The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-06
A FAMILY OF THIEVES.
Manager Metz1er C1ever1y
Detects His Watchman
in Robbing Him.
HIS WIFE GIVES HIM AWAY.
A Midnight Watch for B. 0. P. c. q.
Thieves That Was Thoroughly
Successful.

William Stratton, a night watchman OF
the Boston One Price Clothing House,
was arraigned before Justice Stilsing
this morning on charge of grand lar
ceny His wife and son john were ar
raigned upon charge of receiving stolen
goods.
Manager Gustav Metzler appeared as
complainant. Patrolman Kelly produced
a huge bundle of stolen goods, including
$50 overcoat, shoes, gloves, handker-
chiefs, umbrellas, ETC., etc., amounting in
value to between $500 and 81 900. which
had been found iu Stratton's apartments
above one of the stores.
Stratton had been employed as nj ght
watchman of the mammoth store for the
past eight months For some time past
superintendent Bernstein had been MISS
ing goods from the shelves and
tables of the store and several
times called Mr.. Metzler's at
rested upon the night waIchman. Yes
terday he determined to trace the thief
He placed three detectives on guard last
night, one of whom was stationed in tho
rear of the store.
After closing the store, Mr.. Bernstein
municate with Mr.. Metzler, who was at-
tending the Board of Trade dinner.
THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN.
The two strolled up the avenue in the
direction of the the store. This
was shortly before twelve O'Clock
observed female figure, clad in q shawl
that reached to the pavement, lodging in
and out about the front entrances. In
response to the question as to what she
was doing, the woman, who recognized
the manager and the superintendent, re-
piled that she was watching to see If her
husband was properly performing his
duties, as she had heard he was being
complained of.
Tell me all you have heard about your
husband" said Mr.. Metzler; "but stay q
moment" he added, shivering In the raw,
night air, ''you have a fire up stairsA have
you not? Suppose we go up into Nyour
apartments to continue the convArsa-
tion?"
Mrs. Stratton, hesitatingly. led the tgo
with Policeman Kelly upstairs.
When the apartments were reache&
Manager Metzier, glancSng around th8S
room, asked if there was any property
hidden away in her apartments that did
not belong to her.
The woman grew pale and was consid-
erably agitated. At this moment PATROL
man Kelly stumbled across large trunk
like valise.
SHOWING THE STOLEN GOODS.
Mr. Metzler had already related his
suspicious. Mrs. Stratton was asked to
open the valise. She at first demurred,
but finally produced key and unlocked
the valise. Superintendent Bernstein
identified the goods with which it was
packed full ss some of those he had
missed
What else have you up here that be-
longs to me?" asked Mr.. Metzler.
The woman confessed to the systematic
pilferings that had been going on for sew
eral months. She opened closet. On
its shelves were arrayed an assortment of
new slippers and shoes that would have
been a credit to an ordinary shoe store.
Mr.. Metzler was by this time becoming
somewhat interested.
He pulled large bed aside. Behind
it We're packages containing gloves, hand
kerchiefs, ties, matches, ornamented
clocks, etc., etc. Under the mattress
We're secreted umbrellas, etc. A trunk
was found packed, evidently ready for
shipment.
The goods were collected in huge
bundle and Mrs. Stratton and her grown
son, who had been snoring away in an
adjoining room, were aroused, and both
were marched off to the station house.
A subsequent search of the premises
this morning revealed nearly $3.50 worth
OF goods hidden away.