Dancing Master Turned Thief: $65,000 Bond Scandal Unfolds on Lower East Side

It was a sweltering summer evening in New York City when detectives closed in on a surprising suspect in the Harriman Co. bond heist. Robert Gardener, a 25-year-old dancing master at a local academy on 59th Street and Madison Avenue, was arrested at his mother’s home on 62 East Broadway. The 15-year-old messenger boy, Dennis Shea, had pulled off a daring theft just a month prior, making off with $118,000 worth of securities from the Harriman Co. on March 29, 1920.

The investigation led detectives to Gardener, who was seen negotiating a deal with a detective over the stolen bonds. Gardener believed he had pulled off the perfect con, convincing himself that Detective James McCormick was a poor saloonkeeper from Brooklyn. The only thing that gave him away was his carbuncle – a painful and noticeable rash on his neck. Gardener’s mistake was thinking that this imperfection would somehow make McCormick a more trustworthy character.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Gardener’s intentions were far from innocent. He had offered to turn over $65,000 worth of bonds, part of the stolen $118,000, in exchange for $20,000 in cash. The transaction was set to take place at his mother’s home, where Gardener had invited McCormick to meet. The detectives’ strategy to let Gardener think he was getting away with the deal proved to be a clever ruse, ultimately leading to his downfall.

The recovery of the stolen bonds, valued at $65,000, brought a sense of relief to the Harriman Co. and its employees. The investigation highlighted the cunning nature of the thief, who had managed to evade capture for months. Gardener’s arrest serves as a reminder that even those with seemingly respectable professions can hide a dark secret.

As the city continues to grapple with the aftermath of the bond heist, one thing is clear: the streets of New York City are full of unexpected characters, each with their own motives and secrets. The Gardener case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of underestimating others, even those with imperfections on their neck.