Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-07-26
MATHEW bENZYK
| IS SAID To HAVE
! ADM| 7 TED Thief 7
Local High School Graduate
Nabbed In Sensational Rob-
3 berry In Smith Street

The police believe that with the
arrest of Matthew Benzyk, of 267
Elm street, late last night, they have
cleared up the mystery attached to
the continued breaking, entering and
robbing of the store of Samuel and
Hyman Fishkin at 157 Smith street.
The arrest followed good work upon
the part of Rudolph A. Kish, special
night patrol officer, Patrolman James
J. Egan and Plainclothesmen John
Murray and Michael Muska.
1t was in the neighborhood of mid
night, last night, when Kish, the
watchman hired by the business men
in the vicinity between State street
and the Central railroad, while
tramping his rounds noticed that the
skylig.ht of Fishkin's store had been
left open. In looking through the
window to make certain of this fact
he discovered someone sneaking
along the counter in a crouching
position. Kish Immediately broke
the window of the front door with
his foot, blowing his night whistle
for aid, and entered the store to find
that the culprit had hidden behind
one of the counters.
When reinforcements in the person
of Plainclothesmen Murray and
Muska and Patrolman Thullesen ar
rived Kish made for the counter
where Benzyk had taken shelter.
Officer Thullesen had in the mean
time been detailed to the roof to
guard the skylight so that the robber
could not make his getaway in that
direction.
Along with the police were several
citizens who were drawn by the ex-
citement to the store. The building
was searched but no one could be
found.
Here is where officer Eagan enters
the scene. The officer was standing
on Smith street at the Central rail-
road. when he heard the whistle and
noticed the people gathering several
blocks away. Possibly five or ten min
utes later Benzyk, walking in a fast
manner, in his shirt sleeves, coming
from the scene of the excitement was
asked by Eagan what it all was about
and received the reply, "Oh some one
had broken the glass, in the front of
FIshkin's store"
Later Eagan, Joined the searchers,
and noticed that Officer Thullesen.
displayed q rope ladder gloves, mask
and the thief's coat, which he had dis
covered on the roof of the store. Eag-
an then recalled that Benzyk, who he
knew slightly, had passed him minus
/ coat. With this small clue the Of
DCcTS QOCiQSQ " So W iiio iioiAAo VA
Elm street to search the premises.
When they tried to gain entrance the
parents of Benzyk would not allow
them to come in without first pro-
ducing a warrant. Officer Murray
was compelled to go back to the po-
lice station for this permission. Ben
zyk was then placed in arrest
Written statements have been OBJ
tanned from Benzyk by Murray in con-
nection with the robberies. He ad-
mits to forcing his way in Fishkin's
store on three occasions and also in
another store.
Benzyk, when questioned later, stat
ed that he succeeded in escaping by
crawling along back of the counters
towards the front of the store and
when the police and the crowd rush
ed in, mingled with them for few
minutes. thence wtlking in ,uncon-
cerned manner to the street.
All the stolen articles have been
recovered. with the exception of
large leather black bag and photo
graph supplies.
When arraigned before the Record
er this morning Benzyk did not dis
pute any of the charges laid against
him. He was held on $1,000 bond to
await the action of the Grand Joruy.
Benzyk is but 10 years old and re-
cent graduate of the local High
school.