The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-26
SYNAGOGUE FIGHT
Fists and Half a Brick Ap-
peared Prominently in
Moses Montidore.
ROW OYER ALTAR AND CROSSES
Casper Purchased Them and
Aronsberg Objected Con-
gregation Took Sides.
ROW OYER ALTAR AND CROSSES

A free fight broke up a meeting in the
Jewish Synagogue Moses Montifore, Ho-
boken, last evening. The presence of two
policemen We're necessary to restore or
der Blows We're struck freely. cuffs and
kicks exchanged, and one excited member
of the congregation rushed outside and
threw half brick through an open win
dow. The synagogue escaped a call for
the police only by the presence of mind
of few of the older members, who be-
seeched their quarreling brethren not to
subject their temple to such a disgrace
and hurriedly brought about an adjourn
ment.
Patrolmen Thomas Garrick and Thomas
Beatty were standing on the corner of
Adam and Newark streets shortly after
eight o'clock when a small boy ap-
preached them and said fight was in
progress at the synagogue on Grand
street, one block away. When they
reached the synagogue they found Jacob
Casper standing in the centre of an ex-
cited gathering holding a half brick in
his right hand, which was bleeding. Every
one was gesticulating and talking at the
top of his voice in Hebrew.
II want you to arrest these men, said
Casper to Garrick, pointing to three or
four in the crowd about him. "They tried
to assault me. One of them threw this
stone through a back window"
Casper refused to make specific charge
against any of the men. Then some one
else began to talk, only to be interrupted
by third persons who cried in English
members, members. don't disgrace
yourselves. Be calm''
Casper did not again ask to have anyone
arrested, and order was restored for
time. The patrolmen left the synagogue
without being able to ascertain the cause
of the outbreak.
They had not been away long when
everyone was up again.
1.-THE police will raid US if we don't
STOP several screamed. Look out or
you'll all be arrested A hurried ad-
journment was taken.
A News" man saw Casper after the
meeting. He at first denied that there was
any trouble and refused to leave a game
of cards he was engaged in at his glazing
store on First street. Finally he said
.'It will all come out in court tomorrow.
I won't say word about it,
Michael Aronsberg, another member of
the congregation, willingly discussed the
difficulty when seen this morning.
ssCasper is the whole cause of the row.,
he said. ..He thinks he is the boss of
everything that comes up in the syna-
gogue, and wants his rulings to go every
time The Ladies' Aid Society recently
held a ball and decided to use the pro-
ceeds to make present of an altar to the
synagogue A committee was appointed
to confer with the ladies to arrange for
the purchase. Casper last night ignored
this committee and announced that the
altar had been purchased for $50. This
was in the first place no price to pay for
an altar for synagogue and I told him
he had no right to authorize such pur-
chase One word led to another.
"Then another discussion arose over
some lumber he had purchased to make
benches This lumber was secondhand
church fixtures and had crosses on it.
It's against the rule of the faith to bring
anything with crosses on it into the syna-
gogue / protested. Before I knew what
was the matter his son-in-law, Samuel
Blumberg, punched me in the face. Then
Casper set on me and his son, Chaskel,
Joined in They pounded me for few
minutes.
Il got away by jumping through an
open window. I called for the police on
the outside and some one ran and got
the officers. 1 wanted Casper arrested,
but the policemen refused. They told me
to go before the Recorder in the morn
ing. I have consulted a lawyer and in
tend to prosecute Casper. I have done
more work for the congregation than any
member Of his family. He is nothing
but big bully and has caused no end of
trouble
The Hebrews throughout town are
much excited over the occurrence. More
trouble is looked for at the next meeting
of the congregation.