New-York tribune., 1922-01-26
Arrcs, of William Nor
ris, i'll Stolen Securities
Deal, Expected to Solve
SI,177,OOO Robbery
Looting Is Called
An "insidc" .Jol,
Several Postomcc Clerks
Watched; Disposal .f
Bonds Has Been Traced

postoffice inspectors the most impor-
tant suspect connected with the
S1.s77.ooo registered mail robbery here
on July IS, 1921. was arrested ycster-
day as be was entering his home at
1881 Bathgatc Avenue. tho Bronx.
He is known in the underworld as
William Goog and has been sought
under that name for almost a month.
It was not until Monday morning that
his real name Was discovered, and since
then Postotiicc Inspector John Gibney
and Detective Sergeant James Reilly.
Of Bronx headquarters, have been
watching his home to take him into
custody. Three other inspectors work
ing on another angle OF the case found
that their trail led to his address and
arrived on the scene shortly after the
arrest was made.
Morris To BE Arraigncd To-day
Morris will be arragned before
United States Commissioner S. NJ
Hitchcock this morning on a charge Of
conspiracy to sell altered and stolen
government bonds, but according to
Postofice Inspector James Doran, who
has charge of the investigation. the
government expects to substantiate
more serious charges against him, in
volving connection with the actual
theft
When arrested yesterday Morris was
on parole following his release from
Atlanta Penitentiary at the conclusion
Of seven months OF a fifteen months
sentence imposed for using the mails
in a scheme to defraud. He has been
apprehendcd on several other occa-
sions, but always has escaped convic-
tion by showing that he was not on
the scene Of the crime. The inspec-
tors believe that he operates regularly
as silent partner il crime and that he
played that role i,. the robbery last
July.
Two other important Developments
in the case were released for pubica-
ton yesterday. The first is that the
robbery is known to have occurred in.
side the general postoiTicc here, rather
than between here and Wasnington.
The inspectors have heretofore re-
ouested the suppression of this fact
to disarm the fears Of the registered
mail clerks suspected of etfecting the
actual robbery. Willingness of the in
spectors to make public their convic-
ton on this point is taken as an indi-
cation that they are close on the trail
OF the corrupted official. 1t has been
known for ten days that almost all
the mail service detectives here are
now working on this case in the ex-
nT rl
mystery soon.
Attempt to Sell Securities
The second disclosure yesterday was
the arrest of Richard Hart on Saturday
in Broadway hotel in which he lived
Hc was arrasned before United States
Commissioners 5. M. Hitchcock and re-
leased on his own rccognizance. His
connection with the attempt to dispose
OF the cancelled securities taken in the
robbery has been known since Dccem-
Der l6. when he approached postotfice
inspector masQuerading as a broker
named II. B. Grcenwav with an offer to
sell S297OO OF the stolen bonds. In
stead of arresting him at once the in
spcctors trailed him for weeks, and in
this wav learned OF his alleged ccnncc
tion with Morris and Mark Won Eschcn,
who was arrested for completely in tins
attempted sale last W Wednesday.
According to evidence in the hands
or the government, Won Eschen and
Hart in this transaction worked ac-
cording to a system common among
drug pcddlers. The former kept the
bonds in his possession and sent the
latter out to drum up sales. In this
way il was hoped that Won Eschen's 9
connection with the case could be COW
cred up and that any charges which
might be brought against Hart would
be weakened by inability to discover
any of the loot in his possession. MANY
OF the altered securities were found
when the inspectors searched Won
Escnen's home at 1851 Fulton Avenue.
the Bronx, at the time Of his arrest
Hope to Solve Robbery
lust how Morris was linked up with
the attempt to dispose OF the stolen
bonds the inspectors refused to say
yesterday. They declared that they
had found his trail while shadowlng
Hart and that they had evidence
showing that the three were working
together. lie WAS subjected to a long
examination at the postoifcc yester-
day, and Assistant United States Dis
trict Attorney Keith Lorenz said after
ward that the government hopes to OBJ
tain the solution Of the entire robbery
from him and his alleged associates.
SO fo the inspectors have been un-
able to establish any assoc ation be-
tween Hart, Morris and Won Eschen
and Mrs. Abe Attcll and the two men
who were arrested with her December
80. 1t is admitted that there is no
reason to believe that half dozen
separate gangs are not attempting to
dispose of the stolen securities al the
presen. moment, and tat so far only
$4,000 OF the bonds have been traced
1t was not until a ter the At.cll ar
rest that the fact of the robbery was
disclosed.
Inspector Doran yesterday reiterated
his belief that none of the bonds has
been successfully passed as yet. All
had been Cancelled and were on their
way from tie Federal Reserve Bank
here to the Treasury in Washington
when they disappeared. In order to
place them on the market the can
collation. and registration marks must
be obliterated with acid, and in many
cases ne1forations must be flied in
Included in the loot were thir cen
100000 bonds. and it is thought that
it will be impossible to dispose OF
these large securities through the
underworld.
Pinehurst. st. Valentines Golf Tournn-
daily seaboard Air Line Ry. 142 W 42d St.
-Adyt