Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-11-09
Thief CAUGHT
RED HANDED
WITH BOOTY
William Munska Trapped by
Police in Hotz's Drug Store
Early Today.
RESIDED HERE ONCE;
HAS RECORD OF CRIME
Marketnian Peering Through
Window Had Spied Man
Tapping Till.

William Munska. one of a family of
burglars who at various times lived
in Vailsburg and Nutley, but who now
claims Brooklyn as his home. was
caught coming out of the drug store
of Henry A. Hotz, at Littleton and
South Orange avenues, about o'clock
this morning, by Detective Schmftt
and Policemen Feldman and Moe. of
the Fourth precinct. Wrapped up in
rubber blanket under his arm was
S35 worth of cocaine. heroin and other
hahit-forming drugs, a camera and a
safety razor. and in his pocket s44.20
in cash from the register. He was
held In $4,000 for the grand jury by
.,inse Wolf in the Fourth Precinct
Court later.
His capture furnished one of the
most interesting burglary stories for
a long time. A market man, who re-
fused to disclose his identity, was
standing on the corner of Littleton
and South Orange avenues waiting
for a street car. Wondering If he
had missed his usual car. he walked
close to the window of the drug store
to look at the big clock inside, which
Is one of the landmarks on the Hill =
While looking in at the clock he
heard the bell on one of the cash
registers ring and saw a mans hand
come slowly from behind counter
and reach into the open drawer of
the register. Just then his ear came
along and he went to business with
out saying anything about what he
had seen in the drug store.
Telephoned to Station.
When the market man reached the
-Four Corners he left the Car and
telephoned from an all-night station
to the druggist, telling or what he
saw Hotz telephoned to the Fourth
precinct and Detective Schmitt was
sent to investigate. Policeman Moe,
who was encountered on the way,
went along. also.
The policemen separated when they
reached the store, Moe taking the Lit
fleton avenue side and Schmitt the
South Orange avenue side of the
building. Just as Schmitt turned the
| corner man with bundle under his
arm emerged from 2SS South Orange
avenue, the entrance TO the apart
ments over the drug store. Schmiti
called to the man, who ran, but was
stopped after short chase, in which
Schmitt fired one shot in the air
At the police station the man said
tective Kaas came into the room
later to question him, he admitted he
was one of the Munska boys and said
that he now lives at Izt5 Atlantic
avenue, Brooklyn. Although only
twenty-six years old, he was so
changed in appearance from the use
of drugs that he was not recognized
at first.
In his pockets were found a small
quantity of gum opium and also a
very small quantity of cocaine in a
phial, which he said were his and
not stolen from the store. II had 10
do something last night" he said.
II only had two blows of dust left,
referring to the small quantity of
cocaine.
Entered Through Cellar.
He told the police that he entered
the cellar of the building about s:SC
last night armed with hatchet, q
hammer, a screwdriver and a chisel
and hid in a coal bin. When the
janitor and his wife were fixing the
fires a short time later he nearly dis
closed his presence by moving. but
search for the cause of the noise
heard by the janitor was given VI
before the intruder was found.
The drug store closed at 10 O'Clock
and Immediately after Munska started
to bore his way through the double
flooring into the rear of the store
1t took him until o'clock, he said
to make an opening in the flooring big
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