New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-05
$4,000 Missing
AS Painter Dies
In Taxi Crash
Alexander Anderson, Deco
rator of Polo Grounds. Be-
lieved Killed by Shock as
Cab Hit Elevated Structure
Widow Left Penniless
Driver Said to Have Been In
toxicaied: No Trace of
Money Made Oh Contracts

Bank deposits estimated between
$4,000 and $4,000 valuable gold
watch and other articles were missing
yesterday following the death IN
tAxieab. early Saturday morning. OF
Alexander Anderson, known to base-
ball promoters and many fans AZ the
decorator of the Polo Ground. The
bank deposits are said 70 have repre-
scented the earnings from Polo
Grounds painting contract completed
only ten weeks ago and from other
valuable contracts.
Mrs Irene Anderson, 1892 Ams,er-
dam Avenue, widow OF the decorator,
called at the morgue yesterday morn
ing and identified the body as that OF
her husband. She told the police she
had not seen her husband since Thurs
day morning. and that he evidently
had been robbed. As result. she said
she was left destitute with family
Of six children. the youngest born
seven weeks ago.
The body OF Anderson was taken
from taxicab carly Saturday by the
rolice Of the East Fifty -frst street
rolice station. after the cab had been
driven into an elevated railroad pillar.
At Forty-scventh Street and Third
Avenue.
Killed by shock Of Collision
At the time Of the collision the taxi
cab was driven By James smith, or
1889 Edgecomb Avenue. VINO told the
police that the machine skdded.
Smith. the police charge. was SO in
toxlcated that he could hardly talk.
lie insisted that the body IN the cab
was that Of his brother. Harry. o. sA3
West is4sh Street, the police say
Smith was arrested charged with
homicide and intoxieation. He was
Arraigned yesterday in West Side court
and the homicide charge was dismissed
on the testimony OF Chief Medical TX
aminer Dr.. Charles Norris, who at
frmcd that he had found no bruises on
the body and that death was. IN ms
opinion. due 10 the shock Of the COLI
sion supernduced by acute alcoholism.
Smith was then held on the intoXies-
tion charge.
Smith told the magistrate he could
not remember where his fare had
entered the cab and knew nothing
about him. he admitted he had been
drinking. Or. Braunstoin. OF Flower
Hospital, the first physician to see
Alexander after his death. wss Of the
opinion that the crash OF the cab had
killed Alexander.
Left Wife Without Funds
Detectives were unable 20 trace the
movements OF Alexander since nc left
his home Thursday morning. The
widow said that while there might be
10 mystery In the cause Of Alexander
death. there certainly was mystery in
his movements Of late and IN the dis.
appearance OF his watch, money and
yaluables.
my husband was seerctive about
money matters. But when he left
home Thursday morning ] knew HI
had the rent money and his watch
Both are gone. | also know that hs
completed what I believed 20 be very
profitable contract at the Polo Grounds
Just ten weeks ago. never saw any
Of the money he collected for this
work.
Il asked him when he had fnishec
the job how much the contract netteC
him. and he told me not to ask him any
questions. He refused 20 confde ir
me, and OF late he had seemed worried
He was not in good health. having suf
fered for long time from q stomach
disorder peculiar - painters. W,
were trying 10 get a larger apartment
in better neighborhood, but were un
! able 70, because Of the children. Ms