Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-09
YOUTH SAYS He
INTENDED TO BURN
BELLEv|LLE HOME
Newarker, Who Was Found in
Bedroom, Committed
Without Bail.

Stoutly declaring that his object was
not to rob the house, but that he want
ed to set fire to it, Robert Muckenski, q
years old, a Pole. of l03 New street,
this city, when arraigned before Justice
La Faucherie in the Belleville police
court today, prompted the justice to
say that this is the toughest case l
have aver handled" He was held with
out bail for the grand jury.
Muckenski was charged with having
been found in a bedroom in h home
of Mrs. Eugene Mougel, at Mill street
and Washington avenue Belleville. last
night by Mrs. Mougel in g. crouching
position on the floor. and later having
leaped from a second story window. a
distance of twenty-five feet. to the
ground. The youthful bandit broke
down and admitted that the charges
against him were true.
When brought before Justice La
F~aucherie the man said he was a la
borer and had not worked for two
weeks.
What have you been doing In that
time?" queried the magistrate.
Looking for a job wal the response.
What were you doing In this
woman's house?' pursued the judge.
II wanted to build a fire in the
house, stated Muckenski. and burn 1t
to the ground"
why did you want to burn the
placer he was asked.
The accused second-story artist smiled
and said. "Oh, 1 just wanted TO burn
it, without volunteering any further
explanation.
You ought to be shot end killed this
moment said the justice.
The next question put to the mar
was. Are you married?"
mo, ! am only living with this
woman" he confessed.
Muckenski was taken to h Belle
vile police station last night by Chief
of Police Michael Flynn, after a des-
perate struggle, in which he attempted
to retain a loaded 32-calibre revolver,
which he a concealed In the pocket
of his overcoat.
Last night Muckenski was in the
saloon conducted by the Maugels drink
ing for about two hours, evidently
taking close scrutiny of the place. Five
minutes after he departed Mrs. Maugel
went upstairs to a bedroom, which was
in total darkness. In walking in the
apartment, Mrs. Maugel, as she said
today, stumbled over something which
she thought was IL rug.
h stopped to adjust the carpet
and was startled when a man sprang
up in front Of her.
The intruder, then, without any hesi-
tation, dashed TO a window In the front
of the room, and made a flying leap.
His descending journey was interrupted
by q roof extension. n landing on
his one of his shoes a through 1t.
Mrs. Maugel screamed loudly "A man
in the house." and "Stop thief" Her
clanor attracted several men who were
in the barroom underneath, including
her husband, and Chief Flynn, who WAS
walking past the place.
q MuckensN was seen to run through
the vacant lots which adjoin h Maui
gel property. and he was captured In
Cleveland street, a block away. by
Charles Otto, of John and Washington
streets.
Chief Flynn then ooh the prisoner
in custody, but when he attempted to
handcuff him the latter refused to sub
init, and the chief discovered a loaded
revolver in his pocket. A tussle which
lasted for several minutes ensued, and
the bluecoat was the victor.
Brought to the police station, he said
that the picture of a woman which was
found in a gold locket was his wife.
Her age, he affirmed, was As years,
while he had just attained his ma
jority. On cross-examination by Chief
Flynn and Deskman Gilman, he adj
mitted that he was just living with the
woman as his common-law wife.
In his pockets were oun several
hundred matches of a safety type. a
candle about six inches long, a gold
watch with the inscription IS. M" and
SO in cash.
When seen at the New street address
a woman who said she was a Mrs.
Davis refused to believe that Mucken-
ski was a burglar. and said she would
continue to ave answering confidence
in him. 1t was learned that the woman
has a son q years old and one IL years
Did. The cople were living at the
place under the name of Davis.
Chief Flynn made an additional
charge against the Pole of carrying
concealed weapons.