New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-02
SIX FAMILIES IN PERIL.
ATTEMPTED ARSON IN A TENEMENT HOUSE.

ALCOHOL, POWDER AND sHAvINGS GENEROUSLY
UsED-ARREsT OF TWO MEN.
Joseph Carrevella, an Italian bootblack, has been
permitted to keep stand in front Of the barber shop
at No. 20 Canal-s for several months. and has paid
for the privilege by sweeping out the shop every
morning. key to the front door being left with him.
The shop is the first floor of ive-story tenement
house. irregular shape. at Canal and Rutgers SITS.
Six families live tie shop, being that of the
housekeeper Albert Feldt. The barber shop was
newly fitted up eight months ago by Frank Sciacca,
young Italian who formerly kept place in Chatham
ST.. and who is also known Frank Lilly" Sciacca
drew custom by putting down the price of a shave to
cents lie had five chairs placed in the shop and
hired four assistants His neghbors thought that he
doing thriving business.
When Carrevella went to sweep out the shop early
yesterday he noticed smoke issuing thin clouds
through the crevices of the door. Policeman John w.
Smith of the Seventh Pre- cinc stood the corner and
the bootblack called him. As as the door was
opened the policeman saw that an attempt had been
made to set fire to the place. small heap OF sawdust
the floor had been Ignited, but being damp the
sawdust had only smoudcred slowly, and elaborate
train had tailed to ignite Long pieces OF white muslin
which had been soaked with alcohol extended from one
side Of the heap OF sawdust to other parts OF he shop
The connected all the chairs and the for shaving
boxes together with the udroIs and cupboards in the
shop. All the drawers of the cases had been drawn
ou' half way. The brushes, combs aud razors had
been removed and the drawers had been filed with
shavings and waste paper If onoe ignited the train
would have spread the flames to every part of the shop
in few seconds The policeman put out the remain
ing sparks in the sawdus and then sent the bootback
TO the nearest engine house TO give the iremen in
formation. Word was sent promptly to Chief kehoe
of the Fourth Battalion who placed guard of 6remen
at the shop and began an Investigation. 80
IL suImised that Scacca had prepared the train
late on Friday night. gallon demij John and several
large bottles which he had carried to the shop full OF
alcohol on previous days were empty on the h0or IL
hall h.. L.I t.a nf
dust and had left the shop, locking the door behind
him. before daybreak. Detectives Leary and Creed OF
the seventh Precinct began search TOR MN put ne ne
not in his usual haunts and they thought that he
had left the city. Chief kehoe discovered that the
preparations 10 burn the shop had not been confined to
the first floor The basement under the shop has been
occupied recently by Samuel Cohen, manufacturer
of soda water. Large wooden boxes halt filled the
basement when Kehoe got INTO it. and gas was escaping
from one of the pipes. II was soon discovered that
hole had been bored in the pipe near the gas meter
which placed close up TO the floor OF the barber
shop. At another side of the basement was a hole
through the floor Of the shop. Under the hole was
board which extended to the gas meter. and on the
board train OF powder. Nearly two pounds OF
powder had been used for the train. which ended In
double handful OF powder directly under the meter.
Evidently the plan had been to start the flames briskly
in the barber shop. with the expectation that by the
time the fire discovered the powder train in the
basement would ignite, causing the gas meter to ex
pode and tearing the lower part of the house to pieces
When the police and iremen had looked at the de-
tails OF the plot they expressed unbounded indgIm-
with those of the six families living in the upper part
of the house whose speedy destruction would have
followed in all probability II the plot had not mis-
carried large hrong Of people gathered in front OF
the place and remained there most of the day dscuss
ing ibe motive for the attempted crime. The belief
prevailed that the attempt 10 burn the ace was per-
petratcd in order collect money from the insurance
companies. Moses Solomon of No. 20 Esscx.st.. who
owns the building and has it insured for 10000 said
that he had not had any trouble with the barber. lie
also denied report that Scacea had been ordered to
out.
II was suspected that Cohen, the soda water man,
had been concerned in the plot, but the detectives
said there evo that Scacca had broken into
the basement. Cohen and HIS foreman, soloman Fay,
ma were taken 10 the police station and detained
t,Ie witnesses yesterday, pcndingan investigation.
Carrevca. the booblack was also held as a witness
4 general alarm sent out directing search for
the barber
Cohen and Fay were taken before Justice Cullen IN
the supreme Court In the afternoon on wit OF habeas
corpus obtained by their lawyer, Adolph Cohen, who
represented that they are deprived OF their liberty
without warrant of law by Police Captain Hedden
The lawyer called at the police station to see thc bat
alleged that hc allowed To do so and was gruiy
told by Captain Hcddcn to get ont OF there. Before
Justice Cullen the policeman who brought them 10
Court said thoy not prisoners but had been asked
by Captain TO wait awhile In the station. Justice
Cullen discharged them.