Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-09
HOLD-UP men ROB
CHURCH OF $4,000
DURING SERVICES
Five Cursing Thieves Disturb
Rumanians in Chicago
Synagogue.
LINE UP 80 PERSONS,
TAKE GEMS AND MONEY
First Instance in City's History Of
Violent Thievery Inside
Place of Worship.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, April Give snarling.
cursing thieves, masked and armed,
held up 80 members of the First Ru-
manian Synagogue congregation last
night, taking $4,000 in money and
jewels. 1t was the first instance in
Chicago police records of hold-up in
side place of worship.
Laurence Bungardean, Rumanian vice
consul, was among the few to escape
loss. He was mistaken for one who al
ready had been searched, and was Or
dered to one side.
For nearly half an hour the robbers,
some with pistols, some with shotguns,
moved among the congregation, which
had been ordered to line up against the
wall From the arms and hands of the
women the robbers snatched bracelets
and rings. The mems pockets yielded
billfolds and watches.
Two Are Identified.
The robbers, frequently breaking the
silence of the church with curses, held
handkerchiefs to their faces, but before
the robbery was finished two OF them
had abandoned this method OF conceal
ment. Some members of the congrega-
ton said they recognized these two, ana
their names were later given police.
A special meeting was being held to
hear Victor Phillips of Bucharest, rep
resentatiye OF the Rumanian govern
ment in the tenth anniversary celebra-
ton of united Rumania to be. observed
in Bucharest in May. The meeting was
in the church parlors where queen
Marie of Rumania was guest during
her Chicago visit.
Mr.. Phillips was nearing the end OF
his address when the robbers ran down
the aisle from the front entrance. The
speaker stopped in the middle OF a
Sentence. and the startled congrega-
ton huddled silent in their pews.
The robber chief, shouting oaths,
ordered every one to line up against
the wall. Three of the band stationed
themselves at the exits. The leader
and another moved among the consre-
CATION, taking what valuables they
could find.
Return Rabbits Money.
In the leisurely search the robbers
came to Rabbi Harris Goldstein ana
took $22 from his billfold. Observing
the rabbits name on it, the leader told
his aide to return the money.
From Mr.. Phillips the thieves took
$50, overlooking $500 in a secret pocket.
Among the loot, as reported to police,
were a diamond ring valued at $4,000,
q pair of earrings worth 81, 200 and q
bracelet valued at $1,000.
DR.. Lee Shiffman, the cantor, lost
$50, diamond tiepin and $1,100. which
lay on a table and which was to have
been paid him for his services.
AS the robbers approached N. j.
he slipped his watch into
the hand of his wife. At the same time
Mrs. Ross WEBSTER gave Mrs. Braun
stein q $500 diamond ring. Mrs.
dropped the valuables into
a box of doughnuts she carried, and
when the robber approached she held
the box out to them, offering them a
doughnut. The thieves passed by with
out examining the contents of the box.
j. D. Raynes offered $l90 to the
robbers as they approached him. I'm
the shamus (anitor)," he said. Keep
It," said the robber chief.
One woman tainted After the rob-
ers had gone, Rabbi Goldstein offered
a prayer of thanks that no lives had
been taken.