New-York tribune., 1922-08-19
Mail Robbery
Disdained l,y
Big Bootlegger
Chapman, Who Is Accused
in 50, 400, 900 Hold-Up,
Says He Was Dealing in
Booze al Time of Theft
Blanaes His Accuser
Calmly Confesses One
Crime TO Escape Specific
Charge of a Greater One

George Anderson and Gerald Chap
man, on trial in The United States Dis
trict Court, charged with the theft Of
s2.400,000 in currency and aecurities
from 8 mail truck that was held up
October "a. 1921, at Broadway and
Leonard Street. started their defense
yesterday
Testimony given by Chapman showed
that the two men, who have been identi-
fed as taking part in the robbery, hope
to convince the jury that they had no
part in it, but were persuaded by Loer-
Der, who testified against them, TO try
TO dispose Of some of the stolen bends
for him, Chapman salG he did not
know the bonds were stolen and
dropped them as soon as he discovered
it. He had a high class clientele as q
bootlegger, he said, and could not af-
ford TO be mixed up in any such affair.
His testimony as to taking about $780,
600 worth Of bonds from Loerber to dis
pose Of on 40 per cent basis, his coun-
sci viii argue, explains the presence
Of such securities in his Gramercy
Square apartment, when it was
searched by the police. AS to the pis-
tolls found there, William Baker, An
dcrson's attorney, said the weapons had
been bought IN seif-protection when
Anderson and Chapman decided TO 90
to the West Virginia oil fields after
theif discharge from prison. They
were good boys, the lawyer said. and
though they might have been misied
they were not robbers.
Didn't Know Bonds Were Stolen
Chapman said that it was in Novem-
Der that Loerber approached him about
disposing of the bonds. He ;udoed
from Loerber's conversation, he said,
that o man called Slim and another
he calied "Sehmitty" had equal inter
esSs IN the bonds. Chapman said at
tfat time he agreed to take $4,000 in
industrial bonds TO sell at 40 per cent
OF their face value, but the best he
rouid DO was 70 turn them over to a
man IN Chicago to sell on that basis.
bends, be said
Wheh | get back to New York :.
saie Chapman, 'and told Loerber what
had done he went into a rage and
sag; Didn't you get any money at
an told hln no; the man would
not advance any money on them. DO
you nelieve my people are going to be-
heve that?' he asked | told him I
could not help that; it was the truth.
During the next two weeks his atti-
tude showed he doubted my word. At
the. end of that time he came to me
and said: Slim told me to tell Won m Io to
De Gamn careful | told him to wait
until the three weeks were up and he
Weeld Ind that what | had told him
was trEe. Those things are mighty
hot, he said. And it was then that
lie told me the bonds had been stolen
1re.h tho mail.
This was the first knowledge | had
they had been stolen from the govern
ment. ! saw Anderson and told him
sad; Then we lay off, He said he
was not going 80 put his head in it."
chapman told how he met "Slim"
and "Schmitty" after the latter had
looked him and Anderson over while
they We're walking with Loerber or
Riverside Drive. He spoke of the dan
ger, of handling stolen securities to
SchmItty,p and the latter he said.
talked of the ease with which numbers
could be altered, and showed him some
numbers which he asserted had been
altered by "Slim" with pen.
Later he and Anderson were shown
alterations made by printing, which
"Schmittyo told them had been done by
Sim" Anderson had magnifying
glass, and this showed the work of
aiteration so good that they decided to
handle them
He said he went to Chicago to see
about the 100000 worth of bonds left
there, but found that the man with
whom he had left them was in trouble
and could not see him.
when came back and told Loerber
this" said Chapman, che showed the
same rage and vituperation that ne did
before"
!, Loerber wanted him to go back out
there, but he told him he did not have
time, as he was too busy.
What We're you doing ?" asked Judge
Groehl,
81 was dickering in whisky replied
Chapman. 81 have very fine clientele
Of bcotleggers and was making a good
living at it. and it was certain way
of making living, while handling
bonds was uncertain