"Awed by Ban, Thief Returns the Torah" JTA story, 1922.

A September 21, 1922 JTS newswire story:

That the threat to place a person under the rabbinical ban may sometimes prove effective is shown by the restoration at Bialostock of the Sefer Torah stolen from Krochmal synagogue. The rabbis announced that they would pronounce a "cherem" on the thief if the scroll was not promptly returned to the synagogue on the following day. Botices were posted at conspicuous places. The next day the scroll was found in the corridor of the Beth Midrash.