New Britain herald., 1930-04-09
"Hot StuH'' Paper Leads To Arrests Of Expert Thieves
Absolute Proof.


 "scorch' Burnham, calle "scorch" because of his last nane, had stolen over half a million dol lprs worth of negotiable paper
 Detective Joe Gaston, employed by a biz New York financial CO., cern, knew that Burnham had stolen it. He knew it as well as any clever detective could know il. He could pinch Burnham. hold him, and probably send him up on the evidence.
 But that wouldn't bring bark the half million dollars worth Of paper, and the big trust company wanted ii So did the bonding company that was responsible for the loss.
 Gaston knew the three men who helped Burnham gas the mon in tirt express car and carry off the stu i. He knew where one ot the men was to be found. If he could locate the other two he would be close t0 the stolen papers.
 It is said to be easier 10 steal
 
 such stuff thal it is 10 realize any money on it afterward. A man has to be mighty clover 10 sell hot negotiable securities.
 Burnham was anxious 10 sell, li he could unload it for q quarter Of a million he would be delighted,
 Detective Gaston went across 10 San Francisco. He got in with soua underworld characters who knew Burnham. He posed as Con kclle-. His racket, he said, was knowing where to sell stolen securities, He proved it by selling few for ore ' Of the gang who thus trusted him. He came back to New York as Con Kelley and got in with Burnham, saying that "Beancy' Osmond of ling that he had turned some h0. securities into cash for "Beancy.'
 Burnham went around with Kelley" for weeks and decided that he was no double-crosscr Kelley did the same for Burnham turned a few securities in.o money, but these weren't any Of the stolen ones.
 Finally Burnham decided Q trust this Con Kelley to q certain extent
 q can lay my hands on bushels Of the stuff all good,' Burnham said.
 Why not sell it?"
 "Too hot, and it isn't my racket"
 It takes guy in the know with the crowd wiling to pay ha,f price for such stuff. It it's worth z my while I'll turn the trick, but not for any piking amount Con Kelley informed Burnham.
 Tt ain't pikin', [ can dis up | hundred granl worth for you at first. 1e you get me fiftr grand for it, I'll give you what you make over that"
 Laughed at Him
 Kelley proceeded to erumble Il little, protesting that he could El no more than half face value, bus finally he said he would try.
 Go to D-town." Burnham said, naming a small town upstate Hang out at Gilson's pool room, there's a speakeasy in back" " Burnham named date. That eyenin' you sit there with a shpt of hooch and tear up some paper. A guy will come over and jon you. He will ask you if you liEa to tear paper. You say it depends, and he'll say, how about hot paper. When he says that, you hand him a slip of paper--" T got you," Kelley exclaimed, tits absolute proof, tern paper, i; can never be lorn twice the sa# way-Tll prove it. and he reached over and picked ID small memo pad and showed how paper couldn't he torn twice the same way. -Burnham laughed at him. "I knew that, Kelley. long ago" h. said. But l use the back Of q blank check, nothing can bv changed or erased without d4tce- tion."
 Here" and Kelley handed him check book on a Frisco ban&, write your stuff on 1t and tear f,
 Sure; and the guy you mo. ; will have the half with my namr on it, because he knows a trick l kaye vritin' my namc'
 "Scorch' Burnham wrote on on end Of the back or a blank check: