Passed Bogus Bills In Stores Here, Boy Reveals To Police
Camden Morning Post —
A 19-year-old coffee salesman yesterday confessed, according to the police, to passing counterfeit $10 bills in Camden saloons and drug stores. He then told a strange story of being taken for a ride and threatened with death by drowning.
He gave his name as Harry Yellin, of 830 Mt. Vernon street. After signing the alleged confession, he was held by city police for agents of the United States Department of Justice.
According to his story to detectives, Yellin was seized by three men Monday night, carried off in their automobile and taken to the banks of a creek or river. There, stones were tied around his neck and the men threatened to throw him in the water unless he told where he kept collections from coffee sales. Finally, however, they released him.
Yellin was arrested charged with loitering when he was unable to explain his presence at 4 a. m. at Third and Spruce streets to Motorcycle Patrolman Thomas Kauffman.
At headquarters, Yellin was recognized by Detective Benjamin Simon as a counterfeit suspect, Simon said. With Detectives Clifford Del Rossi and Clarence Arthur, Yellin was questioned for more than an hour before he confessed.
Simon quoted Yellin as follows regarding the “ride” story:
Sometime after midnight, three men picked me up somewhere in Camden and forced me into their car and under threats of death, demanded that I tell them where I kept large sums of money I collected on my coffee route. I told them I did not collect any large sums of money and they drove me to the bank of some creek or river, I don’t know which, and tied several huge rocks around my neck.
“One of the men ordered me to be thrown in the water and they were about to push me in when they changed their minds, took the rocks from my neck and ordered me back in the car. They drove me to Second and Clinton streets, where they pushed me out, and I was on my way home when I was arrested.
“These men kept asking me while they were riding me around in their car if I was passing any counterfeit money, and when I told them I was not, they insisted about asking me about counterfeit money. I have an idea they wanted to see if I would talk and I think they were members of the New York counterfeit gang, several of which I met when I was in New York. When they found out I wouldn’t talk, I guess they decided everything was all right.
Yellin’s Confession
Following is the alleged counterfeiting confession Simon said Yellin made:
Some time ago after I got these counterfeit notes in, a hotel in New York from two fellows introduced to me as ‘Joe’ and ‘Eddie,’ I came to Camden and got rid of them as soon as I could. When I met these men, they suggested that we shoot some crap, after which they offered to sell me some counterfeit bills. I bought three of the $10 notes for $15, and they gave me the rest of them for good measure.
“The first one I passed was in a saloon at Haddon avenue and Whitman avenue. I bought a glass of beer and a package of cigarettes in this place. The next one was in a drug store at the northeast corner of Seventh and Pine streets, where I again purchased a pack of cigarettes.
“The third bill I passed in a saloon on Market street above Delaware avenue. I think the name is Thompson’s Grille. I bought a pack of cigarettes and a glass of beer. The next one was passed in a drug store at Mt. Ephraim and Everett street. One in a cafe on Walnut street near Broadway, and another in a drug store on Broadway near Mt. Vernon. I got $9 in change from a drunken man at the Parkside Grille, on Kaighn avenue near Haddon avenue, and passed another in a grocery store at Fourth and Royden streets, where I purchased a can of oil.
According to Detective Simon a warrant has been issued charging Yellin with larceny of a watch and field glasses, valued at $55, from his two brothers. He will be arraigned today on this count before Judge Pancoast.