The New York herald., 1879-11-01
IMPERILLED LIVES.

A TENEMENT HOUSE WITH SIXTEEN INMATES
FIRED AFTER MIDNIGHT DY AN INcEN-
DIARY -CRIMINATINa EVIDENCE AGAINST A
sToREKEEPER.
An attempt to burn tenement house yesterday
morning, in which sixteen inmates lying asleep
and uncopscious of danger. frustrated by tho
timely discovery of the flames and the arrest Of the
man to whom the evidence is believed to point
the incendiary. Pending the Fire Marshals inves-
tigaton he was taken to the Jefferson Market Police
Court in the morning. where such testimony bore
upon the case was furnished. According to 1t the
match of the incendiary must have been applied at
about two O'Clock In the morning. Fifteen minutes
later Policeman Madden strolled up to the door of
the house-a three story and basement structure Of
brick at No. DAT Tenth avenue-and found the hro
already sweeping through the shoe store located
the lower part. He sent another policeman to
give the alarm. while he himself forced the door
and hurried up stairs. arousing the occupants he
went. Just the terrified inmates Of the rooms
came focking down the engines thundered up to the
door aud . couple OF streams OF water were soon
deluging the burning store. Officer Madden had
come out with tho rest, leaving only man be-
hind him. This was Augustus Stllmakcr, tho owner
or the shoe store. whom he had mot the top floor
already dressed and who being told that his place
was on hro calmly turned into his room without
showing the least agitation. There he remained
when he came down and complaccntly surveyed
his damaged property. But the fire laddies
were not done yet. for strong smell OF
suspicious. Fire Marshal Sheldon and Chief OF Bat
TALON Gicquel made an examination. and concluded
that the store had been set fire. Sections of tho
wood work and all OF the stock drSwers were they
found satui ated with turpentnc. aud the floor
pieces OF wood and paper similarly prepared had
kindlod in about dozen different places. Suspicion
at once pointed to stillmaker as the author OF the
mischief. anu Fire Marshal sheldon ordered Detec-
tive Cairns to arrest him. Ho maintained that no
was Innocent and on being produced in cour. stated
that he not the OF the store. 1t was only
managed by himself and woman named Augusta AL
brccht, who resided with himself and his wife, and
VINO had received as he had $40 week tor services
for the past three years 1t belonged. no said, to
Abraham craser OF No. l42 Bowery and he himself
had no interest in it whatever. lie went to ac-
woman by stating that they had gone to Elizabeth,
n. -. At quarter past ten o'clock Friday night he
the policeman Ho said ho had keys his room,
aud no one had duplicates OF them.
SUBSEQUENT DISCOVERIES.
subsequent investigations were mado by Marshal
sheldon and the results wero laid before the magis-
trate in the afternoon. Evidence given that
Abraham Crager had sold the store to Augusta Al
brecht some time ago. that 1t wus insured for
from $4,000 tn $4,000. and that the furniture
In Stillmakers apartment up stairs was se-
cured by u policy Tor $500 moro than it's value.
There hardly $500 worth in the whole
place. as was sworn. In each drawer thore was but
one pair OF shoes, so arranged that u sample de-
pended outside while its mate sustained 1t within,
and in half dozen instances combustble fluids had
oocu pourcu over thcsc spcclOus cOuntcrIelts VI
sample stock The littcrs OF paper tho floor had
all been soaked in turpentine and distributed to con-
duct the flames speedily. and had been taken to
insure them rapid transmission through the entire
lower portion OF the house. Chie OF Battalion eic-
qucl said that when he had him arrested Stihmaker
asked leave to wash his hands. 1t accorded and
he did II so thoroughly that the chiefs suspicons
aroused On reaching the station house nc snct
the mans hands, and, in spite OF the ablution.
plainly distinguished the odor OF turpcntine on
them. On this evidence Which, he said, he could
further increase tho Fire Marshal asked that still
maker be locked up till the investigaton OF the
this and tho accused committed for further cx-
animation.
John Brooks. IL has nve floors and In tcnanted by
sixteen persons There are hre escapes ON II aud
no access to tho roof.