53

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM a dictated, sworn, signed, and witnessed statement by Ernest Heinrich Mann. This is Segment NYDA-EHM-105A.

MANN: So … now we are at the night of August thirty-first and the morning hours of September first. The truck picked me up at the appointed place and I. …

QUESTION: Pardon me a moment. I believe you told us previously that the truck was to pick you up on the southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and Sixty-fifth Street. Is that correct?

MANN: Yes. Correct.

QUESTION: And that was, in fact, where you joined the others?

MANN: Yes.

QUESTION: What time was this?

MANN: It was eleven forty P.M. This was the time agreed upon. I was on time and so also was the truck.

QUESTION: Will you describe this truck for us.

MANN: It was, I would say, a medium-sized moving van. In addition to the doors to the cab, there were two large rear doors fastened with a chained tailgate, as well as a door in the middle of each side. It was by one of these doors that I entered the truck, the men inside assisting me to climb up.

QUESTION: How many men were in the truck at this time?

MANN: Everyone was there—everyone I have described to you who was at the planning meetings. The man I know as Anderson and the two men I know as Ed and Billy were in the cab. Ed was driving. The others were in the body of the truck.

QUESTION: What was painted on the side of the truck? Did you notice any words or markings?

MANN: I saw only the word “Moving.” There were also several markings that appeared to be license numbers and maximum load weights—things of that sort.

QUESTION: After you boarded the truck, what happened?

MANN: The truck began to move. I assumed we were heading for the apartment house.

QUESTION: Were you standing inside the truck or were you seated?

MANN: We were seated, but not on the floor. A rough wooden bench had been provided on one side of the truck. We sat on that. Also, there was a light inside the truck body.

QUESTION: What happened then?

MANN: The man I know as John Anderson opened the sliding wooden panel between the cab and the body of the truck. He told us to put on our masks and gloves.

QUESTION: These had been provided for you?

MANN: Yes. There was a set for each of us, plus two extra sets in case of accident … in case the stocking masks might perhaps tear while we were putting them on.

QUESTION: And you all put them on?

MANN: Yes.

QUESTION: The men in the cab, too?

MANN: That I do not know. Anderson closed the sliding panel. I could not see what was happening up there.

QUESTION: Then what?

MANN: We drove. Then we stopped. I heard the cab door open and slam. I assumed that was Anderson getting out. As I told you, the plan required him to be waiting across the street from the apartment house when the truck arrived.

QUESTION: And then?

MANN: The truck drove on. We went around a few blocks to give Anderson time to get into position.

QUESTION: What time was this?

MANN: It was perhaps ten minutes after midnight, give or take a minute either way. Everything was precisely timed. It was an admirable plan.

QUESTION: Then what?

MANN: The truck picked up a little speed. We were all quiet. We made a very sharp turn, up a small rise. I knew we were then pulling into the driveway of the apartment house. The truck engine was switched off and the lights also.

QUESTION: Including the light in the body of the truck, where you were?

MANN: Yes. There were no lights whatsoever. In addition, we did not speak. This had been made very clear. We made no noise whatsoever.

QUESTION: Then what happened?

MANN: I heard voices outside the truck, but so low that I could not hear what was being said. Then, in a minute or two, Anderson called, “All right.” At this time the side door of the truck was opened, and we all got out. Also Ed and Billy from the cab. I was assisted to descend from the truck by the man I know as Skeets, the Negro. He was very polite and helpful.

QUESTION: Go on.

MANN: The one named Tommy, the slight, boyish one, went immediately around to the front of the building. I watched him. He paused a moment to make certain there was no one on the street, no one observing—he was wearing mask and gloves, you understand—and then he slipped around to the front entrance. In a moment the release button sounded on the outside service door, and the man I know as Socks—the uncouth man I described to you before—entered first, his hand in his jacket pocket. I believe he was carrying a weapon. He went directly down to the basement. I waited until Anderson had bound and gagged the doorman, then I followed Socks down into the basement, as we had planned. Every move had been planned.

QUESTION: What was the purpose of your waiting until the doorman was tied up before following Socks down to the basement?

MANN: I don’t know precisely why I was to wait, but this is what I was told to do—so I did it. I think perhaps it was to give Socks time to immobilize the superintendent. Also, it was to give Anderson time to follow me and check on my work. In any event, as I went down into the basement, Anderson was right behind me.

QUESTION: Then what?

MANN: As we entered the basement, Socks came toward us from the superintendent’s apartment. He said, “What a pigsty. The slob is out cold. The place smells like a brewery. He won’t wake up till Monday.” Anderson said, “Good.” Then he turned to me. “All right, Professor,” he said. So I set to work.

QUESTION: The lights in the basement were on at this time?

MANN: One dim overhead light, yes. But it was insufficient, and flashlights and a flood lantern were used in the area of my work.

QUESTION: You had brought your tools with you.

MANN: That is correct. My own personal hand and power tools. The heavy equipment, as I explained to you—the torches and the gas cylinders—had been provided and were still inside the body of the truck. So … I set to work on the schedule we had planned. Anderson and Socks held the lights. First of all, I cut all telephonic communication, isolating the entire building. I then bridged the alarms in a manner which I have described to your technician, Mr. Browder. This was in case the alarm would sound if the current was interrupted. I then cut the power to the self-service elevator. This was simply a matter of throwing a switch. Finally, I cut the alarm to the cold box and picked the lock. I opened the door. At this time the men I know as Ed and Billy had joined us. Anderson motioned at the furs hanging inside the cold box and said to Ed and Billy, “Start loading. Everything. Clean it out. And don’t forget the super’s apartment.” I then went back to the service entrance on the ground level and picked the lock of the door connecting the service entrance with the lobby. The Negro, Skeets, and Anderson went into the lobby. Myself and Tommy, we waited. We watched Ed and Billy carry up armloads of fur coats and put them in the truck.