This Day in History: 1916-01-12

Morris L. Pepperman Jr. of Suffern was arrested for the burglary of Committeeman Frank X. Dater’s house on New Year’s Eve.  According to an article in the New York World, Pepperman was a highly regarded young man, formerly employed at the American Brake Shoe and Foundry Co.  He is suspected of taking part in nine other burglaries last summer in the neighborhood.

The Dators were out for the evening on the night of the robbery, but neighbors saw suspicious people in the house and summoned Constable Trueman Rodgers.

Rodgers met Pepperman and his friend Kenneth Bergess of Philadelphia, in a sleigh near the Dater house.  They told him two young men had just gone the other way.  The two men then went to Suffern, returned their rented sleigh, boasting about their loot and showing their revolvers.  They took an 11:45 train to Jersey City.  Authorities there were notified but the men had gotten off with their bag of jewelry and other valuables at an earlier stop.

Pepperman was described by Judge William /harrison Rodgers as “a dandy youth, a favorite with the girls during the day and a burglar at night.”  Burgess is still being sought.

Pepperman was arranged in Hackensack, released on $2,000 bond and will be sentenced on February 23rd.

(Bristow)