Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-04-08
TWO ARRESTED
IN BOOZE THEFT
Harold Spofford and Harold
Morrison Held for Action OF
Grand Jury.
ROBBERY AT FASS- HOME
Charged With Burglary. Quick
Work by Patten and Muska
Responsible for Capture.
ROBBERY AT FASS- HOME

Quick work by Patr9lman Michael
Patten and Detective Michael Muska
resulted in the arrest of two old Of
tenders in the whiskey thievery
line, Harold Spofford. twenty-five
of 62 Smith street, and Harold NOR
rison, twenty-five. of 357 High street,
on a burglary charge in connection
with the theft of a quantity OF liquor
from the residence of Dave Fass at
o6 Smith street, about O'Clock
this morning. The two men were
held Without bail to await the acton
Of the grand jury by Recorder PICK
ersgill, and were taken TO Ne"
Brunswick this morning.
There is a police call box at the
corner of High and Jefferson streets,
md peculiar actions by Spofford ana
Morrison in the vicinity OF TINS cor
ner, attracted the attention Oh Cnncer
Patten, who was hiding Denlnu
tree. This was at about 12:15 O'CLOCK
The men seemed to be maneuverlns
around to make sure that there We're
no policemen in sight, and nnaily
brought an automobile bearing llc-
ense. N. j. 1905, in front OF 351
High street, Morrison's home. Pat
fen notified Lieutenant John MOTIFS
of the actions of the men and De-
tective Michael Muska was detalleu
to the scene. The two officers caught
the men at work about O'Clock.
After Spofford and Morrison
seemingly examined the ground IN
tho vicinity of jefferson and High
streets. to see if there were any
officers around the men went IN the
direction of New Brunswick ave-
nue.. officer Patterns belief being
that they went for the automoolle:
officer Patten made his tour OF
duty around Front street ana re-
turned to Jefferson and High streets
where he noticed an automoplle IN
front of MorYison's home at 500
High street, and saw four men
walking around the corner or Fay
cite and High streets, ana thio
Willock's lane, the scene OF thelr
activities. .,,
The officer for a time lost track
Of the men, but kept close Watch
on the car in fl ont OF MORRISON
house. inasmuch as he was quite
sure someone would return Tor the
automobile. 1t was some tlfne pc
fore anyone returned to the auto
mobile. but Spofford was notlced
coming up Jefferson street, anu
when he saw the officer hurried INTO
the automobile and drove down
High street. Detective Muska Went
down Smith street, while Chcer
Patten stood on the corner or Jei-
ferson and High streets. ,,,o
Spofford drove the automoplle
around City Hall Park. down Mar
ket street, up Rector street, across
smith street, and into Willock's
lane. Detective Muska came up
Willock's lane from Smith. street,
and Officer Patten came down JeI-
ferson street and into Willock's lane.
The two officers waited for time
+o allow the men to load up the au-
tomobile, and then with guns pulieu
surprised the men. MORRISON anu
Spofford were caught with tneir
hands down, but two or three othel
members of the gang escaped. a
quantity of liquor loot taken by tne
men and their automobile, which is
believed belongs to some person IN
South Amboy, were taken to ponce
headouarters. The liquor Will be
turned over to the federal authorl-
ties.
An investigation by the police re-
yealed that the gang worked on the
second story of the building some
time before gaining entrance. Inc
lock on q door was tampereu Win
and an attempt made to cut out
paneI in the door, but the thieves
we're not successful until they sawed
the hinges of the door.
The loot taken consisted or cans:
Jugs bottles and small barrels OF
whiskey and wine. Although this
liouor was said to be private stock
of Fass, and was taken from his
residence above the saloon, there are
spigots attached to the barrels and
the Jugs seemed to be filled from
some larger container, ana hao
Icsnntirnad On nara u