The New York herald., 1922-02-08
BEGINS ROUNDUP
IN VAST MOTOR PLOT
Over 80 Automobile Owners,
Thieves, Chauffeurs and
Garage Men Sought
FIRST ARRESTS MADE
Stolen Cars Are Handled in
Three States by Gangs
of Bold Crooks.
FEDERAL LAW VIOLATED
Owners Hire Thieves, Collect
Insurance and Some Buy
Back Cars Cheap.
federal LAW VIOLATED

roundup of thirty or more persons
In New York. New Jersey and Con-
necticut who are charged with con-
spring to violate the Federal law by
transporting stolen automobiles from
one State to another was started last
night by agents of the Department of
Justice and the United States Mar
shal's office.
Maxwell S. Mattuck, Assistant United
States Attorney, who has been in
vestigating the activities of the auto
mobile stealing band for some time,
explained how. since the early part of
last summer. the group has worked TO
defraud insurance companies of many
thousands of dollars. In the con-
spiracy, it is alleged, are automobile
owners, motor thieves, chauffeurs and
garage managers.
Four arrests-two owners and two
chauffeurs-were made in this city
last night. The owners were Moe
Galewski of 625 Broadway and Abra-
ham Reinert of 923 Barretto street,
FREEMAN of II East 156th street and
Charles Scheinman of 1881 Marmion
avenue, The Bronx. They were ar
rested by Peter Lamb and Joseph Bar
beri agents of the Department of JUS
tice, on warrants charging them with
violation of the Federal law.
Suspects in Connecticut.
Thirty more warrants are out. most
OF them for the arrest of persons in New
Haven, New Britain. Bristol. Hartford
and Manchester. Seven persons are
wanted in Hartford alone. And there
arc four men in Bristol who, according
TO information In the hands Of Mr.. Mat
tuck, have been operating a garage
which has done a good business in
making over stolen cars
Automobile owners, according to Mr..
AIattuck. frequently have paid thieves
10 steal their automobiles in order that
they might collect the burglary insur-
ance. The thieves then have the auto
mobiles driven to New Jersey or Con-
necticut, more often the latter State
where they are repainted and otherwise
changed. Then the cars are sold either
TO innocent parties or TO their original
owners for very small price.
Information in the hands of the
United States Attorneys office shows
that at least twelve automobile owners
have gone through the whole cycle of
having their automobiles stolen, getting
the insurance and finally getting their
cars back.
Plotter Accuses Policeman.
In some cases. according to the Fed
eral agents. the conspiracy has been
aided by certain officials In this con-
nection IT was said that statement
made by one of the alleged conspirators
involved three New York policemen.
Since the investigation of the group was
started more than 100 automobiles have
been traced
Galewski and Reinert were held in
$4,000 bail each for a hearing March
Z when arraigned before United States
Commissioner Hitchcock. 1t is charged
that GalewslSi collected 81 900 insurance
on a Dodge roadster and that Reinert
collected $1.500 on n Dodge touring
car, both of which. II is alleged, later
were returned to them.
FREEMAN, who Is charged with driving
n stolen automobile from this city to
Connecticut, was held in $1,000 bail.
When Scheinman, who was arrested on
similar charge. was arraigned before
Commissioner Hitchcock, Mr.. Mattuck
said he already was out on $4,000 bail
in another case and that he would not
ask for additional bail.
Scheinman made statement to Mr.
Mattuck which Is said to give in detail
the many ramincations OF the con-
spiracy. The roundup Of the persons
wanted will be continued to-day.