The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-07
A THIEF With 4 PISTOL.
The Nice Young Man from
Boston, Who Found Board
With Mr.. Collins.
A PROFESSIONAL CROOK.
Caught Robbing a Fellow Boarder
and Imprisoned in a Room
Till the Police Arrived.

William Burke. a young man who says
that he lives in st. Johns, N. b., was ar
raigned before Justice Stilsing this morn
ing for entering and larceny. On Thurs
day Burke went to the boarding house OF
Frank Collins, at Green and First streets
He was an agreeable young man and was
liked by all who met him. He told the
boarders that he came from st. Johns and
intended to obtain employment In this
city or vicinity and settle here. He made
favorable impression upon George
Werner, who consented to take him as 8
room mate
TIE BoARDER PULLS PISTOL
Yesterday morning Werner left the
house and wentto his work, leaving his
new room mate in possession of the apart
ment. About two o'clock he returned and
was greatly surprised to meet his chum
coming out of the door with a suit of his
clothes on and bundle of his things
under his arm. He quickly recovered
from his astonishment and sought to de-
tain Mr.. Burke. The latter, however,
jumped back and, pulling a handsome
little pearl handled revolver from his
pocket, threatened to shoot Werner IL he
interfered with his movements.
Taking advantage of the consternati on
which the presence Of the weapon caused,
Burke hastily retreated into the room.
Mr.. Collins, who had been attracted by
the noise of the encounter, sprang after
him and locked the door. Then running
to q neighboring store he breathlessly tel
ephoned to Police Headquarters for a po-
Hceman.
THE POLICE ARRIVE.
Detective Clos, who received the mes
sage, hastily responded to the call When
he reached the house he found Collins
and Werner guarding the door of the
room which held the pleasant young man
from New Brunswick. They, in an awe
stricken manner, told the detective of
Burke's doings, and cautioned him to be
careful, as the man had a pistol. Clos,
who is one of the most fearless men on the
force did not hesitate long over
the information about the pistol, but
proceeded to business Immediately
Opening the door he caught a glimpse of
Burke, and with one spring ne had him
in the strong clutch of the law.
Burke quickly realized that he was in
the hands OF master and quietly sub
mitted.
A DANDY COPPER.
Clos started to Headquarters with his
prisoner, and as they passed Lorillard's
tobacco factory Clos asked Burke If he
chewed. The prisoner replied that he did
and Cles said that he would get him a
piece of tobacco YOU'RE the dandiest
copper ! ever fell in with" said Burke,
and ne took u liking to Clos on the spot.
This morning Burke was arraigned be-
fore Justice Stilsing. He is q stout,
medium sized young man, with a marked
Bostonian air about him and a sharp,
shrewd countenance.
Asked il he had anything to say, Burke
admitted that he had Werner's clothes
upon him when arrested. He said,
though, that he had put them on in order
to present respectable appearance at the
places where he intended to look for work.
The suit for which he exchanged Wer
ner's clothes was far better than Werner's.
The revolver with which he held Collins
and Werner at bay, was found in the out
side pocket of an overcoat which he wore.
PROBABLY A BOSTON THIEF.
This morning Burke admitted to De-
tective Clos that he was from Boston, and
the police say that they have no doubt
that he is Boston thief Justice Still
sing committed him for trial