The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-10
ST. FRANCIS LOOTED
While the Rector Watched
the Sa1Vationists Thieves
Robbed His Church
and ReCtory.
THE DOORS WERE LEFT OPEN
Though No One Saw Them the
Robbers Had Time to Eat and
Drink in the House.

GHe of the most outrageous robberies
eyer recorded in the history of Hoboken
was perpetrated last evening in St.
Francis Roman Catholic Italian Church,
at Third and Jefferson streets. Both the
church and the reetory, which stands on
the western side of the edifce were looted,
ana almost everything of value was stol-
en-. The daring manner in which the
thieves performed their work has amazed
the police, and despite the vigilant efforts
of the detectives no ne to the detctIon
of the robbers has beeA- Nd.
About seven o'clock last evening the
choir, which had been practicing in the
church for the Sunday service, left the
building and neglected to lock the doors.
Father Mazetti was the only person in the
rectory. His assistant Rev. Father Felix
had gone out to make call on one of the
parishioners, and the servant had returned
to her home, as is her custom when she is
through with her work in the rectory.
Fathre Mazetti said he was looking out
of one of the front windows of the reetory
about 7:30 O'Clock when he noticed Sal
vation Army band anchor in the street di-
rectly in front of the church. 1t was
something unusual for Salvationist to ap-
zetti thought he would go out and have a
look at them. He walked over to the side
walk opposite the church and stood racing
By this time mob of several hun
dred men, women and children had gath
cred around the band of Salvationists.
The noise made by the crowd, combined
with that of the worshipers, was deafen-
ing and Father AIaZetIiS whole atten-
ton was absorbed in the excitement
While the noise was at its height gang
of hoodiumS took advantage of the op-
portunity to enter the church. Finding
the door open, they crept in unnoticed,
and Immediately proceeded to hunt for
valuables. They found a silver chaHee,
q ciborium, or canopy, oyerhanglng the
altar, an altar bread box and several
other articles, all of which they carried
OF.
When a thorough search of the church
was completed, the robbers adjourned. to
the rectory, through an areaWay, ana
burst open the basement door. In Fa-
ther Mazetti's private office in the base
nent they found the safe wide open.
containing S12 the savings of the servant;
another So, and the third SIG, which was
the collection money from the parishion-
e-s. Then they picked up large silk
scarf and proceeded to the kitchen, where
they got a dozen silver knives and forks,
and emptied glass dish nlled with APP
Piles and nuts, which was on the table.
1t is believed that one OF the gang kept
watch on Father Mazetti while the 9TH
ers were at work, for they stopped to
eat a cooked chicken and drink bottle
Of wine, which was on top of the re-
frigerator in the pantry. After they had
filled themselves and their pockets they
made their escape.
All this time Father Mazetti stood on
the sidewalk, watching the Salvation
lists, and did not discover the robbery
until twenty minutes later, when he en-
tered the rectory. He then notified the
police, but no trace of the thieves could
be found The stolen chalice was pre-
sented to Father Mazetti by the Holy
Rosary Society eight years ago, and the
cborium was the gift of the late Mrs.
Iseola, wife of ex-School Commissioner
Stephen Iseola.
In speaking of the robbery to a report
er for THE News Father Mazetti said:
1T is very queer that no one saw
the thieves enter the church. Policeman
Condor was standing a few feet from
me, and Police Commissioner Patrick
Hayden was there, too. Some money
was stolen from the church a few months
ago, but the thieves did not carry their
work so far as they did this time