The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-01
ROBBED BY BOYS.
Mystery of Burglary of
Lawyer Lewis House
Cleared Up.
SMALL MARAUDERS CONFESS
Broke in During the Day and Sold
the Plumber 10 Jersey
City Jewellers

The startling fact has been developed
that the robbery of Lawyer Henry Lewis
house at No 73 Summit avenue, was
committed by two boys, who live witnln a
stones throw Of the place they plundered.
The youthful burglars are:-RusseH a.
Metz. Jr., son of Russell Metz, printer,
living at No 81 Summit avenue, and his
cousin Vreeland Thomas, the son OF
James E. Thomas, conductor. living at
No. So Park street. Neither of the boys
is yet thirteen years old. Both have
confessed the crime and have done what
they could to restore the stolen property
to its owner
According to their story they committed
the robbery in broad day light, entering
by the rear of the house and leaving by
the front door, They were in the house
fully four hours, and were not once dis
turbed In searching the house and se-
lecting their booty they displayed re-
markable skill and discrimination. which
led the police to believe at first that the
Job was the work of some old hand at the
business.
When asked by News reporter this
afternoon how he came to make such a
y careful choice between the real and the
imitation jewelry. young Metz said
Il guess 1 ought to know. I've seen
enough jewelry. We only took what we
could SELL
Another boy has also been apprehend-
ed by Detective Hottie for being con-
nected with the affair. He is Styles
Strong the son of DR.. Strong of No. 3
Astor place. He denies that he had any
thing TO do with the robbery, and the
other boys bear him out in the state
ment His only connection with the case
was that ne sold one of the stolen pins
for the Thomas boy.
TO Detective Hottie belongs all the
credit for ferretting out what appeared
yesterday TO be mysterious affair lie
began his investigation early yesterday
morning The first clew he got was from
Rev DR.. Z. L. Stoddard's servant girl, who
saw some boys playing in Lewis yard
Tuesday afternoon. The servant did not
know who he boys were With this
slight clew Hottie set to work He dis
carded the theory that the robbery was
the work of professionals and worked on
the theory that it was the work of boys.
He kept a careful watch on all The boys
In the neighborhood and soon had his
suspicious aroused by the actions Of the
Thomas boy He shadowed him and was
rewarded by seeing him dispose of some
iewelry late yesterday afternoon. Before
going to bed last night he had evidence
enough tc convince him that Thomas and
the Strong boy were implicated in the
affair
Early this morning he called at DIR.
Strong's house and questioned Styles, who
admitted selling a diamond pin for 50 to
a ieweler on Newark avenue. He said it
had been given him to sell by Vreeland
Thomas and that Thomas had taken s.
of the proceeds Thomas was next taken
into custody by Hottie. He confessed to
the robbery and implicated young Metz.
Metz admitted his guilt. He was taken
before Mrs. Lewis, and told her the whole
story.
The three boys were taken to the Com
munipaw avenue station and were placed
in the telephone room, which adjoins the
Sergeant's desk. They were seen there
this afternoon by reporter for The
News Russell Metz said
I'VE were playing in Mr.. Harrison S
yard when Vreeland said:-sLet's see If
we can get into-sMr. Lewis house. We
first tried to get in through the coal hole
in front; but it was too small After
that we went around to the back and I
climbed in through the kitchen window
and opened the door. The kitchen WIN
dow was closed. but not locked. 1t was
protected by an iron grating, with spikes
on top. 1 put down the window and then
squeezed in over the grating. We just
went in to have some sport, but we came
out with the jewelry and things. we
MONEY MON ne1N We @ Went into the house at one
o. clock in the afternoon. and we came
out after four O'Clock. We went through
couple in a sideboard in the bath room;
we left BY the front door. Vreeland
came out last and left the door open
the Things I had to Mrs. Lewis with
the exception of one pin and the silver
watch. The watch sold to Mr.. Jones.
for a lock for my desk The rest Of the
jewelry / hid in the parlor stove. Ihey i,
bad fney back aoi te to Mrs. Lewis. She said that
If we returned II all to her she would
This story was borne out by Thomas;
He returned the gold coins. and what
jewelry he had not disposed Of ..s...,as
DIR Strong was seen. He said:-'Styles
came home last night and told me he had
sold a pin for Vreeland Thomas he SAID
that Thomas t. tod hn td m sofer S r9nno boy a fe
servant had given it to him. 7 don't
think he got It honestly said Styles, and
he asked me what he should do. tod
him to wait until this morning and |
would go and see Mrs. Thomas about it.
Before we were up this morning De-
tective Hottie called for Styles. | tod
him the boy had told me all about it and
that he had not had anything TO do with
the robbery.
great shock to her. especially as she had
99ever even Rad % lock up the cake from
slim The boys have not been booked for
y he theft although they are in the Gus
bdy OF the pellce.
unpnKpN,s OFFER OFFICIALS