
policemen at William street and Maiden
lane heard the sound of breaking glass
as Breckenridge. obviously wcarying of
his strained position. butted the glass
with head and shoulder and broke
few panes. Then they heard shouts
and calls for help. and when they
looked around they found the big front
door of the insurance building ajar
and a bunch of keys hanging from
the keyhole. Sprinting upstairs. they
discovered breckenridge. released him
and heard a tale of woe that sounded
faulty to them from the beginning.
His tale was that at 9:S0 p. M. on
Thursday he was set upon by gang
OF nine men who had got into the
building somehow, and who after maxi
ing him give up his keys. had beaten
him and had carried him bound and
helpless to the eighth floor. When he
was taken to the Oak street station
and there examined by DR.. Rathfelder
OF the Volunteer Hospital he feigned
{. fainting spell and then. regaining con-
sciousness, groaned and moaned when
the doctor fingered his shoulder.
Hc said that his head and shoulder
hurt terribly from the battering he had
given the glass Of the hallway window.
When the police investigated the break
ing OF this window they made up their
minds that if Breckenridge had used
his head he would have broken that in
stead OF the three-eighths inch plate
glass, and they went back to Oak street
and accused him of taking. Eventually
me told the tn or what purports to be
the truth.
Tells of Burglary Plot.
He said that some time ago he met n
man who suggested that good job
could be pulled nfs .r the Royal Insur-
ance Company Building and that he told
the man to come any time and he would
help all he could. ISart right his burglar
friend showed up with eight companions
and he concealed them in the basement
until the buL.d.ns was clear OF late
stayers and tfe chances Of detection
were reduced to a minimum.
When the last os the tenants had
left for the night nrS w had satisfied
hImslf that the off:ce~ were all de-
serted. Breckenridge went back TO the
furnace rom and held a conference
with his burglar visitors. They de-
cIded TO w~ k in two gangs. one work.
ing upwa-I the other downward. and
that's the way they did Il. They were
equipped w':h outfit. OF the finest
chilled steel h"rglar's tools. several sets
Of which 80 found by the police In
the loo.e. offices yesterday. The
thieves toiicd with expedition and
smooth technique.
Most OF the safes they tackled we're
not particularly battling to experts OF
their evident skin. and ripped doors
and smashed combinations were In evil
dence generally While they toiled
serenely. Breckenridge continued to
make his rounds. he said. punching the
clocr :, r.gular intervals That was
q mistake in judgment. one of the little
things that so often smash the cunning
plans Of crooks, because he couldn't
have hin bound and helpless all night
ana nave btfN lTee dflu dDle 10 punch
tho time clock hourly. The gang
worked until midnight.
.,1rccs That Were Robbed.
Tho Offices robbed we're those IF Day
ton & Baley. lawyers. $500 cash; Queen
Insurance Company. $500 cash: Royal
Marine Insurance Company. $50; Royal
Indemnity insurance Company. $4,000:
Royal Insurance Company. 500; G. II.
Sturhahn e. Co. 500.
or securities taken practically all were
discarded by the thieves and werc found