The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-21
SACRILBGIOUS BOYS.
They Invade the Hebrew
Synagogue and Destroy
Hymn Books and
Cushions.

Eight boys ranging in years from
twelve to fifteen. were arraigned in Police
Justice O'Donnell's court this morning
boys are all the sons OF prominent resis
dents of the lower portion of the city sna
were accused of being guilty of ont
rageous vandalism iu forcing an entrance
into the Jewish Synagogue on Grove
street and destroying property to the
amount of almost 81 200. Jailer Bob"
Davis was in Court and int erceded foe
the boys. ,EX-Assem blyman Potts was
also in Court on behalf OF james Barron,
the Newark avenue merchant, who is the
owner of the building. Justice of the
Peace Lowi represented the rabbi and
the congregation. There was no hearing
as Justice O'Donuell agreed to postpone
the case until week from tomorrow.
BREAKING INTO CHURCH.
The Grove street Synagogue stands on
the corner of Grove and Montgomery
streets. 1t is wooden structure. In the
vicinity OF the building there ccugregate
gang OF schoolboys who are always up
to mischief OF some kind. After scnOok
hours it is a common occurrence for the
lads to stand on the corner and with
''dippers" break the pane5 OF glass In the
Synagogue. On the days of worship In tho
Synagogue the Rabbi ami congregation
have been amazed at the broken glass.
Time and again have new panes of glass
been put in, only TO be again broken by
the youths In the neighborhood
Last Wednesday afternoon shortly at-
ter school had been dismissed, lieorRe
Conway, Raymond Brown. Edward Nc.
Cormick, George Sinclair, Edward RoideY
and Charles Scott stood on the corner op.
poslte the church. After exhaustine all
their supply of pebbles at the window.
one of them suggested that they climb
through the window and raise hi in tho
sheenys' church"
The idea was met with favor. Stealth
ilY the young rutf1ans crossed the street
and one by one climbed through an open
window into the church. Everything was
in order just as it had been when the last
service was held in the church. The Rab
bis robes were behind the altar railing,
and hymnbooks were scattered through.
out the church.
The lads went about their work of des
struction with ghoulish glee. They be.
gan by throwing the hymn books around
aud tearing them to pieces. This was
not exciting enough, however, and with
yell the leader of the gang tore up one
of the cushions. His example was inn
mediately followed by the others, and
pretty soon there was not a cushion left
in the church. Then the young rowdles
went to the altar and stripped it. The
leader of the gang saw the rabbits robes
and he at once con6scated them, and
wrapping them about him besan execut-
ing q war dance. His appearance in the
rabbits robes caused his companions to
laugh immoderately and several or them
flung cushions at him.
TORE THE RABBI'S ROBE.
Then the young rutf1an tore the costly
robes of the rabbi into pieces and scats
tered them around the synagogue. After
committing other depredations which
cannot be told in print, the young row.
dies left the church. They had been in
side fully an hour.
"Geel how the matters will swear
when dey see der ranch" said the leader
of the gang, and his companions
chuckled
Then, after pledging each other to
secrecy, the gang separated. Thai night
the janitor happened to visit the syna.
gogue aud was thunderstrucK at the
wholesale devastation. Mr.. Barron, the
owner Of the building, and the rabbi
were at once notified, and hurried to the
church. Both we're very indignant and
hurried to the First Precinct Station.
house, where they informed Sergeant
Cox. who, ia turn, informed Captain
Farrier. That official put a couple of
detectives on the case and the arrest OF
the boys followed. Mr.. Barron aud the
rabbi are determined to punish the young