The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-12
THE Thief TN THEPALMA.
The Clubs Superintendent
Arrested for Cracking
Its Safe.

Alonzo r. Hopkins, of No. 207 Pine
street, superintendent of the Palma Club,
was arrested this morning by Detectives
Clos and Dalton for robbing the Clubs
safe of about s4O0
On the night of September 23d the
money was deposited in the safe and the
next morning when Philip Warn, the jan
itor of the building who sleeps on an
upper floor came down stairs, he found
the safe open and the money missing.
The matter was reported to the police,
and Chief Murphy, with Detectives Clos
and Dalton, went up to the club house
and made a thorough examination of the
premises. They found no evidence of
anyone having entered the building, but
they did discover that the catch over the
first window east of the Bright street
door had been broken and the window
raised so as to appear as though an en-
trance had been effected at that point.
THE WINDOW TOO Low.
The window, however, owing to it's con-
struction, cannot be raised over ten
inches, and it is impossible for any one to
enter the building by that means.
The Chiefs suspicious were directed to-
ward Hopkins, but as he was great
favorite with the members of the club it
became necessary to move with caution.
The Chief learned that Hopkins was by
trade a millwright, and exceedingly in
genous either with wood or metal
He fitted up the clubhouse with electric
bells and whenever anything got out of
order he was always able to repair it.
Warn found under the safe a key which
fitted the lock. Hopkins previous char
acter was also looked up and nothing was
found against him.
Whan 0uoctiOOa6 ab0IIt fbo affair ha
said that he left the house on the night
of the robbery in time to catch the car
which passes Jersey avenue and Grand
street at five minutes to twelve O'Clock
He missed the car that night, he said, and
had to walk home.
Warn said that he got in about quarter
to twelve O'Clock, and went up to bed and
heard no noise during the night.
WARN LETS OUT A SECRET.
This morning when Mr. William Muir
held, the president of the club, visited the
house, Warn told him that he wanted to
tell him something which he had on his
mind for some time and which worried
him great deal.
He then said that the night the safe was
robbed he came to the club house about
forty-five minutes after eleven o'clock
When he put his key in the lock it would
not work, something which had never
happened before. While he was trying to
open the door Hopkins let him in.
He then passed up stairs and was par
TALLY undressed when he heard noise
like the swapping of piece of iron which
he located on the Bright street side of
the building.
Grabbing up his revolver he ran to a
window and ins the glare of an electric
light saw Hopkins crossing Bright street.
He then went down stairs and examin-
ing all the windows found the broken
one on the Bright street side.
He also discovered the safe door open
and the money missing. He thought that
Hopkins had taken the money home, and
went to bed. The next morning Hopkins
surprised him by denying that he had the
money.
Mr.. Muirheid, upon hearing this story,
Immediately communicated with the po-
lice.
The Chief sent for Hopkins and told
him he wanted to ask him some questions
but warned him that what he said would
be used against him. Hopkins asked him
if he was under arrest and when told that
he was, repeated his statement made the
morning after the robbery.
He was visibly affected and tears were
in his eyes as he went out of the chiefs
office. AS the passed the door he shook
Warns hand and said that he did not
blame him as he expected it would come
soon.
Justice Weed committed him in defauIt
of 81, 900 bail.