The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-24
CRIED KIDNAPPER.
A joke That Almost Cost a Man His
Life.


streets of HoboKen last night. While a
well dressed Italian was trying to induce
several of his fellow countrymen to work
for him gang of young toughs In spirit
of mischief raised the cry of "kidnapper.
The cry was taken up and the unfortun-
ate Italian was chased like wild beast
through the streets in and out of tene-
ments. over housetops and finally ran
into the arms of policeman. An angry
mob followed the policeman and his pris-
oner, and as the station was reached the
streets in the vicinity were packed with
over three thousand people.
Frank Bernetta was the name of the
Italian who was the innocent cause of all
the tumult. He is forty years old,
swarthy looking and dresses well. He ls
boss stonecutter and was at mo. 161
Canal street. New York. Yesterday his
employers sent him to Hoboken to hire
some of his fellow countrymen as labor
ers. He visited the Italian colony and
left word in several places that he would
meet all Italians who desired employ
| ment In front of No. 164 Fourth street at
eight o'clock in the evening.
At the time appointed Bernetta was on
hand. So were several hundred other
Italians. While Bernetta was conversing
with them another crowd gathered. In
this crowd were several young touyhs.
They saw chance to play q joke, but
they evidently did not have any idea of
the serious proportions their joke would
assume.
One of the toughs yelled, Don't believe
word that duffer tells you. He is kid
napper." The cry was taken up by his
companions and soon the utmost con-
fusion reigned. The Italians all began
talking at once and they crowded around
their countrymen and made threatening
gestures Bernetta was now thoro ughly
frightened. He endeavored to explain
that he was not a kidnapper. but the
crowd kept up the cry and he was dealt a
blow behind the ear. He attempted TO
retreat, but found his way blocked.
THE WILD RACE BEGINS.
Like a flash Bernetta darted up tho
stoop of the house No. 1854. The mob
stormed the premises. They ran through
the hallway into the yard. and looked in
every nook and corner for Bernetta- Sud
denly one of the mob saw the fugitive
clamberiug through the skylight Of the
house. Several OF the crowd were
who was seen almost scared TO death,
jumped through the glass skyllght OF
No. 1885, In doing SO he was badly
gashed. He ran down the stairs OF NO.
166 followed by several OF the crowd.
The cry "kidnapper' was kept up and the
-
kept in doors.
Bernetta, cut and bleeding, dashed out
of the hallway of No. 1866. The crowd in
the street, when they saw him bleeding
and noticed the deperate look on his face,
unconsciously fell back, ana Bernetta
ran up Fourth street. Then the mob
gathered headway again and dashed after
| him, close on his heels, and was just
| about closing in on him when Policeman
| Iietjeu hove in signt.
| AN OFFICER ON TIME FOR ONCE
With despairing cry Of Save mel save
| mer' Bernetta flung himself into the po-
liceman's arms The policeman turned
| to the mob with his club uplifted and
| warned the people back.
Then Tietjen started for the police sta
| tion with his prisoner. The mob fol-
| lowed. Every block on the way to the
station house poured forth crowd.
| When the question was asked what the
| trouble was, the word "Kidnapper" was
| passed along the line. 1t was stated that
| the prisoner had attempted to steal six
| children. AS the crowd neared the sta
| tion house it had assumed huge proper
| tions. 1t surged about the policeman, and
| the unfortunate Bernetta received many
sly punch in the body from those in the
| crowd.
When the door of the station house
| was reached the excitement was great
est. The big crowd attempted to force
tle1r way INTO Gn6 STATION mousse. O6V-
| eral stalwart policemen jumped out and
drove the crowd back. but it remained
around Police Headquarters for fully
| half an hour trying to get a look at the
alleged kidnapper. When Tietien brought
| his prisoner before the desk Roundsman
| Stanton asked the policeman what
charge he had to make, Tietjen explained
| the circumstances of the arrest and said
| that he believed Bernetta was a kidnap-
per-
GETTING AT THE TRUTH.
| Bernetta told such a straightforward
| story, however. that Roundsman Stanton
did not entertain the charge. He sent
| Policeman Tietjen to investigate. IN the
meantime Bernetta was held. Police
| man Tietjen could not find
anyone who would make charge OF
| kidnapping against Bernetta. The police.
man did learn, however, that the affair
was started for the purpose of creating
some excitement.
| Bernetta spent the night at the
| Hoboken police station. A crowd of wo-
men and children peered through the
bars of his cell on Washington street, and
| eyed him as they would Gagged tiger.
| This morning Bernetta was discharged
| by Recorder McDonough, and lost no
! time in getting back TO New York. Tho
freedom of Hoboken is a thing he
wouldn't take for a gift.
| CHARACTER In FACES.