Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-27
Man Convicted of Robbery
With Assault, is Convicted
by His Own Testimony
Bv stat Correspondent.

BU SfuU Correspondent.
NEW BRUNSWICK, May 27.-
Joseph Brombert, alias Brown, of
South Amboy, the first of four men to
be placed on trial here as the result
of their alleged participation in
hold-up IN Perth Amboy on the night
of March 21, was found guilty OF
the charges preferred against him
after the jury had considered the
case for two hours and twenty min
utes. The last evidence in the case
was heard at 4 O'Clock yesterday af-
ternoon and the jury went into ses-
sion at 4:10 o'clock. At $50 o'clock
It returned with a verdict of guilty.
Shortly after the jury went into
session considerable noise and COM
motion was heard coming from that
room and 1t was the thought of those
remaining in the court house that q
disagreement would be the ultimate
result. The apparent disorder quiet
ed down however and after two hours
deliberation the announcement was
made that Brombert had been found
guilty in their judgment of robbery
by assault.
Throughout the trial there was
large audience which included many
of those known to belong to the
Perth Amboy "underworld," this case
having aroused unusual interest be-
cause of the complicated way in
which the events turned up during
the holdup and attempted theft OF
three barrels of whiskey from John
Moritko, a Perth Amboy saloonkeep-
er living at 726 State street.
The statement signed and sworn
to by Brombert in Perth Amboy on
the night of March "a, following his
arrest, proved to be his undoing.
During the gruelling cross examina-
tion put to him by Prosecutor Joseph
Il. Stricken. Brombert. in the opinion
OF many attending the trial, convict
ed himself by making statements
which contradicted those he had
sworn to and signed. During the ex-
animation by the prosecutor the de-
fendant resorted to the "I don't re-
member" method of answering many
of the questions put to him, he de-
claring that he was afraid of the
consequences on that night.
As the prosecutor continued the
examination of Brombert with refer
ence to assertions made in the signed
statement he would occasionlly ask
the defendant If certain question
had frightened him. He would an
swer no invriably. but persisted that
he was afraid of something the night
he made the statement.
Or the witness stand Brombert
would not admit he knew any other
of the hold-up or were party TO II.
In the statement which was used
against him. containing his signature,
IL was said that he, Detective VIII
liam II. Hartmann, stephen N. Vereb
and Andrew Gadek left the Hotel
Imperial together for the scene of
the hold-up.
Further contradictions resulted
from Brombert's signed statement to
81 ha ha oil
of the other three men S5 as their
share of what he took from Moritko,
when or the witness stan dhe denied
having taken any mony from him.
He said he found $40 in his pocket
when he got home, explaining it's
presence saying Moritko must have
slipped it into his pocket without his
knowing 1t
The signed statement by Brombert
proved to be the big factor in con-
victing him as Prosecutor Stricken,
acting as a Master in Chancery on the
night the defendant made the state
ment, administered the necessary oath
to Brombert and took an affidavit.
Brom bert said he did not recall say
ing: II make this statement with
my own free will and could not re-
member whether or not he raised
his hand while taking any oath.
When asked why he had implicated
the three other men he said he was
very excited at the time and because
Hartmann had loaned him the gun he
mentioned the detectives name It
was talk about the city" he said
that Vcrcb and Gadek were going to
pull off" the jobs themselves
Mayor Frank Dorsey, Chief of Po-
lico Patrick j. Burke and Moritko
were all recalled to the stand to again
testify that Brombert has made his
statement voluntarily. that he had
sworn 10 1t and signed 1t at the time,
they ali declaring that no promises
of it's net being used against him had
been yaCde.
When recalled to the stand Moritko
also denied giving any money to
BromDert of his own free will or OF
placing $40 in Brombert's pocket. He
declared he had no offer to Brombert
to turn over his car to him IL he
would let him (Moritko) go.
Two revolvers were in evidence at
the trial. One was the one which
was said to have been Hartmann's
loaned to Brombert for the "occas-
Ion" and the other was shown by
Senator Thona- Brown. attorney for
the defense, he claiming IL was
broken and damaged and the one uset
by Brombert.
Judge Daily made a statement that
any OF the four defendants can ap-
pear as states witness against the
others.