The New York herald., 1922-02-23
Huge Revolver Used to
Scare Party Only Leather
Pipe Cover.
HANDLED BY A LAD OF 20
Insurance Company, Refusing
to Pay Claim, Says 1t Found
New Jersey Conspiracy.

Mrs Sarah II. Robertson of 90
Phillips avenue. Deal, n. j.. who re-
ported to the police there last Sun
day morning that on Saturday night
lone bandit wearing a white mask
had come into her home, held up a
dinner party of four persons and had
escaped with handbag containing
$4,000 worth of jewels, was arrested
yesterday charged with taking the
robbery so that she could collect in
surance on her jewels.
The police also took into custody as
a material witness Harry c. Taber
Long Branch real estate broker, who
was at the dinner party; Samuel Gasn,
train dispatcher, Of Long Branch,
and John r. Bailey. Jr., aged 20. of
Long Branch.
Bailey, according to the statements
of the county detectives and of Charles
+. Sexton, prosecutor of Monmouth
county, was the bandit. and the huge
revolver" described by Mrs. Robert
son and her guests was the black
leather case of a pipe. The bag, the
authorities say, was filed with tissue
paper
Says "Bandit" Confessed.
Mr.. Sexton said yesterday that
Bailey, as soon as he was arrested,
confessed that he helped Mrs. Robert
son stage the holdup and that he
played the part of the bandit after
she had promised to give him $1,000
of the money she expected to get
from Lloyds, which insured her jewels.
Bailey said, however, that he never
had received a cent because Lloyds
became suspicious at once and sent
private detectives to investigate.
Mrs. Robertson and the others were
arraigned before Magistrate John A.
Borden at Asbury Park, and held on
charges of conspiracy to rob and con-
spiracy to defraud. Mrs. Robertson and
Bailey were each held in $4,000 bail. and
In default they were sent to the county
Jail at Freehold for the night.
Mrs. Robertson telephoned to all of
her friends after she had been ar
rested. but most OF them were away
over the holiday and she could find no
one who would help her She remarked
that ii was strange that a woman like
me. worth $4,000 cannot find bonds
man for SIS, ,00O.'
Mistake, Says Mrs. Robertson.
TITS a terrible mistake" Mrs Rob-
ertson said last night in the Jail. II
have no fear. but l am grieved because
Of the notoriety.'
Mrs. Robertson said that she expected
70 get bail and be home by noon to-day.
She said that the bandit wore a black
mask, and there was no way of tell
ing whether he was white or a negro"
She added that she had absolutely no
idea" where the gems are.
Detectives sent to Long Branch and
Deal by the insurance company and
the county detectives got an idea of
what happened after they had visited
Edgar Lazarus a guest at the party
Lazarus said that he thought the rob-
berry was real. but suggested that Taber
Night know something.
Taber vas taken into custody by
Chief of Police Rogers at Deal, and Is
said TO have implicated Gasn. Then
the detectives got Gasn and he adj |
"Bandit" Got No Pay, II Is Said.
Bailey Is said by the authorities TO
have confessed that he was angry be-
cause Mrs Robertson had not paid him |
the $1,000 she had promised. In his |
confession Bailey said that on Novem- !
Der q he was first approached by Mrs !
Robertson and Gasn. and that $500 was
offered to him. lie refused. he said |
n nd thaxy Tho fo
which he accepted.
On Saturday night Bailey drove up |
10 the house in an automobile rented |
from Toby Heiman in Long Branch |
He parked the automobile and went to |
the back door. which was unlocked /
Then he held up the dinner party with |
the pipe case, he said. and everything |
went according TO plan. even to the |
screams of Miss Olive Robertson, Mrs. |
Eobertson's niece.
Mrs. Robertson said the girl would
yell" said Bailey. "and she sure did"
After the robbery. Bailey said, he
drove away. He also declared that Mr. |
Meyer, who had reported the loss OF |
$50 was mistaken.
Mr.. Meyer said that both he and Laz-
arus were suspicious of the affair espe-
cially when the bandit robbed him and |
made no effort to rob Taber.
The police nave a note found in
Bailey's pocket written last November. /
II read:
"The said mistress wanted TO collect
Insurance on her jewelry and | was to
receive $500, and the same madam
guaranteed that could be free or have |
fifteen minutes start from the house"
Mrs. Robertson had told the police !
she had taken the bag containing the |
$50 900 worth OF Jewels from the safe |
of the Hotel McAlpn. where she had |
been living. and intended to put it into /
safe deposit box al Asbury Park She I
was trying TO hide the bag. she said, /
when the bandit grabbed It. She also |
said that tho bandit jerked a diamond1
Gunburst from her throat. but Bailey |
raid that this was not true.
About ten years ago Mrs. Robertson
got n legacy OF 81 100000 from her sec-
ond husband She went into Wall street |
~herc her adventures and activities at /
ttacted much attention In 1915 She /
retired at the request Of her third hus-
hand. Dr Joseph Archibald Robertson
She and Dr Robertson separated in 1916 /
and brought suit for divorce against each I.
other in 1919. Both cases however. /
Nee dismissed.
Mrs. Robertson. who has been active