Evening journal., 1889-04-05
ARREST OF FIREBUGS.
A Startling Story Told by an
Informer.
BONDED TOGETHER FOR PLUMBER.

Houses in Brooklyn and Jersey City
Burned for the Insurance-The Manner
in which the Fires Were started-An-
arcbists in the Plot.
NEW YoRK, April 5.-The alleged leader of
a gang of ''firebugs,n who have been feeciug
insurance companies, was arrested in Jersey
CITY on Wednesday, but the fact was kept a
secret, as the authorities hoped 10 secure the
arrest of another member of the gang The
prisoner, Bernard Biume, was taken to
Brooklyn, where three other men, said to be
members of the band, Frederick Feight
Frederick Freund and Frank Dussing are in
custody
The method Of the criminals was to rent
stores, put in small stock, and obtain a
heavy insurance on the stock and fixtures
Wen preparation was made for an incen-
diary blaze, lamp would be broken near
bladder filed with benzine, IN a circle of gun
powder. A slow fuse was used TO ignite the
powder which exploded the bladder aud like
flash tho place would be in flames. No
trace Of the incendiary work would be left ex-
cspt the broken lamp, to deceive the insu-
rance people.
The occupants of the store would Of course
be absent on the night Of the fire. attending
a social gathering at the house Of one Of the
other conspirators so as TO prove an ahbi.
The gang are charged with having started
two fires in Brooklyn, and Chief Murphy
believes they have been operating in Jersey
City Blume was found at q Porter street,
and between his mattresses there were dis
covered twenty two bladders. 1t is said that
the prisoners are Anarchists.
1t app, ars that last September Fire Mar hal
Lewis, Of Brooklyn, began To suspect that
certain fires had anincendiary origin and be
gan a quiet investigation. Through Police
Commissioner Bell the fire marshal secured
the services Of Detective Miller, Of the Four
teenth precinct. They kept a strict outlook
and learned that one Bernard Baum, an
Anarchist who came from Chicago and lived
somewhere in Jersey City, had been seen in
Brooklyn in company with man named
Frederick Schwertberger and others Schwert
berger was approached by the detective anC
induced by threats 10 make a sworn state
man before the fire marshal and Justic'
Naeher, in which he made some startling al
legations.
The statement relates that gang Of meI
led by one William Miller, OF Jersey City
were banded together for the purpose OF set
ting fire to houses and securing insurance
/ money IAc Nultl VI Alle kdAti AhAAASA hAtiA
a bu iness Of setting fire to dwellings for 500
more or less according to the amount G
money involved.
The statement relates that on Dec Of la:
year the house at No. 50 Powers street wa
burned by Miller, who was hired by Fran
Plukert for the purpose.
In February, it is said, Miller told Schwer
berger that he had received an order to fiji
the house Of Frederick Dunsng, at No.
Bristol street, and he gave Sehwertbergl
money with which to buy gunpowder. II
Bristol street house was burned on the nigl
Of Feb 26 The furniture belonging to Dui
sing had previou ly been removed TO Il
house of Earnest Hazel who was aware, a
cording to the statement, that the place WI
> to be fired.
The meetings of the gang were usually he
, at the house Of George Freund, at No.
Walton street, and Schwertberger said
had attended them and listened to the plai
for burning Dunsing's house. Miller, It w
said, was an Anarchist, who had secured Il
enmity OF his assoc ates by his guilty practice