Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-11
INCEND1ARIsM As A TRADE
How Money is Made In New York by
Burning Houses


The facts brought to light during
the trial of Pearlstein for arson, dis
closing the existence ofa band Ofpro
fessional incendiaries in New York
have excited general surprise and in
dignation. 1t has long been remarked
by those whose attention was directed
to the subject that fires occur with
greater frequency in winter than al
any other season and it has been usua.
to seek no further for the cause Of
this than in the fact that fires are kept
burning continually in almost every
house during that season; and care
lessness in attending to them fire.
quently results in disaster. That it is
not the sole reason has been the belief
of persons connected with the fire de-
partment and the facts disclosed at
this trial confirmed their opinion that
paid incendiarism is the source of a
large proportion of the wiAter fires.
Fire Marshal Sheldon gave this as
his opinion to a Tribune reporter re-
Gently. When asked whether he
knew of other professional incendia-
ries, he said 1--WE have no absolute
knowledge such as would justify us in
making arrests, or we would act at
once. However, there are other per
sons under suspicion whom we are
watching closely. 1t is not likely that
we will be able to surround them with
a chain of testimony similar to that
which we had in the Pearlstein case
Have fires decreased in the district
where Pearlstein operated since his
arrest2'
"The difference has been very
marked. Since Pearlstein's arrest
November14 4, the fire department in
that district has had comparative rest
The difference in calls received from
there at the fire department headquar-
tiers has been as four to ten. Before
his arrest the average was one in four
days. This refers solely to fires Of
suspicious origin. Besides keeping
Pearlstein and his associates, Freeman
Bernstein and Levy, from setting more
fires at present, these arrests will un.
doubtedly deter others from following
in their tracks. During the trial the
courtroom was filed with persons
whose faces we recognized as the own.
ers or tenants of places where there
had been fires of suspicious origin.
These persons seeing that the author
titles are yigilant, will think twice be-
fore they will run the risk of being
detected in connection with a suspi-
ciOus fire for sometime TO come. Pro
fessional incendiaries know that win
ter is the most favorable time for their
work. The fire department is at a slight
disadvantage in cold, stormy weather.
A few minutes delay in reaching the
fire enables it to get under great head
way"
How were Pearlstein and his asso-
eiates paid for their work 2"
Nearly all ineendiarism is done fol-
gain, a comparatively small portion OF
it being malicious. The fires were set
to enable owners to realize their in
surance. These insurers were the en-
ployers of Pearlstein, who was paid
according to our knowledge, from SIS
to $50 a fire. This of course, is nc
matter of evidence, but information.
Are mango Of the winter fires traced
to tramps?"
Not very many. and these are
mostly accidental. Tramps seek shell
ter in all sorts of places during the
winter nights, and in smoking, OF
lighting fires for cooking, are reckless
or indifferent about the results. I'M
der our present system incendiaries,
tramps or thieves have few opportuni-
ties for plumber during a fire"
What is the chief obstacle to the
detection of incendiarism +"
The fact that success DESTROYS the
evidence of the crime. In the perpe-
tration of almost all other wickedness
there T certain persons who are
known to the police as connected with
certain classes of crime. When a
bank is robbed or a pocket picked, the
authorities have some idea where
their suspicious should be directed.
In the case of incendiarism it is diff
ferent. There are no known class of
incendiaries under police surveillance
to whom suspicious are naturally at
taehed. When a house is burned the
first inquiry is whether it took fire ac-
cidentally or was the result of incen-
diarism. While this is being ascer-
tanned the tracks of the i~ncendiaries
may be growing cold"
If there were no fire insurance
companies what would be the effect?''
THE number of fires would be ma
t@erially reduced. 1t would make
owners more careful in the erection Of
their houses. and greater precautions
would be taken against accidental
fires. Mechanics renting building.
would then be more careful. There
is at present an Indifference and neg.
ligenoe in this regard which amount
almost to criminal carelessness. Be.
sides it would remove the sole incen.
tive to profitable incendiarism.