The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-11
A MIDDAY ROBBERY
Charles H. Casta's Cash
Box and 5000 Taken
From His Store.
A CAREFULLY PLANNED CRIME.
Three Bold Crooks Execute Their
Parts With Goodness and Leave
No Clue.

Ine Iacte OF bold and successful rob-
berry at midday In the business section Of
Montgomery street have spread through
the lower part of the city and following
the exclusive announcement IN The
JERSEY CITY NEWS of the pIlIag-
ing of Henry c. Wulp's house
in Montgomery street last week
have caused apprehension that profess
sional housebrea kers and crooks have
selected this part of the city for their
desperate operations.
Charles Fl. Casta keeps saloon known
as the ''baer tunnel" fn the basement Of
No. 10 Montgomery street. Following
the custom OF other down town salo0 n
keepers. Mr.. Casta often cashes checks
for railroad men, and usually has money
on hand for the purpose.
THE FIRST NOV E.
AT ten minutes TO twelve o'clock last
Monday forenoon. stranger entered tns
billiard room of Casta's place. The
billiard room is in the west half of the
apartments There is n door In 8 parti-
tion that separates the bar from the
billiard room. The cash box is always
kept near this door, Co which the stran-
ger went. but he was met by Casta. who
told him that he had entered tue wrong
way. The stranger then pissed into
the saloon at the door made
whiskey. for which he paid with SIS bill.
In making change Casta took his cash
box. an ordinary cigar box, from a secre-
tary, or sort of safe, behind the bar and
placed it on the side board behind
the counter When the man had
his change, sat at table and picked up
newspaper He and the proprietor were
the only occupants wneu tall
man well dressed in black clothes, with
q black straw hat and of dark complexion
came in and ordered a g!ass of bser and
dish OF soup which were served TO MIN
at y table.
ALADY's MIsFo RTUNE.
Mr.. Casta had naruly gotten behiud
the bar when third man hurried down
the basement steps, aud standing near
the door beckoned to Casta with his
hand:-"Say, are Won Charles H. Casta
of No. Is Montgomery street. Well,
there's lady up here in Washington
street who wants to see you right away.
A wagon ran into her carriage and
broke it.
"Iguess not. don't know any ladies
here who would call on me except my
wife, and she's UPSTAIRS"
''Oh. yes Ihsre is, and you're the man
she wants TO see, Charles H. Casta OF No.
Is Montgomery. in the basement. Step
up with me and I'll show you. Shes oo
Washington street just north OF M)ns-
gomerY. near the railroad Just come
up here and can show you where she
is.''
Casta followed the messenger up the
steps to the strest with the remarK that
he weuld cali Joe Wyman from nsxr
doeE TO watch the place and would then
see the lady. The lady's messenger gave
t,. fnli paFFticulars OF the wreck
truck. She was surrounded by u
crowd aud didn't know what to do. But
when Casta went down the steps to call
some one, the messenger. having per-
formed his errand. walked rapidly down
Montgomery street to the ferry to attend
to his business.
THE CASH BOX GONE.
Mr.. Casta touched Il DelI that his wife
answers. AS he waited for her his heart
gave jump when he saw the cash box
was missing from the place where ne had
left It, 1t was not in the secretary. Is
was gone. So was the tail, dark mau
with the black straw hat The man who
drank the whiskey was intensely inter-
ested in his newspaper.
''fne cash box is gone, / have been
robbed" said Casta as his wife cams
down stairs and he ran into the street to
tell policeman, quite forgetful of the
unfortunate lady in her carriage.
Mrs. Costa asked the man at the
tRble:-"Do you mean to say you sat
right there and didn't Ses anyone go
behind the counter and take that boxP'
70, l saw man around here, but I
didn't notice him do anything in par
ticular."
A customer came in and Mrs. Clsta
told him and declared in low tone that
she suspected the man at the table. Then
the man ut the table went ont. His part
had been to locats the cash box, and
observe what would be done.
He has not heen found, nor has either
OF the TWO others. A man who was
preparing lunch in ear room saw
the tall man go out Through the billiard
room, and that explains who carried
away the box. The tall mao had it aud
about $500 1t contained. The amount was
not less than 1864.
The police appear to have found no
clue. They haven't t very much TO work
upon.