Cops Nab B.C. Student For Taking Organ Pipes

The 392 organ pipes stolen during the week from the Phillips Brooks House Organ and the small practice organ in Memorial Church have been recovered. Yesterday morning Cambridge police thwarted a third attempt at pipe-swiping, but only after the burglar had already completed a pair of either daring or native broad-daylight robberies.

The missing pipes were discovered at the Watertown home of a nonchalant un-aggressive 20-year-old Boston College student whom the police apprehended in Memorial Church. The suspect's explanation of the crime was simple: he planned to build his own organ.

Ranging in length from eight inches to five feet, the stolen pipes have been valued at three or four thousand dollars. They were only slightly damaged in transit, and all should be in working order some time next week. The suspect, whose case has been continued until September by the Cambridge Court, will cover the cost of repair.

Robbery Ignored

The B.C. student related that he pulled off his first theft at PBH late Monday afternoon, in full view of a United Ministry dinner in the next room. He carried nearly 350 pipes to his car in open boxes while the onlookesr paid no attention.

When he finished, he left a note saying that the Andover Organ Company had removed the pipes to revoice and retune them, and signed it with the name of the 1962 president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Organ Society.

No one recognized the note as a forgery until a bout 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, nearly two days later, just as the thief was maneuvering into position at Memorial Church. But this time he had only time to pack 49 pipes into a briefcase before a student organist came in to practice.

The student remarked that some of the pipes were missing but had no idea that they were in the brief case of the only other person in the room. The suspect waited around until the closing time of 5 p.m. in hope of being left alone, but was then cordially ushered out of the building by the church sexton.

The B.C. student returned to the church at his next opportunity--opening time yesterday morning--but this time the church officials were waiting for him.