The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-01-27
NABBED The
HUCGER
Exciting Arrest of a Man
Who Insulted a Lady
in Greenville.
POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED BY HER
Arraigned in Court and Is
Now Locked Up--Bslief
That He Is Insane.
POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED BY HER

supposd Jack the HuSger" has been
caught. For menths past a certain man
with such name has been terrorizing
women in the Greenyille and the lower
sections. 1t was beliyed that his offenses
had been greatly exaggerated By over
nervous women, but capture made last
night made it certain that the formidable
gentlemen is no myth.
Mrs. Minnie Claproth, of No. 222 Ar
Of the man who hugged her ner the home
of her sister Mrs. Marion Bridgeman,
in Clerk street, and positively swore in
the Se9pfd Criminal Court this morning
that such an incideat happened around
about seven o'clock last evening and she
just as positively identified the man
whom she had arrested as Joseph Mills,
Of No. 1863 Woodward street, as the man
who did the act.
The testimony was of such a positive
character that Mills was fined $50. He
was not able to pay the fine aud was
again locked up.
He is a man fifty years Of age, OF
stocky build with broad shoulders, thin
gray hair. smooth face and his clothes
were somewhat shabby and his shirt not
over clean. was of the negligee pattern,
with rolled collar lie wore no necktie.
He was not Beau Brummel.
MRS. CLAPROTH'S STORY.
Mrs. Claproth is affrail little, middle
aged woman, with q determined face.
She gave her testimony in straightfor-
ward manner She said that entering
her sisters home she heard a noise be-
hind her, and, turning, was startled by
a man rushing toward ner. He dung one
arm around her neck and held her head
in .'ehancery.' as fighters called it. She
screamed and jerked her head loose from
The mans embrace and ran screaming
from the passageway. He ran after her
and threatened to strike her. A truck
driver by the name of Schwartz, who
works for Contractor Murphy, Of Clerk
street, jumped from his truck and ran to
Mrs. Glaproth's assistance. The alleged
sHugger'' ran, and Schwartz ran after
him, shouting to pedestrians to head the
man off.
HAD INSULTED OTHERS.
Among the pedestrians We're r. 6.
Weaver, who lives in McDougal street
and his two grown daughters Both the
latter had had been Rugged by the heeing
man. He heard Swartz shout and caught
the words Jack the Hugger." He ran
to meet the fugitive in front of him.
Jack the Huggers' momentum knocked
Mr.. Weaver down in snow bank, but
Mr.. Weaver was up in twinkling and
was wrestling with him. He was again
showed down. Swartz caught up and
two other men arrived at the scene at
the same time. All four men grabbed
the Hugger' They had a desperate
struggle The man fought like lnaniac.
). FOUND THE POLICE.
Excise Commissioners Thomas Lennon
also ran up. Then he sprinted to Frey 5
drug store at Ocean and Atlantic avenues
to telephone TO the ~Communipaw avenue
station. In the drug store was seated
Patrolman Lockwood.
..Just the man, ? said the Commissioner
breathlessly, They've got Jack the
Hugger' up the avenue. He's fighting
four men."
That was enough for Lockwood. Like
a flash he sprinted four blocks, found a
man struggling in the grasp of fous naea,
and snapped a pair of nippers ON his
wrists.
DRAGGED TO THE STATION.
"Take these things eff my wrist and
I'll follow you" he cried, but Lockwood
dragged him by the nippers to the sta
ton house, and on the way thlfher he
said to the patrolman:
III make You suffer for this. My
brother is police captain
There is no local police captain OF the
name Of Mills. While Mr.. Weaver was
giving his testimony, he and the prisoHer
g.oNcred at each other, but the prisoner
smiled when Mr.. Weaver. allu,ling to the
fact Of his being pushed down. snow
bank twice. remarked
on seemed to enjoy 1t, did you!
Il certainly did, answered the pris-
oner.
The pseFailing impression IS that the
prisoner is sof uusound mind. The pris-.
onerS did net altogether give a satisfac-
tory account Of himself