New-York tribune., 1922-01-26
$4,000 Jewel
Hold-UpStaged
By 2 Cunnen
Whispering Pair, Dressed
Like sChurch Mernbers,'
.Jab Girl and Statesmen
With Pistols: Seize Gems
Woman Calls Help, Fainls.
Police Surround Building
al 90 Nassau in 10 Min
ulcs. but Bandits Vanish

wc young men wearing Fedora hats
with the brims pulled over their ewes.
robbed the diamond dealing firm Of
John Cohen. "a Nassau Street carlv
yesterday of uncut stones worth
$4,000.
The mon entered thc Cohen Office on
the firth floor of the Bennett Build
ing. presented revolvers at the heads
or Jacob Levine. n diamond salesman
IN charge and Miss Anna Goldstejn. a
bookkceper, took the diamonds CON
tanned IN leather bag from Lcvinc's
pocket and escaped. The robbery took
place at 9:30 a. m, ten minutes after
the Office had been opened. The men
completed the hold-up in less than five
minutes.
An alarm was sent TO Police Head
quarters after Miss Goldstein ran into
/ another Office on the same floor and
TOLD of the hold-up. She tainted after
telling her story and had to be given
medical attention. Levine gave dc
tailed description of the robbcrs lie
said they "lockcd like church mcm-
bers' One of them "taltcd out of
the corner of his mouth 1t was this
man who told Levine when he threat
ened tho latter with revolver to "face
the wall. quick" Levine said he spoke
in "crcoicd whisper"
In his statement TO the police Levine
said he went as usual yesterday morn
ing TO the Maiden Lane safe deposit
vaults 10 get the diamonds, Cohens
stock in trade. They we're always kept
IN the vaults over night. he explained
! fastening to the Bennett Building. he
ascended to the fifth floor. and was fol
lowed into Tho Office by two young mon
who had negotiated with him Tuesday
! afternoon for the purchase Of several
| diamonds.
Levine turned and badc the visitors
good morning, and was giving instruc-
tions to Miss Goldstcin before rcsum-
8 ing conversation with his prospective
customers, when they both drew re
vo)vcrs One pointed pistol at lie
vine and the other at Miss Goldstein.
She screamed and the bandit pokcd hcr
with the revolver barrel rema,kinc
"Oue more pcop and you're deaf and
dumb.'
I the smaller Of tho two mon, Levine
said, then took both revolvers and
covered him and Mss Goldstcin, while
the taller man searched Icvine's
/ pockets and found tho bag Of gems
Both men Immediately backed toward
the office door, the taller one cnioin-
ing Levine and the young woman
against any outcry.
at you make a squawk." ne whis-
pered, "i1l come back and drill the
two Of you"
Several minutes elapsed after the
men disappeared before Miss Coldstcin
ran into an Office two doors from that
Of Cohen and gave the alarm. Accord
ing to George Nelson, elevator oper-
ator who carried Levine to his office
floor, and also to John Mulane. elcva-
tor starter in the building. neither had
seen two men such as those described
by the diamond salesman. Mullana
said ii the men had asccnded either
i by the elevator or the stairway he
would have seen them. The police be
lleve the robbers may have been CON
ceal"d in the building several hours.
'rVin Raskin. accountant with Wall
man 4 1oepfcr. who vas notified Of
the robbery by Miss Goldstein, prom pt
ly sent in q police alarm and within
ten minutes the building had been cor
doned by detectives and police re
serves. search of all floors was
made without avail. Persons enteriup
and leaving the building for half an
, hour after the robbery we're closely
scrutinized hy detectives Several
young men we're detained briefly for
quest'on'ng Last night no trace Of
the thieves had been found.
One of the men, according TO I.e-
vine. appeared to be Of jewish origin.
ne other he believed to have been an
Italian. Both Levine and Miss Cold
stein said the robbers wore clothing
that was "quiet but expensive." Az
: though search was made through sew.
vrai hundred Rogucs Gallery photo
grapns no PICTURES Of the robbers were
tOunG.