This Day in History: 1943-05-28
The license plate number on an ordinary “B” gas ration coupon was worth $150.00 to a Utica motorist according to Hohokus Township Police Chef Charles E. Smith. The former state trooper was notified when Mrs. Leona La Belle reported that she had left her pocketbook with that sum in the rest room of the Orsek Brothers diner and gas station on Route 17 at about 10:30pm. After she and her husband had driven only a few miles, she remembered that she had left the pocketbook in the station rest room. When the LaBelles returned, it was gone. In the meantime, a car driven by Cocky Tulgarien of Monroe, NY had also stopped for gas and his woman companion had visited the same restroom. The service station attendant called the Mahwah police and Police Chief Smith, a former State Trooper, had the answer in a moment. He took the license number from the back of the coupon and notified the New York State Troopers at Monroe. The missing pocketbook was recovered from Tulgarien. He claimed that his friend had only taken it for safe keeping. (Bristow)