The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-10
Held Prisoner BY Men Wh0
Were Rsbblng I Postefticl.
LISTENED TO HIS SERMON,
But Later Took All His MsAey and Com
psIlsd Hin 10 Make a Promise
Which Hs Kept

WiIkesbarre, Pa, April lo.-Father
Stanislaus Spotanski, of st. Josephs
Catholic church, interrupted band OF
burglars as they were breaking into the
postoffice at Hudson yesterday morning,
and was held prisoner for half an hour
until they had blown open the safe.
They treated him with courtesy. al
though holding revolver at his head.
robbed him while they apologized and lis
tened respectfully while he pleaded with
them TO be good men. They escaped. al
though the priest as soon as he got home
telephoneed to the police, as he told tie
safe robbers he would do.
Father Spotanski had been at the bed
side of n parishioner who is dying, and
was on his way home. between two and
three o'clock in the morning, when, as
he was passing the postoffice. he noticed
some of the windows had been broken.
As he turned 10 Investigate he was
confronted by two masked men, who put
revolvers close To his head. told him he
would be hurt If he made noise and
hurried him on To the porch OF the post
office. There they kept him in the shadow
for half an hour
The masked men were surprised when
they saw he was priest and apologized.
I'VE cannot let you GO. they said.
We're breaking into the postoffice safe.
Say nothing, and youll not he hurt"
Two men came To the windows as they
heard the talking. They also were armed.
''Such big guns as they had said the
priest I'm telling about IL.
il was explained by the "outside' men
that their captive was a priest. Then the
other two returned 10 their work inside.
Father Spotansh says he was not
afraid although he realized the men
would shoot If he made any outcry. The
three stood on the porch and the priest
could hear the robbers inside working on
the big safe. They used nitro-glycerine.
pouring il into the cracks OF the safe
door and tamping IL with soft soap.
"You are doing a sinful thing" he said
TO his captors, "Why don't you stop IL,
so away and get honest work.
His companions laughed.
I'VE need the money" one said.
do you ever go 10 church? 1t would
do you great good Some day you will re-
gret this night" said the priest. They
listened quietly to his arguments TO re-
form them, but once when, I'm his earu-
estness. he raised his voice a bit, one OF
the men said GROSSLY: Don't speak 50
loud, or you'll get hurt"'
Have "a cigar" said one of the thieves.
The priest took IL, the robber struck a
light and the priest smoked. and contin-
ued, In low voice to plead with his cap
tors 10 turn from their evil ways.
IL was half an hour before the safe was
ready for blowing The two inside warned
the men outside to stand ready in case
the noise aroused any one.
There was a heavy but we'll muffled re-
port. The burglars who had been inside
appeared i'm a few moments with their
arms laden. The plunder was distributed
between the four.
one Of the robbers turned to the priest.
"Weil have 10 take what you have" he
said, and started To search him.
Don't do that" protested another.
Hell give us all he has" The priest ulp
so. IL was about $40. Then they were for
tying him TO telegraph pole and gag
ging him. Again one protested. and asked
the priest IL he would promise not to
give the alarm until he got home.
Father Spotanski gave the alarm when
he got home. but the police have been un-
able TO catch the robbers. IL is believed
they caught a night freight east on the
Lehigh Valley railroad. They got sl97 i'm
stamps, s2s in silver and bills and 81 in
pennies,